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Roald Dahl’s children’s novel The Witches got a new version, and the cast is full of familiar faces – here’s who they are playing and where you’ve seen them before. Roald Dahl was a British author who became one of the most popular writers of children’s books thanks to stories like Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Matilda, and James and the Giant Peach, among many others. Although his work was aimed at a young audience, his stories are known for having unexpected endings, as well as a macabre and darkly comic mood, with villainous adults as enemies of the child protagonists.
In 1983, Dahl introduced readers around the world to a special type of witches who turned children into mice in the novel The Witches. The story follows an unnamed seven-year-old English boy who moves in with his grandmother after his parents are killed in a car accident. His grandmother warns him about witches, and he then discovers that they are real and want to get rid of children by turning them into mice. The Witches was adapted to film in 1990 with Anjelica Huston as the Grand High Witch, and even though it didn’t perform well at the box office, it was well-received by critics and viewers, building a cult status over the years.
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The Witches got a second film adaptation in 2020 now with Robert Zemeckis as director and a cast full of well-known names ready to introduce new generations to Dahl’s concept of witches. The movie was one of many affected by the coronavirus pandemic, and instead of getting a theatrical release, it was sent to HBO Max right on time for Halloween season. Here’s a guide to the cast members of The Witches and where you’ve seen them before.
Anne Hathaway as Lilith/The Grand High Witch
Anne Hathaway plays Lilith, the Grand High Witch, a title given to the all-powerful leader of the witches on Earth. She’s a very powerful and evil witch, feared by many, and who hides her ancient age and disturbing appearance behind the (literal) mask of an attractive woman. Anne Hathaway’s big break came in 2001 when she played Mia Thermopolis in The Princess Diaries and has since appeared in a number of films, most notably Ella Enchanted, The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement, The Devil Wears Prada, The Dark Knight Rises, and Les Misérables, which got her her first Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress.
Octavia Spencer as Agatha Hansen
Octavia Spencer plays Agatha Hansen, Charlie’s grandmother, and the long-time rival of the Grand High Witch. Agatha was a witch hunter, who worked hard to get rid of the Grand High Witch as that might be the key to finally defeating all witches. Octavia Spencer is best known for her roles in The Help (for which she won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress), Snowpiercer, Ma, and The Shape of Water.
Jahzir Kadeen and Chris Rock as Charlie Hansen
Jahzir Kadeen players Charlie Hansen, Agatha’s grandson who moves in with her after the death of his parents. Thanks to his grandmother, Charlie learns that witches are real and don’t have good intentions, and ends up becoming one of their victims after stumbling across a conference of witches. Jahzir Kadeen has previously appeared in the TV series Atlanta and The Oath, and plays Jack in Netflix’s The Christmas Chronicles 2. Chris Rock is the voice of Charlie as an adult, who serves as the narrator of the movie. Chris Rock is known for his comedy work and for voicing a number of characters in different movies, as are Dr. Dolittle, the Madagascar series, and Bee Movie, and has also appeared in Grown Ups, Grown Ups 2, Dolemite is My Name, and Spiral.
The Witches Supporting Cast
Stanley Tucci as Mr. Stringer: the manager of the hotel where the witches gather. Stanley Tucci has appeared in a number of movies and TV shows, most notably the Hunger Games franchise and Spotlight.
Kristin Chenoweth as the voice of Daisy: a girl turned into a mouse by the witches. Kristin Chenoweth played Annabeth Schott in The West Wing, Olive Snook in Pushing Daisies, and has voiced various characters in movies and TV shows.
Codie-Lei Eastick as Bruno Jenkins: another kid turned into a mouse.
Charles Edwards as Mr. Jenkins: Bruno’s father. Charles Edwards played Michael Gregson in Downton Abbey and Martin Charteris in The Crown.
Morgana Robinson as Mrs. Jenkins: Bruno’s mother.
Josette Simon as Zelda, Eugenia Caruso as Consuella, Ana-Maria Maskell as Esmerelda, Orla O’Rourke as Saoirse, and Penny Lisle as Lana: witches attending the gathering of the Grand High Witch. Josette Simon played Mnemosyne in Wonder Woman, and Eugenia Caruso played Mrs. Santorelli in The Alienist.
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