Why Was Marnie Recast In Return To Halloweentown?

For years, fans of the Halloweentown franchise have wondered why protagonist Marnie was recast in Return to Halloweentown. A 1998 Disney Channel Original Movie, the first installment in the Halloweentown series stars frequent DCOM collaborator Kimberly J. Brown as Marnie, a preteen with a penchant for the supernatural. After learning that she comes from a family of witches, Marnie is eager to tap into her powers, so she disobeys her mother’s (Judith Hoag) wishes and follows her grandma, Aggie Cromwell (Debbie Reynolds), to the titular magical realm.