Disney is putting witches back on the small screen, and this time they’re teenagers, they’re in New Orleans, and they’re juggling a love triangle. “Coven Academy” is the network’s latest young adult series, and it arrives with a supernatural premise, a school full of magic, and a trio of witches who can’t decide who gets the spell.
The show follows Briar, a teenage witch attending a magical boarding school in the heart of New Orleans. She has two best friends, Sasha and Tegan, and a cast of other magical peers around her. The catch is that power is currency, secrets are lethal, and attraction is a liability.
Coven Academy’s Creator Explains the Premise
Tim Federle created “High School Musical: The Musical: The Series,” and he’s stepping into the supernatural genre with this new project. The setting is a magical boarding school in New Orleans, which gives the show a Gothic backdrop and a city full of history to lean on.
Federle explains why he wanted to make a show about witches. “If I’m an audience member who’s like, ‘I’m not sure about a magic show,’ Briar says it before you do, and that’s a really fun character to write,” he says. The character speaks for the audience, which is a clever way to disarm any skepticism about the premise.
The stakes are high. Dark forces threaten the witches’ way of life, and the show balances that darkness with something sweeter. As Jordan Leftwich puts it, “We have dark forces that we’re fighting all together, and you also have girlhood, and it’s a beautiful situation where you get to see us grow and bond together.”
The Friendship at the Center
Friendship is the emotional core of “Coven Academy.” Ora Duplass says it directly. “My first word that I think of when I think of ‘Coven Academy’ is ‘friendship,’ not only because of the three of our characters and that friendship, but the friendship that we created while creating the show.”
That’s a meaningful detail. A show about witches and magic could easily become a cold, isolated affair. Instead, the creators have made the bond between the three characters central to the story. It’s a smart move, because audiences connect with people, not spells.
The Love Triangle Between Briar, Jake and Ollie
The romantic subplot is where things get interesting. There’s a love triangle brewing between Briar, Jake and Ollie. Jake is played by Malachi Barton, who steps into a darker role for the show. Louis Thatcher plays Ollie.
Malina Pauli Weissman, who plays Briar, is having trouble picking a side. “I literally have no idea who she should go for. I think that they’re both great options, and I cannot wait to see what the world has to say,” she says. In a later interview, she adds, “it just brings up two different sides of her. And I think it’s the devil and the angel on her shoulder.”
Barton, playing Jake, isn’t so conflicted. “My side is that she better pick me. Are you kidding me? Come on. Jake and Briar? That’s like, squad,” he says. He makes his case for Jake: “I think the Jake case is that he’s not a vampire, first of all. We bring soft spots out on each other, and I think that we would like, Jake and Briar would like, flow so well together at some point.”
Federle is enjoying the tension. “Slow burn. Slow burn,” he teases.
The Cast and Their Roles
The show has a strong ensemble. Jordan Leftwich, Ora Duplass, Tiffani Thiessen and Devon Sawa joined Weissman and Barton on The Red Carpet ahead of the premiere. The group represents a mix of established actors and newcomers.
Duplass is part of the trio, and her emphasis on friendship shows how the show wants to balance its supernatural elements with human connection. Thiessen and Sawa round out the cast.
The show has something for everyone, whether it’s a clan of evil vampires or an unbreakable friendship on and off screen.
What the Show Offers
The series promises a mix of genres. It’s a teen drama with magical elements, and it leans into the Halloween fun that Disney is known for. The show is set in New Orleans, which gives it a distinct location to explore.
The magic system is built around power and secrets. Power is currency, which means the strongest witches hold the most sway. Secrets are lethal, which suggests that trust is a rare commodity. And attraction is a liability, which complicates any romantic relationship.
That combination of rules sets up a particular kind of world. The show’s creators have described it as a place where secrets are dangerous and attraction carries risk.
Release Dates and Platforms
“Coven Academy” premieres Oct. 1 on Freeform. It streams the next day on Disney+ and Hulu.
The Walt Disney Company is the parent company of Freeform, Disney+, Hulu and this ABC station. That means the show lands on multiple platforms, giving viewers a range of ways to watch.
The premiere date is Oct. 1. The streaming window opens the following day.
The Verdict on Coven Academy
The show sounds like a solid teen drama with a supernatural twist. The love triangle adds a layer of fun, and Barton’s bluntness about Jake being the obvious choice is entertaining. Weissman’s indecision keeps things open-ended, which is a good approach for a first season.
The friendship between the three main characters is the emotional anchor. Duplass’s description of the show as a place of friendship suggests that the show doesn’t forget the human element amid all the magic.
| Platform | Premiere Date | Streaming Window |
|---|---|---|
| Freeform | Oct. 1 | Next day |
| Disney+ | Oct. 1 | Next day |
| Hulu | Oct. 1 | Next day |
The show has something for everyone. The evil vampires provide the dark forces, and the unbreakable friendship provides the warmth. That balance is a smart move for a show that could easily tip too far in either direction.
What to Watch For
The slow burn between Briar, Jake and Ollie is the story’s engine. Weissman’s indecision will likely carry over into the early episodes, giving the show a chance to develop the relationships organically.
Barton’s certainty about Jake being the squad is a fun contrast. His character’s “darker” role, as Barton describes it, suggests he brings a different kind of intensity to the show.
The show is a chance for Disney to present a magical boarding school in New Orleans. The New Orleans setting and the friendship focus give it a distinct identity.
- The love triangle between Briar, Jake and Ollie
- Barton’s insistence that Jake and Briar are the squad
- Weissman’s inability to choose between the two
- The friendship between the three main characters
- The mix of dark forces and girlhood
“Coven Academy” premieres Oct. 1 on Freeform and streams the next day on Disney+ and Hulu. The show is a tasty hook for viewers to bite.
Source material: “Malachi Barton, Malina Pauli Weissman dish on 'Coven Academy's' juicy love triangle,” ABC7 Los Angeles.
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