Inside the 'Coven Academy' premiere celebration with Malina Pauli Weissman, Swayam Bhatia and more

Malina Pauli Weissman, Swayam Bhatia and more came together at the legendary Ennis House in Los Angeles to celebrate.

ByAmy BeckerOTRC logo
Thursday, October 1, 2026 12:53AM
Inside the 'Coven Academy' premiere celebration with the stars
Inside the "Coven Academy" premiere celebration! Hear from Malina Pauli Weissman, Swayam Bhatia and more before the launch of the new Disney series, premiering Oct. 1 on Freeform and next day on Disney+ and Hulu.
DISNEY/FRANK MICELOTTA

LOS ANGELES -- Get ready, witches! "Coven Academy" is almost here.

In celebration of its upcoming release, the cast and creator of the new Disney series gathered for some festive fun at the historic Ennis House in Los Angeles. The night was complete with tarot card readings, crystals and a themed dinner.

On The Red Carpet attended the event and spoke with the cast about their excitement for the series.

"Coven Academy" premieres Oct. 1 on Freeform and streams next day on Disney+ and Hulu.

"I can't even believe that people are going to be able to watch it, so I am just so jittery and excited to see what people have to say," Malina Pauli Weissman said. She plays the main character Briar, a young, headstrong witch who must learn how to master her powers alongside her magical peers.

Jordan Leftwich, plays the witch Sasha, one of Briar's best friends. "It feels like we're all at our own little convening ceremony right now," she said.

"It feels very full circle and exciting that we're like, here and it's like, we've done this whole thing," Louis Thresher told us. He plays Ollie, a character with a secret or two, and one of Briar's two love interests (alongside Malachi Barton's character, Jake).

We also spoke with Swayam Bhatia who plays McKenna, another witch at the Academy. The Disney star is in the midst of the "Worlds Collide Concert Tour," but was able to join the fun during a night where she wasn't lighting up a stadium alongside her "ZOMBIES," "Descendants" and "Camp Rock" co-stars.

"This show has meant the world to us," she said. "It is such a step in Disney culture, and I'm so honored to be a part of it. I'm honored to be playing a witch and honored to be working with Tim Federle, who's a filmmaker that I've looked up to for years."

Federle created the series. He's also the creator behind Disney+'s "High School Musical: The Musical: The Series" and the director of the upcoming "Romy and Michele 2."

"He is the show," Ora Duplass said of Federle. She plays Briar's other best friend, Tegan. "When I think of the show, it's him. It all stemmed from him. And little parts of the show stemmed from his life. And to be able to bring that to the screen with him and for him was just so amazing. And he's such like, a dad. He's always looking out for us. It's just, it's great, especially for me, like just getting into the business. It was awesome to have him."

Stars Devon Sawa and Tiffani Thiessen also join the cast as Coven Academy faculty Mr. Cole and Miss Graves.

"It started off as this little thing, and it grew, and it grew, and it grew, and I've seen it, and it's just a phenomenal little TV show," said Sawa.

Thiessen shared her excitement. "We're all very, very excited for you guys to see the show. I know my kids are excited like, we're super stoked."

The Walt Disney Company is the parent company of Freeform, Disney+, Hulu and this ABC station.

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