Cast of The Witches 2020: Actors, Roles & Controversy

Anne Hathaway’s Grand High Witch in the 2020 remake sparked one of the year’s most talked-about casting controversies—a stark departure from Anjelica Huston’s iconic 1990 portrayal. Here’s a full breakdown of who’s who in The Witches 2020, why fans pushed back, and how the new cast stacks up against the original.

Grand High Witch: Anne Hathaway · Grandma: Octavia Spencer · Hotel Manager: Stanley Tucci · Release Year: 2020 · Director: Robert Zemeckis

Who plays the little boy in The Witches 2020?

Jahzir Bruno takes the lead as the unnamed protagonist—a boy whose life changes when he stumbles upon the witches’ annual gathering. Bruno’s journey mirrors the book’s structure, though the 2020 adaptation makes several key changes to his fate and companions.

Unlike the 1990 film where the boy (Luke) returns to human form at home, the 2020 remake leaves the children transformed into mice permanently. Bruno’s character teams up with the boy, forming a small band of rodent resistance alongside Grandma and her own mouse companion Daisy.

Main child actors

Codie-Lei Eastick joins the cast as a newcomer, playing a supporting role in the hotel storyline. Wikipedia confirms both Bruno and Eastick as part of the principal child cast for the 2020 film. The film’s ensemble gives these young performers notable screen time alongside seasoned actors like Hathaway and Spencer.

Bruno’s role

SAC Media notes that in the 1990 version, Bruno stays with his parents while the witch subplot resolves off-screen. The 2020 adaptation shifts this entirely—Bruno becomes an active participant in the mice community, joining Grandma and the protagonist in their final departure from the hotel. This change gives the character more narrative weight than his 1990 counterpart.

Why did Anne Hathaway apologize for The Witches?

Anne Hathaway issued a public apology after disability advocates pointed out that the Grand High Witch’s three-fingered hands closely resembled ectrodactyly—a limb difference affecting thousands of children worldwide. Entertainment.ie reported that advocates including British Paralympic swimmer Amy Marren and the Lucky Fin Project organization criticized the film’s design choice within days of release.

Entertainment.ie: “I did not connect limb difference with the GHW when the look of the character was brought to me; if I had, I assure you this never would have happened.” — Anne Hathaway, actress

Apology details

Hathaway was 37 years old during the controversy, according to Fox News. She shared a Lucky Fin Project video on Instagram as part of her apology, writing: “I particularly want to say I’m sorry to kids with limb differences: now that I know better I promise I’ll do better.” Warner Bros. also issued a statement saying they were “deeply saddened to learn that our depiction of the fictional characters in ‘The Witches’ could upset people with disabilities.”

“We were deeply saddened to learn that our depiction of the fictional characters in ‘The Witches’ could upset people with disabilities.” — Warner Bros. studio statement

Portrayal issues

The 1990 film featuring Anjelica Huston as the Grand High Witch kept all fingers intact on the witch characters. Simple & Gayforward confirms the original 1990 adaptation did not feature limb differences in its witch designs. The 2020 version’s decision to give witches three-fingered hands—per Roald Dahl’s description—was interpreted by viewers as mocking a real condition rather than honoring the source material.

Which is better, The Witches 1990 or 2020?

Fan debates between the two adaptations center on three main points: witch design, pacing, and ending satisfaction. The 2020 version runs under director Robert Zemeckis with updated special effects, while the 1990 Nicolas Roeg film carries decades of nostalgia.

Cast differences

The most visible difference lies in the Grand High Witch portrayal. Anjelica Huston’s 1990 version is widely praised for its theatrical menace and memorable speech about eradicating children. Anne Hathaway’s 2020 take opts for a more glamorous, less overtly terrifying aesthetic. SAC Media describes the 2020 witch appearance as “glamorous and less terrifying than 1990’s,” a departure that split audiences.

Overall remake vs original

Warner Bros.’ 2020 release on HBO Max brought the story to streaming audiences for the first time, expanding its reach beyond theatrical distribution. The remake has clearer storytelling and more plot details than the 1990 version, per SAC Media’s analysis. However, many fans still prefer the original’s darker tone and Huston’s iconic performance.

For readers weighing which version to watch, the 2020 film excels in production quality and narrative clarity, while the 1990 film remains the gold standard for tone and villain embodiment. Both are worth seeing if you’re a Dahl fan.

What is the controversy with The Witches 2020?

Beyond the limb difference debate, the 2020 film’s witch design became a flashpoint for broader disability representation conversations. Entertainment.ie documented criticism from multiple advocates including Shannon Crossland and former Corrie actress Melissa John, alongside the Lucky Fin Project’s Twitter response.

Limb difference backlash

The Paralympic Games organization joined individual advocates in condemning the portrayal, calling for studios to consult disability advocates before finalizing character designs that could mirror real conditions. The timing—mere days after HBO Max release—amplified the backlash before the studio could prepare a response.

Actor responses

Hathaway’s apology came swiftly, and she directly addressed kids with limb differences in her statement. Warner Bros. followed with their own expression of regret. This two-pronged response (actor plus studio) is notable for how quickly it acknowledged the community’s concerns rather than defending the creative choice.

Why does grandma cough in The Witches?

Octavia Spencer’s Grandma Agatha uses a distinctive coughing mechanic throughout the film as a cover—she’s actually detecting witchcraft in her surroundings. This adaptation choice gives the character a spy-like quality absent from the book and adds comic beats to tense scenes.

Grandma’s character traits

Spencer plays Grandma Agatha as a protective guardian who’s already familiar with the witch world before the protagonist arrives. Her cough functions as both misdirection and witch-radar, a clever screenwriting addition that gives the character agency beyond mere victimhood. Wikipedia confirms Spencer’s casting and her mentorship role over the protagonist.

Plot role

In the 2020 film, Grandma’s witch detection skills prove essential—she identifies the Grand High Witch’s plot before anyone else and orchestrates the children’s escape. Her final act sees her leading Luke, Bruno, and Daisy away from the hotel as permanent mice, a darker ending than the book’s hopeful note.

The table above highlights how the 2020 remake reimagines key roles while retaining the core conflict from Roald Dahl’s 1983 novel.

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