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The classic young adult novel Holes is getting a brand-new TV remake for Disney+, and there are already some major changes to the source material. Originally published in 1998 by Louis Sachar, the book concerns a boy named Stanley who is falsely accused of a crime and sent to a correctional camp in the deserts of Texas. While weaving in multiple narratives set at different points in time, Sachar managed to deliver a young adult novel that didn’t skimp on heavy themes. Issues of race, class, illiteracy, and incarceration were explored, without alienating its target demographic.
Sachar himself returned to pen the script for the 2003 Disney film of the same name, and Shia LaBeouf headed up the cast of young stars. The movie was a modest success financially, but was largely praised for its faithfulness to the source material, and performances from LaBeouf and his youthful co-stars. Though Sachar has written follow-up books that are ripe for adaptation, Disney has come calling once again, and plans to adapt Holes as a TV series. The new show will also gender-swap the characters, an interesting choice that is sure to help it stand out from the original.
The Holes TV Series Latest News
The First Cast Members Are Announced
A few months after Disney laid out their plans for the remake, the latest news confirms that several cast members have joined the TV remake of Holes. Paying off their promise of gender-swapping the main characters, Greg Kinnear (As Good as it Gets) will play The Warden, the ruthless owner of Camp Green Lake. Furthermore, Shay Rudolph (The Baby-Sitter’s Club) has been tapped to play Hayley, the Stanley counterpart for the remake. SNL alum Aidy Bryant will play a camp counselor named Sissy, while a myriad of the younger cast members have also signed on.
Though it’s unclear how their characters will relate to or be different from the characters in the book, Flor Delis Alicea (Seashells) will play Queenie alongside Anire Kim Amoda (The Penguin) as Thumbelina, Noah Cottrell (The Spiderwick Chronicles) as Kitch, and Iesha Daniels (Master of None) as Mars. Finally, Sophie Dieterlen will appear as Sticky, Alexandra Doke (Psycho BFF) as Eyeball, and Maeve Press (Everything’s Gonna Be Okay) as Shrimp.
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The Holes TV Series Is Confirmed
The Disney+ Original Series Was Announced In 2025
Though work had been taking place behind-the-scenes before 2025, the Holes TV remake was officially given a pilot order in January of that year. Drew Goddard (The Martian) is attached as an executive producer, and Yellowjackets alum Liz Phang will be the showrunner. Alina Mankin (Anne with an E) will direct the pilot episode, and casting began in April 2025. No production timeline has been announced yet, though it should begin filming very soon.
Disney clearly has a plan for the adaptation, so it’s highly unlikely that it will get passed over.
It’s important to note that Holes has received a pilot order only, and hasn’t been granted a full season yet. The pilot will likely be assessed by Disney+ before the final decision is made, so it’s impossible to know if or when the series will hit the small screen. It’s not unusual for pilot to be reworked after studio notes are taken into account, and that could delay a full season’s production for months. However, Disney clearly has a plan for the adaptation, so it’s highly unlikely that it will get passed over.
The Holes movie premiered on April 11, 2003.
The Holes TV Series Cast Details
A Gender-Swapped Cast For The Holes Remake
The cast of Disney+’s TV remake of Holes has already begun to take shape, and it features some notable names as well as a ton of up-and-coming talent. Headlining the series is Shay Rudolph (The Baby-Sitter’s Club) who will be playing a character named Hayley who is ostensibly the Stanley of the TV series. Joining her is Greg Kinnear as the vicious Warden who owns Camp Green Lake, and who has his own ulterior motives for making the kids dig holes. Aidy Bryant (SNL) will play a camp counselor named Sissy.
Many of the other youngsters have also been cast, including Flor Delis Alicea (Seashells) as Queenie and Anire Kim Amoda (The Penguin) as Thumbelina. Noah Cottrell (The Spiderwick Chronicles) has been tapped to play Kitch, and Iesha Daniels (Master of None) is Mars. Sophie Dieterlen will appear as Sticky, Alexandra Doke (Psycho BFF) as Eyeball, and Maeve Press (Everything’s Gonna Be Okay) will play Shrimp.
The cast of the Holes TV remake includes:
|
Actor |
Holes Role |
|
|---|---|---|
|
Shay Rudolph |
Hayley |
|
|
Greg Kinnear |
The Warden |
|
|
Aidy Bryant |
Sissy |
|
|
Flor Delis Alicea |
Queenie |
|
|
Anire Kim Amoda |
Thumbelina |
|
|
Noah Cottrell |
Kitch |
|
|
Iesha Daniels |
Mars |
|
|
Alexandra Doke |
Eyeball |
|
|
Maeve Press |
Shrimp |
|
The Holes TV Series Story Details
How Will The TV Series Change The Story?
Perhaps the biggest question looming over the TV remake of Holes is how it will set itself apart from the classic 2000s family film. Though swapping the genders of the main characters is a major departure from the source, it’s still not clear what other changes to the overall framework will take place. The novel is an exploration of themes like masculinity and the harshness of the criminal justice system against boys and men, and without a suitable thematic substitute, the remake will feel flat.
Character descriptions have hinted at the introduction of LGBTQ+ concepts into the plot of Holes, though how they will integrate isn’t clear yet. The basic idea is still the same, with Hayley being sent to Camp Green Lake as punishment, where she and her fellow campers will be forced to dig holes each day. The villainous Warded will likely have ulterior motives, but his character is where other changes could take place. Instead of using the camp as a way to get free labor for his search for buried treasure, he could have some other nefarious plan.
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