Despite being an integral part of the franchise, Sophie doesn’t return for Halloweentown 4. Played by Emily Roeske, Sophie Piper is Marnie (Kimberly J. Brown) and Dylan’s (Joey Zimmerman) younger sister. In the first Halloweentown, a young Sophie starts exhibiting signs of magical prowess: when she really wants a cookie, one floats through the air toward her. As Aggie later says in one of Halloweentown‘s best quotes, “Magic is really very simple: all you’ve got to do is want something and then let yourself have it.” Unfortunately, Sophie and Marnie’s mom, Gwen (Judith Hoag), is keen on hiding the family magic from her kids.
However, Sophie proves to be a crucial part of not only the Cromwell magic but also the family’s efforts to save Halloweentown from Kalabar (Robin Thomas). Throughout the first film, Sophie is perhaps even more in tune with her magical abilities than Marnie. In both Halloweentown II and Halloweentown High, Sophie continues to be key to the coven’s triumph. Even so, she doesn’t appear in Return to Halloweentown, making long-time fans wonder what happened to the cast of Halloweentown and, in particular, Roeske.
Sophie’s Actress Emily Roeske Retired From Acting After Halloweentown High
After co-starring in 1998’s Halloweentown, Emily Roeske appeared in both Halloweentown II: Kalabar’s Revenge and Halloweentown High. Although Sophie’s role was smaller in the sequel films than in the original, she still played an important part in foiling the various antagonists’ plans. In the second and third Halloweentown movies, Sophie still shows signs of being one of the Cromwell coven’s most powerful members. However, unlike Marnie, Sophie doesn’t have a huge interest in pursuing her training.
Perhaps surprisingly, Roeske has few acting credits outside the first three Halloweentown movies. After an appearance in a 1999 episode of ER, she returned for the Halloweentown sequels, only to retire from acting in the wake of 2004’s Halloweentown High. The then-13-year-old Roeske, much like her character, didn’t continue to pursue the craft, turning to other pursuits instead. Now, the former actor holds a third-degree black belt in freestyle karate and co-owns a mixed martial arts school in Arizona (via Moviefone).
Sophie Is Still Included In Return To Halloweentown (Despite Not Being Seen)
While Marnie was recast in Return to Halloweentown, Sophie’s character didn’t make an on-screen appearance. With Roeske retired from acting and the plot of Halloweentown 4 taking Marnie to college, the team behind the film was able to write Sophie out of the film. However, she is briefly mentioned by the other members of the Piper-Cromwell clan in Return to Halloweentown, so Sophie’s absence isn’t just outright ignored either, which leaves the door open for the character to return in future franchise installments. For her part, Emily Roeske might have put her acting days behind her, but she’s as passionate about spreading seasonal Halloweentown cheer as her former cast mates.
Sources: Moviefone
