Malachi Barton Breaks Silence on Surprise Lead in Disney’s New ‘Under Wraps 3’ — Release Date, Cast & How to Watch

Young Disney star Malachi Barton is having a breakout 2025. Fresh off stealing scenes as wind-wielding vampire Victor in Zombies 4: Dawn of the Vampires, the 18-year-old actor-singer has leapt from set to stage on the Descendants/Zombies “Worlds Collide” arena tour and is already filming his next headline project, the supernatural dramedy Coven Academy. Touring like a pro Barton joins franchise leads Meg Donnelly and Milo Manheim for 43 dates across North America, belting the duet “Dream Come True” with co-star Freya Skye in front of packed arenas. Growing up on the road with musician parents prepared him for life on the bus: “I was the kid sleeping in guitar cases,” he laughs, crediting his dad’s tour-manager expertise for keeping him grounded during the high-octane run. From CGI fangs to Coven Academy For Zombies 4, producers spared Barton daily prosthetics by adding fangs in post-production, a relief he calls “a whole battle avoided.” The franchise’s “passing-the-torch” storyline leaves Barton poised to lead future installments, but Disney has bigger plans first: he’s been cast as quick-witted witch-in-training Jake in Tim Federle’s new series Coven Academy, debuting on Disney Channel and Disney+ in 2026. The show—described as a YA blend of magic, rivalry and romance—pairs him with Malina Pauli Weissman and Tiffani Thiessen. 10 years with Disney, 2.8 million followers Signed by the network on his eighth birthday after early guest spots on The Young and the Restless and a McDonald’s commercial, Barton has now logged a decade with Disney and amassed 2.8 million Instagram fans. He also co-hosts the family podcast MOMager, interviewing fellow child-stars and their parents between shoots. What’s next? • Worlds Collide Tour runs through October; tickets at major arena box offices. • Zombies 4 streams on Disney+ this winter, physical media release expected before the holidays. • Coven Academy begins Vancouver production this fall; Disney targets a late-2026 premiere. With musical chops polished, fangless smile intact and a lead-role series on deck, Malachi Barton is quickly becoming Disney’s newest multihyphenate—and one of Gen Z’s names to search before everyone else catches up.