ABC Officially Confirms Return Of Iconic Fantasy Adaptation 23 Years Later

Published Oct 29, 2026, 7:38 PM EDT Jennifer is a TV and Movie News Editor at ScreenRant. She started her journey in entertainment media in 2022 when she first joined Valnet at CBR before coming to ScreenRant. Jennifer loves TV, especially science fiction. She also loves late-night talk shows, due to her insomnia. Alien: Earth is definitely one of her favorite shows, and she jumps on any chance she gets to write about it. Even on her days off, she will claim an Alien Earth article if one is available. Jimmy Kimmel and Jimmy Fallon are two of her favorite late-night hosts, and Conan O'Brien before he left his show. Her Alien: Earth coverage for ScreenRant is by far the work that she is most proud of so far. She was initially a finance and political editor, but her passion for pop culture convinced her to transition into entertainment journalism. During her off time, she loves to binge-watch cooking shows such as Kitchen Nightmares. Jennifer also loves spending time with her daughter and cherishes every moment of it. Mickey Mouse is joining families everywhere for the holidays. ABC is bringing a beloved Disney Christmas classic back to TV more than two decades after its premiere on the network. Now, the company has officially confirmed that Mickey's Christmas Carol will return as part of its 2026 holiday programming lineup, making this the animated special's first appearance on ABC in 23 years. According to ABC's recently released holiday schedule, The Wonderful World of Disney Presents Mickey's Christmas Carol will air on Wednesday, November 25, 2026, at 8:00 PM ET and 5:00 PM PT. The special will take place the night before Thanksgiving, giving families an opportunity to revisit the classic animated adaptation of Charles Dickens' famous Christmas story of the same name. Originally released in 1983, Mickey's Christmas Carol brings together several of Disney's most recognizable animated characters for a recreation of Dickens' 1843 novel A Christmas Carol. Instead of using human characters, the short features early Disney icons in the story, with Scrooge McDuck taking on the role of the selfish, money-hungry Ebenezer Scrooge. Meanwhile, Mickey Mouse plays Bob Cratchit, Scrooge's underpaid employee, and Donald Duck portrays his nephew Fred. Goofy appears as the ghost of Jacob Marley, Scrooge's business partner who passed away. His warning was what triggered Scrooge's long journey, revisiting his past, exploring his present, and seeing into his potential future. The story follows Scrooge as he is confronted by spirits who open his eyes to how awful he has been to the people in his life and what that could cost him. Through his encounters with the ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and Future, he begins to see the importance of being compassionate and generous, as well as the damage he caused by neglecting his relationships with his family and friends. The animated holiday special also holds an important place in Disney history. Directed by Burny Mattinson, Mickey's Christmas Carol premiered in England on October 20, 1983, before receiving its United States theatrical release on December 16 of that same year. Its production marked Mickey's return to animation after a 30-year hiatus. His last cartoon prior to the short had been 1953's The Simple Things, making the Christmas adaptation an important moment for one of Disney's most famous characters. Mickey's Christmas Carol also received a nomination for Best Animated Short Film at the 56th Academy Awards in 1984. Although it did not win, the nomination was still a major achievement for Disney's animation department. The network has confirmed that several famous movies will air during the holiday season, including Mary Poppins, The Sound of Music, Home Alone, and The Santa Clause. The lineup will also feature Father of the Bride, Die Hard, Mufasa: The Lion King, and Marvel Studios' The Fantastic Four: First Steps. Mickey's Christmas Carol will air on Wednesday, November 25, 2026, at 8:00 PM ET and 5:00 PM PT. Release Date December 16, 1983 Runtime 26 Minutes Director Burny Mattinson Cast Wayne Allwine Bob Crachit Writers Charles Dickens, Burny Mattinson, Tony Marino, Ed Gombert, Don Griffith, Alan Young, Alan Dinehart, Ted Osborne, Al Taliaferro