You’ve seen her face. Maybe it was the sharp, tactical gaze of a werewolf leader on Disney Channel, or perhaps it was the terrified-but-tough stare of a horror buff running from a masked killer on Max. Honestly, if you haven’t crossed paths with a Chandler Kinney project yet, you’re basically avoiding some of the biggest pop culture pillars of the 2020s.
She isn't just another "Disney kid" who got lucky. She’s a black belt in martial arts, a UCLA psychology major (who took a break because, well, HBO called), and a performer who has somehow mastered the art of being a scream queen and a musical theater powerhouse simultaneously. In early 2026, her career is hitting a fever pitch that most actors spend decades trying to reach.
The Horror Buff Who Became a Scream Queen
If we’re talking about chandler kinney movies and tv shows, we have to start with the "A" in the room. In Pretty Little Liars: Original Sin (and the follow-up season Summer School), Kinney plays Tabby Haworthe.
Tabby is a total cinephile. She’s that person in your friend group who can’t go five minutes without referencing Hereditary or Scream. But the character is more than just a walking IMDb page. Kinney brings a specific, heavy weight to the role—especially in the way she handles the character’s survival of sexual assault. It’s a performance that shifted the Pretty Little Liars franchise from "guilty pleasure teen drama" into something much darker and more visceral.
Working on the show meant moving to the East Coast, away from her California roots. She’s mentioned in interviews that it felt like her first real "adult" moment. No more kid roles. No more safety nets. Just her, a brutal filming schedule, and the pressure of a massive legacy franchise.
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Why Tabby Haworthe Matters
- The Meta Element: Tabby uses her camera as a shield and a weapon.
- The Chemistry: Her bond with Bailee Madison’s character, Imogen, feels like a real friendship forged in trauma, not just a script requirement.
- The Shift: Summer School (Season 2) leaned even harder into the "female rage" trope, giving Kinney some of her best dramatic work to date.
The Werewolf Era: Zombies and Disney Dominance
Before she was dodging slashers in Millwood, she was leading the pack in Seabrook. For a whole generation of younger fans, Chandler Kinney is Willa Lykensen.
The ZOMBIES franchise is kind of a juggernaut. It’s easy to dismiss it as "just a kids' movie," but the numbers don't lie. Zombies 4: Dawn of the Vampires, which premiered in July 2025, pulled in over 9 million views in its first ten days on Disney+. That’s massive.
Kinney’s Willa is the Alpha. She’s fierce, she’s got the white-streaked hair, and she doesn’t take any nonsense from humans or zombies. What’s cool is how Kinney’s dance background—she started at age three—actually fuels the performance. Those werewolf "prowls" and high-energy dance numbers in "We Own the Night" or "Don't Mess with Us" (the Zombies 4 standout) aren't just luck. They’re the result of years of jazz, tap, and hip-hop training.
She was 18 when she joined the second movie. Now, in 2026, she’s 25. She basically grew up on those sets.
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The "Lethal Weapon" Years and Early Breaks
A lot of people forget she was a series regular on the Lethal Weapon TV series for three seasons. Playing Riana Murtaugh, the daughter of Damon Wayans’ Roger Murtaugh, was her first big "I've made it" gig.
Working with a comedy legend like Wayans is basically a masterclass. She’s talked about how wise he was on set, teaching her the ropes of the industry while she was still a teenager. It was a grounded, "normal" role compared to the supernatural stuff she’s doing now, but it proved she could hold her own in a high-stakes network drama.
Early Guest Spots You Might Remember
- Girl Meets World: She played Vanessa in the "Girl Meets Texas" episodes. It was a small part, but for Disney fans, it was a "who is that?" moment.
- The Haunted Hathaways: A six-episode arc as Mirabelle on Nickelodeon.
- K.C. Undercover: She popped up alongside Zendaya, which is a pretty great person to share a screen with early in your career.
What’s Happening Right Now? (2026 Updates)
If you’re looking for the latest in chandler kinney movies and tv shows, the big news is ELLE.
As of January 2026, Kinney is confirmed for the cast of ELLE, which is currently filming its second season in Vancouver. She’s playing a character named Kimberly. This series, led by showrunners like Caroline Dries (who worked on Batwoman), seems to be another step into more mature, grounded drama. It’s got a solid cast including Tom Everett Scott and June Diane Raphael.
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Then there’s the Dancing with the Stars effect. After taking 3rd place in Season 33 (partnered with Brandon Armstrong), her "likability factor" shot through the roof. People who didn't watch Zombies or PLL suddenly saw the real Chandler—funny, hardworking, and a genuinely elite dancer.
The Reality of Her Work Ethic
Here is the thing about Chandler Kinney: she doesn't stop. Most actors pick a lane. They’re "the Disney actor" or they’re "the serious indie actor."
She’s doing both. She’s voicing Willa in Zombies: The Re-Animated Series while simultaneously filming gritty dramas. She also runs "Chandler’s Friends," a non-profit she started with her mom to help disadvantaged kids.
It’s rare to see someone navigate the transition from child/teen star to adult actor this smoothly. No scandals. No weird "rebellion" phase. Just a steady climb from Nickelodeon guest spots to leading her own horror and musical franchises.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Aspiring Actors
If you’re following Chandler Kinney’s career for inspiration or just want to keep up with her work, here’s how to stay in the loop:
- Watch the Evolution: Start with Lethal Weapon to see her dramatic foundation, then hit Zombies 2 and 3 for the physical performance, and finish with Pretty Little Liars: Summer School for her peak "scream queen" work.
- Monitor the Vancouver Production: Keep an eye out for trailers for ELLE Season 2 later this year. It's expected to be her next big breakout role that isn't tied to a pre-existing franchise.
- The Soundtrack Factor: If you’re a fan of her voice, the Zombies 4 soundtrack is currently her most polished musical work. Check out "Don't Mess with Us" for a showcase of her vocal range and attitude.
- Check the Credits: She’s increasingly doing voice work, including The Ghost and Molly McGee and Robot Chicken. She’s building a resume that’s incredibly diverse, which is the best way to ensure longevity in Hollywood.
The "Chandler Kinney" era isn't just starting—it's already here. Whether she's in a werewolf den or a high school haunted by "A," she's consistently the most interesting person on the screen. Keep watching.