Phony to Debut Oct. 20 on Hulu and Disney+ With Two Episodes
Phony launches Oct. 20 with two episodes on Hulu and Disney+, then weekly releases through Dec. 1.
TechRadar describes Phony as a coming-of-age dark comedy and mystery. Its protagonist, Sonny, wakes up after a car accident and begins to notice that something is not right about his mother, Ellen, who is also his high school principal. He tries to convince his friends that she is not who she says she is.
The first two episodes arrive on the same day. Episode one, titled "Pilot," is directed by Nick Paley. Episode two, "Crosby, Stills, and Nash," is written by Nick Paley. In the opening episodes, Sonny wakes from the accident to find that his mother looks slightly different; after hiding all weekend, he returns to school to seek help, according to the episode guide.
Later episodes are scheduled weekly. "Reverse Cuckoo Situation," written by Michelle Badillo, is set for Oct. 27; "Vibes Are Rancid," written by Lacey Jeka, for Nov. 3; and "House of Dog," written by Ali Liebegott, for Nov. 10. Three further episodes are listed for Nov. 17, Nov. 24 and Dec. 1. TechRadar said the titles for those episodes have not been announced; their writers are listed as Dave Harris, Vera Santamaria and Anthony King.
The cast includes Connie Britton as Ellen Cooke and Sam Nivola as Sonny Cooke. Spencer Driver is listed as young Sonny, with Meera Syal as Sharla, Grace Brennan as Mallory, Mahaela Park as Chloe, Maliq Johnson as Vogel and Colter Lee as Weldon.
TechRadar's guide says U.S. viewers can watch on Hulu, where plans start at $11.99 per month, and that viewers in Canada, the U.K., Australia and elsewhere can watch on Disney+ from Oct. 20. The guide also recommends using a VPN to access a usual streaming service while traveling outside the subscriber's home country. It names NordVPN as its preferred service.
Editor's Summary
Phony, a coming-of-age dark comedy mystery, will begin with two episodes on Oct. 20, 2026, on Hulu in the U.S. and Disney+ elsewhere, with eight episodes running weekly through Dec. 1. The cast includes Connie Britton and Sam Nivola. TechRadar's guide also notes international availability and VPN options for viewers outside their home market.