The new film will focus around a witch named Becca. She accidentally summons back the Sanderson Sisters on Halloween after finding a dark flame candle at the local magic shop- also the Sanderson Sisters’ former home. The character of Becca is joined by two of her classmates, Izzy and Cassie, an “oddball” and a popular girl who also happens to be Becca’s bully.
Production won’t be starting until October 2021 meaning we will have to wait a while before seeing the film in theatres.
All three Sanderson sisters Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Kathy Najimy reprising their roles as Winifred, Sarah, and Mary, respectively will be returning to the film.
Disney announced via press release that Hocus Pocus 2 will star the original three witches: Bette Midler as Winifred Sanderson, Sarah Jessica Parker as Sarah Sanderson, and Kathy Najimy as Mary Sanderson.
The return of the Sanderson Sisters was already known, but the scale of their role was uncertain. Disney has confirmed the three will play starring roles in the new film, alongside three yet-to-be-announced younger stars, who “accidentally bring the Sanderson Sisters back to modern-day Salem and must figure out how to stop the child-hungry witches from wreaking a new kind of havoc on the world.”
The film was previously thought to be directed by Adam Shankman. However, due to scheduling conflicts with Disenchanted, Shankman has stepped into the Executive Producer role, and the directorship has gone to Anne Fletcher (The Proposal, 27 Dresses).
“As heartbroken as I am that I won’t be able to direct my friends Bette, Sarah Jessica, and Kathy in what is sure to be nothing short of a major event for Disney+ due to scheduling conflicts, I couldn’t be more pleased to be handing over the reins to Anne, who has brought so much laughter and joy into people’s lives with her previous work,” Shankman said.
Pull up a cauldron and grab your broomstick (or vacuum cleaner)! A sequel to Hocus Pocus is reportedly in development for Disney+, according to Collider‘s Jeff Sneider.
Jen D’Angelo (Workaholics, LA to Vegas, Happy Together) has been hired to pen the script for the film. Sneider also reported that D’Angelo has been given another task as well (and we’re not talking about sucking out the souls of all the children in Salem): getting the actresses behind the infamous Sanderson sisters, Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Kathy Najimy, to reprise their roles in the sequel. None of them are currently signed to the project, but
isney is reportedly optimistic that they will return in some fashion. The project is still in the early stages, and it’s not yet known if Winifred, Sarah, and Mary Sanderson would be the main characters, or if they would “pass the torch” to a new class of witches.
While not initially a box office success on its release in 1993, Hocus Pocus has become a staple of the Halloween season, having repeated viewings on Freeform throughout the month of October, its own stage show at Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party at Walt Disney World, and plenty of themed merchandise and food offerings. (And don’t you worry; the original film will be available to watch on Disney+ on launch day.)
This is far from Disney’s first attempt at revisiting Hocus Pocus; back in 2017, a remake of the film was reportedly in development for Disney Channel.
