Last September, Disney+ released the sequel that many fans had been waiting for almost thirty years: Hocus Pocus 2a follow-up to the 1993 cult favorite hocus pocus. It was an unprecedented launch, with subscribers streaming the film for 2.7 billion minutes during its opening weekend. So it’s not too surprising to hear (via The New York Times) that Hocus Pocus 3 it is now in development. The confirmation comes directly from Sean Bailey, president of Walt Disney Studios Motion Picture Production.
Directed by Anne Fletcher from a screenplay by Jen D’Angelo (workaholics), Hocus Pocus 2 saw Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Kathy Najimy reprising the roles of the Sanderson sisters. The film has the following synopsis: Picking up 29 years after a teenager named Max lit the Black Flame Candle and resurrected the three 17th century sorceresses who stole childhood essences, Winifred (Midler), Sarah (Parker) and Mary (Najimy) now seek revenge. With the Sanderson sisters back to terrorize Salem, it’s up to three high school students to stop them. How do you do that? Invoking the wrath of a sorceress, of course.
In preparation for the launch of Hocus Pocus 2Entertainment Weekly asked Sanderson’s stars if they saw a Hocus Pocus 3 In his future. Najimy replied “never say Never“but that he felt they were done with the Sandersons because “We’ve got all the stories you could get out of this.Parker liked the idea of the upcoming sequel being animated, but he left a meeting up to his co-stars: “It just depends on what Kathy and Bette want!Midler said:I don’t know. I’m envious of other actors who have franchises, and I was hoping for a sequel to first Wives Club, but we never got that. After 30 years without sequelae hocus pocus, I have always been envious of people who can do their favorite character more than once. The fact that we were finally able to do this, after 30 years of promoting the idea, I’m glad we did. I would love to have a franchise, especially a character that I love to play. If there was a third, of course I would sign up, but I don’t know how. I can’t imagine what the story would be, but I love Winifred, Sarah, Mary and our relationship. It is good for women. We stick together through hell and high tide, but we cause chaos, and not many women cause that much chaos!“
If Midler is there, Najimy and Parker probably are too. Now it’s just up to one writer to come up with an idea, because the main trio feel the story has nowhere to go.
Do you think the Sandersons have run their course, or is there something else they can do in Hocus Pocus 3? Let us know by leaving a comment below.
