‘Hocus Pocus 2’ Cast Adds Ted Lasso's Hannah Waddingham, Tony Hale and More
I put a spell on you! Nearly three decades after Hocus Pocus premiered in 1993, fans continue to watch the Halloween classic on repeat — and can’t wait for more.
In the original movie, Max (Omri Katz) lights the black flame candle, bringing Winnifred Sanderson (Bette Midler) and her sisters, Sarah (Sarah Jessica Parker) and Mary (Kathy Najimy), back to life. Luckily, Max is successful in defeating the Sanderson sisters on their mission to suck the lives out of all the children in Salem in hopes of becoming younger and living forever.
His plan is only successful, however, thanks to the help of his sister, Dani (Thora Birch), new flame Allison (Vinessa Shaw) and cat Thackery Binx (voiced by Jason Marsden). The Halloween favorite also starred Sean Murray as the human Thackery and Doug Jones as zombie Billy Butcherson.
Over the years, the cast has teased a possible second film, with Midler exclusively telling Us Weekly in October 2019, “I heard it’s going to be fabulous.” The Beaches star then joked, “I hope they hire me because I want to fly again in the worst way.”
Parker explained in May 2020 that she and fellow costars Midler and Najimy were “hospitable to the idea” of reprising their witch roles in the future.
“I think for a long time, people were talking about it as if people were moving forward with it in a real way but we were unaware of it,” the Sex and the City actress told Bruce Bozz on Sirius XM’s Quarantined with Bruce at the time. “I think now we’ve gotten to the point where we all, like, agreed publicly to the right people, [saying], ‘Yes! That would be a very, very fun idea.’ So, we’ll see. We’ll see what the future holds.”
After the actresses reunited in October 2020 in support of the New York Restoration Project, fans were even more determined to get a new movie from the ladies. In May 2021, Disney+ announced the official return of the Sanderson sisters for the upcoming film, Hocus Pocus 2.
“Sistaaaahs! It’s been 300 years… But we’re BACK! 
#HocusPocus2 arrives Fall 2022 on @DisneyPlus,” Midler confirmed via Instagram at the time.
Five months later, Shaw revealed where she thinks her character Allison and love interest Max would be now, hinting that they could come back for the sequel.
“I feel like she and Max are still together, but I think Allison’s from Salem and he always wants to be in California,” she told Entertainment Tonight in October 2021. “I think they did some sort of compromise and maybe she’s in Salem when the witches come back, you know, visiting her mom or something.”
Scroll down to see what we know about the second Hocus Pocus film:
Disney+ announced in May 2021 that Midler, Parker and Najimy would be reprising their roles as Winnifred, Sarah and Mary Sanderson, respectively, in the Halloween-themed sequel. Disney/Kobal/Shutterstock
“Three young women 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 logline reads. Snap/Shutterstock
Due to scheduling conflicts, the original Hocus Pocus 2 director won’t be working on the new project. Instead, the network announced in May 2021 that Anne Fletcher will be taking the helm. “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 in a statement at the time. “I am still grateful and proud to help shepherd this ingenious project as executive producer alongside producer Lynn Harris, whom I have loved and admired as a colleague and friend since she helped get me the job choreographing Boogie Nights.” Ryan Miller/Shutterstock
“2022 will be ‘Mah-velous!’” Birch tweeted in May 2021, hinting at a possible cameo for her character Dani. The actress previously told HollywoodLife in February 2020 that “if they would have me,” she would happily come back in some capacity. “They’ve been talking about this reboot for five years. I’m excited to see what it all looks like,” Birch said at the time. “I know a little bit about a couple of ideas for stories, but I don’t know where it’s all going to fall at the end of the day.” Image Press Agency/NurPhoto/Shutterstock
“I haven’t heard anything,” Shaw, who played Allison, told Entertainment Tonight in October 2021 of whether she’s been asked to come back for the sequel. “I know, it’s so disappointing [to hear]. I would love to do the sequel. It would be so much fun. I think there’s just a different storyline with younger people, but why can’t we all come back in some way?” Sara Jaye Weiss/Shutterstock
The film’s crew was spotted at the La Salle Academy in Providence, Rhode Island, in October 2021. Eagle-eyed fans also pointed out that Lincoln, Rhode Island’s Chase Farm park has been turned into a 1670s New England village for shooting. Disney/Kobal/Shutterstock
Hocus Pocus 2 will premiere on Disney+ in fall 2022. Snap/Shutterstock
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