Original Witches Returning for ‘Hocus Pocus 2’ on Disney+ Fall 2022
There has been slow but sure movement on Disney’s sequel to the 1993 family Halloween classic Hocus Pocus in recent years, but today it was officially announced that Hocus Pocus 2 will film this year for a fall 2022 release on Disney+, and it is now confirmed that original cast members Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Kathy Najimy, who played the iconic witches the Sanderson sisters in the original film are returning to reprise their roles.
Today (5/20/21), Midler herself was the first to officially break the news via a Tweet, which was followed by further confirmation from Disney+.
Anne Fletcher (The Guilt Trip, 27 Dresses) will direct the sequel (Adam Shankman was previously attached and will now serve as an executive producer), from a script by Jen D’Angelo (Workaholics), with filming expected to begin this fall.
An early synopsis for the sequel explains: 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.
UPDATE: Fletcher released the following statement (via EW): “Now more than ever, people need to laugh. We should be laughing every day, and there is so much fun to be had with these three unbelievable women playing delicious characters from such a beloved film. I am so grateful to be able to play a part in bringing these witches back to life, and to be working with my friends at Disney again makes it all the more special. This is a movie for everyone, from the fans who grew up with the first film to the next generation of viewers, and I can’t wait to get started.”
The 1993 original was directed by Kenny Ortega from a script by Mick Garris and Neil Cuthbert, based on a story by Garris and David Kirschner. It also starred Omri Katz, Thora Birch, Vinessa Shaw, and Doug Jones (The Shape of Water) as Billy Butcherson, any of which could also return for the sequel, though we’ll have to wait for further confirmation.
One week ago, Birch tweeted an image from the first film, with the caption “2022 will be ‘Mah-velous!’,” perhaps suggesting that she will be reprising her role as Dani Dennison in the sequel.
We expect additional cast announcements coming very soon.
A sequel of sorts has already happened in book form with 2018’s Hocus Pocus and the All-New Sequel.
We’ll continue to follow this story closely as the film moves forward, but you can view the early title treatment below.
[Read more Hocus Pocus news here.]
Sistaaaahs! It’s been 300 years… But we’re BACK! 🧹 #HocusPocus2 arrives Fall 2022 on @DisneyPlus. pic.twitter.com/OFMTlfjCDq
— bettemidler (@BetteMidler) May 20, 2021
It’s all just a bunch of Hocus Pocus 2️⃣
Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Kathy Najimy will reprise their roles as the delightfully wicked Sanderson Sisters in #HocusPocus2, coming fall 2022 to #DisneyPlus. pic.twitter.com/gr3B0Z1JcA
— Disney+ (@disneyplus) May 20, 2021
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