Last Updated: April 23, 2020
Classic 1990s kids movie Hocus Pocus is getting a made-for-TV sequel on Disney+. Here’s everything we know so far about Hocus Pocus 2.
Directed by Kenny Ortega, Hocus Pocus starred Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker and Kathy Najimy as the Sanderson sisters, three witches who are burned at the stake in 17th century Salem. Decades later, a teenager called Max (Omri Katz) moves to Salem and ends up at the witches’ old home, where he lights the Black Flame Candle and accidentally brings the Sandersons back from the dead. Max, his little sister Dani (Thora Birch) and local girl Allison (Vinessa Shaw) team up with a talking cat to try and stop the witches before they can consume the life forces of every child in town.
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Now, a Hocus Pocus 2 is in the works that will likely include the original cast in some way, and will be released on Disney’s new streaming service Disney+. Here’s every update you need to know.
Hocus Pocus 2 Is A Disney+ Movie
Speaking in 2017, original screenwriter Mick Garris said he had heard rumors of Hocus Pocus 2 moving ahead as a TV movie, with a script already in development. Shortly afterwards it was confirmed that a Hocus Pocus TV movie was in the works at Disney Channel for release on Freeform, and that it would be a reboot rather than a direct sequel. However, October 2019 brought the news that Hocus Pocus 2 would indeed be a sequel to the original, and will be heading to Disney+ instead of Freeform. Workaholics writer Jen D’Angelo is penning the script, and in March 2020, Adam Shankman (Hairspray, What Men Want) was officially attached to direct the project.
Hocus Pocus 2 Will Probably Feature the Original Cast
Hocus Pocus director Kenny Ortega will not be involved in the making of Hocus Pocus 2, and the movie was initially reported to feature an entirely new cast. However, with fall 2019’s confirmation that the new Hocus Pocus will be a sequel instead of a reboot, original star Sarah Jessica Parker says she and co-stars Kathy Najimy and Bette Midler are onboard are just waiting for the call from Disney to make things official. Doug Jones, who played zombie character Billy Butcherson, has also said that he would “love” to reprise his role. According to a report in March 2020, all three original Sanderson sisters are said to be fully expected to reach deals to return.
When Will Hocus Pocus 2 Release?
While fans of the original may be eager to see Hocus Pocus 2, development has been slow-going. However, with the sequel now rapidly moving forward and set to stream on Disney+, and with Disney looking to pour hundreds of millions of dollars into generating original content for the service, it’s possible that Hocus Pocus 2 will be fast-tracked. That said, the Coronavirus pandemic likely ended hopes for any kind of 2020 release, although production may still be able to kickoff before the end of the year with a 2021 debut in mind.
