Strange as it may seem, Hocus Pocus came out a full 29 years before the upcoming Hocus Pocus 2. It’s hard to believe, but the story of Winnie, Sarah, and Mary Sanderson has been around for almost 30 years.
One of the reasons it has lasted so long is that, despite being aimed at children, it contains just enough adult innuendo to be entertaining for older viewers as well.
Hocus Pocus was not a commercial success when it was released in July 1993; Disney is reported to have lost roughly $16 million on the film.
However, the film has since gained cult status and is now obligatory to be viewed every Halloween. Fans of the horror genre now have a light, humorous option for the Halloween season.
Bette Midler, Kathy Najimy, and Sarah Jessica Parker have all been quoted as saying they would be interested in reprising their roles as the Sanderson sisters if a sequel or remake were to be made, and talk of such a project has been circulating since at least 2014.
Official confirmation of the sequel’s production was announced in October 2019; shortly thereafter, we learned that all three original actresses had signed on for return engagements.
It’s been 29 years since the Sanderson sisters were resurrected by lighting the Black Flame Candle in the first Hocus Pocus film. Three teenage girls unwittingly resurrect the witches, who intend to exact additional revenge and destruction.
The women of Salem must mend fences and prevent Winnie, Sarah, and Mary from making further disruptions.
Hocus Pocus 2 Release Date
The question is whether you can hold up until Halloween to watch Hocus Pocus 2, which will be available on Disney+ on September 30. The sequel’s production began on October 18, 2021, in Rhode Island, and ended in late January 2022.
Now that we have to wait for Hocus Pocus 2, we can always watch the first film again on Disney+ to satisfy our witchy needs in the meanwhile.
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Hocus Pocus 2 Cast
Fans were thrilled when a sequel to Hocus Pocus was announced, but now they want to know: are the original cast members coming back, or will the Sanderson Sisters be recast?
Yes, Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Kathy Najimy are all back in their original roles as Winifred, Sarah, and Mary Sanderson.
Doug Jones has also returned as Billy Butcherson, a fan-favorite character from the 1993 movie. The following actors are also set to appear in the film:
- Whitney Peak as Becca
- Lilia Buckingham as Cassie
- Belissa Escobedo as Izzy
- Sam Richardson
- Tony Hale
- Hannah Waddingham
- Froy Gutierrez
- Taylor Paige Henderson
- Nina Kitchen
Despite telling Variety, “I turned up for my fitting in Rhode Island and the second assistant director said, ‘All the ladies would like to meet you,'” Waddingham, best known for her appearance in Ted Lasso, has been tight-lipped about the nature of her work.
“Honestly, my jaw dropped off. I joined them as they sat around in their costumes. Bette Midler, Kathy Najimy, and the formidable SJP”.
Hocus Pocus 2 Plot
On June 28th, the first trailer for Hocus Pocus 2 was released, giving viewers a taste of what they can expect. A bird flies over a body of black water as foreboding music plays. We meet three young women, one of whom is celebrating her 16th birthday.
Meanwhile, Richardson’s character tells the girls that, according to myth, witches don’t gain their abilities until they turn 16. Two of the girls then proceed to engage in some sort of ceremony and do so in a graveyard, of all places.
As they chant, the trailer cuts to Winifred’s magical spellbook, which opens its eerie single eye (duh-duh-duh). Then, suddenly, a black flame candle lights up, or at least a replica of the one from the original film that was used to resurrect the witches.
Now we get to the thrilling part of the trailer. Moments before the three witches appear, the dirt of the graveyard opens up and we see them in all their ghastly grandeur. Winifred’s voice can be heard as the images flash on the TV, “Keep your kids locked up, Salem. We’ve returned!”
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