Thirty years ago, Disney introduced fans to the wickedly funny Sanderson sisters with the release of the movie Hocus Pocus. Hocus Pocus starred Bette Midler as Winifred Sanderson, Kathy Najimy as Mary Sanderson, and Sarah Jessica Parker as Sarah Sanderson. The Sanderson sisters are brought back from the head when teenager (and virgin), Max Dennison, lights the Black Flame Candle. Max then teams up with his younger sister, Dani, his school crush, Allison, and Winifred’s ex-love interest, Billy Butcherson. Together, they must save the town of Salem as the sisters work to suck the lives out of its children.
Even though Hocus Pocus wasn’t a hit right off the bat, it has since become one of Disney’s most successful holiday movies ever. For years, fans begged Disney for a sequel film. Finally, on September 30, 2022, Hocus Pocus 2 was released on Disney+. While not as widely beloved as the original film, Hocus Pocus 2 was a hit and one of the most successful films ever released on the streaming platform. Midler, Najimy, and Parker all returned to their original Sanderson sister roles, and Doug Jones returned as Billy Butcherson. However, Katz, Thora Birch (Dani), and Vinessa Shaw (Allison) were nowhere to be found.
According to Katz, he was not asked to return to the sequel. Reports indicated that Disney was attempting to bring back Thora Birch, but scheduling just never lined up. While Katz was disappointed that he was not asked back for the sequel, he is holding out hope for Hocus Pocus 3. In an email to Entertainment Weekly, Katz said that he would love to come back for the third film.
“I’m excited for the new film! Glad to see this franchise gain its popularity 30 years later. Yes, I would return if Disney approached me. It would be an honor to return, hopefully with some of my fellow castmates, and make a fun addition to the franchise!”
On June 4, Sean Bailey, the President of Walt Disney Motion Pictures, confirmed that Disney was working on Hocus Pocus 3. We don’t know many details at this time, but we can confirm that Anne Fletcher is returning for the third film. Fletcher directed the Disney+ sequel.
It is unlikely that Midler, Najimy, and Parker will return for a third film. Midler said that she would love to star in a franchise, but Najimy and Parker think that the Sanderson sister’s story has run its course. Hocus Pocus 2 introduced three new female lead characters — Becca (Whitney Peak), Izzy (Belissa Escobedo), and Cassie (Lilia Buckingham). The next film in the series will most likely follow those three friends, one of whom discovered she is a witch.
