Will There Be a Hocus Pocus 3?

Hocus Pocus 3 potential release date, cast and everything you need to know

Exclusive: Disney bosses are working on a third instalment of ‘Hocus Pocus’ after successfully reviving the film for a sequel, MarkMeets can confirm.
Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker and Kathy Najimy reprised their roles as three witches known as the Sanderson sisters for a second movie which was released in 2022 – almost 30 years after the original – and now it’s been confirmed there are plans to bring ‘Hocus Pocus’ back for a third film.

Sean Bailey, president of Walt Disney Studios Motion Picture Production, dropped the big news in an interview with the New York Times, simply stating: “Yes, ‘Hocus Pocus 3’ is happening.”

He didn’t give any more details about the third movie or confirm which cast members would be returning. It comes after Midler recently voiced her fear that a third film may never get off the ground.

Asked about the prospect of another sequel: “I’m not sure. Everything is weird. I don’t know, maybe. Who knows?”

However, ‘Beaches’ star Bette also insisted she would “of course” sign up to appear in a third instalment of the series alongside Sarah Jessica and Kathy but is unsure how it could work in terms of the story. She told MarkMeets News“I’d love to have a franchise – especially a character I love playing. If there was a third one, of course, I’d sign on, but I don’t know how. I can’t imagine what the story would be, but I love Winifred, Sarah, Mary, and our relationship. It’s good for women. We stick together through hell and high water, but we do cause mayhem, and not many women cause that much mayhem!”

Hocus Pocus 2 proved to be a hit, then you can’t rule out another return for the Sanderson sisters.

Yes it took three decades, but “Hocus Pocus 2” arrived last year, just in time for spooky season! The Sanderson Sisters were back with raving reviews, once again, thanks to the meddling of modern-day Salem teenagers who don’t realize what they’ve done, and it’s a scary good time for everyone. The warm reception to the sequel, of course, has everyone asking: could a third installment happen down the line?

For now, at least, the cast aren’t looking that far ahead — they’re just enjoying the fun of reuniting for this sequel.

“I feel like we’re done. We’ve pulled every story you could pull out of this,” Kathy Najimy, who plays Mary Sanderson. “I guess, never say never, but I feel grateful that we got to do it again. I don’t know that there are plans for a third one, but I know fans are dedicated to this film. I’m just happy we can bring this to them.

Read our Hocus Pocus 2 film review.

Will we see the Sanderson Sisters again again?

In the same interview, Bette Midler (Winnie) expressed similar feelings: gratitude for getting to revisit the role, uncertainty over the possibility of another one, but an open mind if the right story came along.

“After 30 years with no sequel to ‘Hocus Pocus,’ I’ve always been envious of people who get to do their favorite character more than once,” she said. “The fact that we got to do this finally, after 30 years of promoting the idea, I’m glad we got to do it. I’d love to have a franchise — especially a character I love playing. If there was a third one, of course I’d sign on, but I don’t know how. I can’t imagine what the story would be, but I love Winifred, Sarah, Mary, and our relationship.”

If a third movie did end up happening, though, at least one of the “wicked sisters” has an idea of how they could make it happen!

“Kathy had a good idea that the third one should be animated. That would be cool and a smart idea!” Sarah Jessica Parker (Sarah)” “It’s fun, funny, and could be interesting and innovative, like old-fashioned or new [animation]. Of course, I’d be happy to have a conversation, it just depends on what Kathy and Bette want!”

MarkMeets have been sourced by international press including BuzzFeed, Guardian, Attitude Magazine, BBC, Daily Express, Hindustan Times, Gamespost, Billboard, Daily Mail, MTV, RTE, and Newsweek amongst other trusted outlets receiving frequent mentions online.

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Editor and Admin at MarkMeets since Nov 2012. Columnist, reviewer and entertainment writer and oversees all of the section's news, features and interviews. During his career, he has written for numerous magazines.

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