Hocus Pocus star Larry Bagby reveals that he tried to audition for the sequel, Hocus Pocus 2, but never got through. Bagby starred in 1993's Hocus Pocus as Ernie/Ice, one of the movie's 20th century bullies. Tobias Jelinek portrayed another bully, Jay, alongside Ernie. The film follows the three villainous Sanderson sister-witches, who are accidentally resurrected on Halloween by a teenage boy. While Hocus Pocus received mixed reviews and was a box office flop, it was rediscovered in the decades after its release and has garnered a cult following.
Rumors of a Hocus Pocus sequel have been swirling for almost a decade. However, it wasn't until 2020 that the sequel was officially confirmed and slated to premiere on Disney+. By early 2021, the three Sanderson sister actors - Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Kathy Najimy - were all confirmed to be reprising their roles. Another original Hocus Pocus star, Doug Jones, will also be reprising his role as Billy Butcherson for the sequel. Meanwhile, Hocus Pocus 2 will introduce numerous new cast members including Lilia Buckingham, Belissa Escobedo, Whitney Peak, Hannah Waddingham, Sam Richardson, and Tony Hale. Noticeably missing from the sequel's cast list are the original Hocus Pocus bullies.
In an interview with EW, Bagby reveals that he tried to audition for Hocus Pocus 2. His agent had attempted to land him an audition for a small role, such as the Salem Magic Shoppe owner. He never got a meeting, though, and won't be appearing in the film at all. Check out his statement below:
Unfortunately, I am not a part of it... I never got an audition for that [Salem Magic Shoppe owner], but that would've been clever, even me just playing a cop or something.
Additionally, Jelinek confirms that he will not be appearing in Hocus Pocus 2 either. For him, though, the 25-year Hocus Pocus anniversary special gave him and Bagby the reunion they needed, despite not being in the official sequel. Bagby also mentions that he pitched an idea for both him and Jelinek to have a cameo appearance in a Hocus Pocus 2 post-credit scene, but it seems this idea didn't pan out either. However, they are just two of many cast members from the original movie who won't be returning. So far, no one besides Midler, Parker, Najimy, and Jones has been confirmed to be appearing in Hocus Pocus 2, which premieres on September 30.
Though they didn't have lead roles in Hocus Pocus, Bagby and Jelinek's characters still struck up a fanbase. Hence, it is definitely disappointing for fans to hear that they are not involved with the sequel. It makes it even more maddening to know that they were interested in appearing and made an effort for their fans. Of course, Hocus Pocus 2 does take place 29 years after the events of the original film. Thus, it would be tricky to fit in every character who was in the original and to have a reason for each of them being there. Still, considering their interest, it's difficult to see why the two bullies couldn't even make a cameo appearance in Hocus Pocus 2.
Source: EW