Disney's Hocus Pocus 2 is confirmed to be in the works. The original film was released in 1993 and starred Sarah Jessica Parker, Bette Midler, and Kathy Najimy as the Sanderson sisters. Set in Salem, Massachusetts, Hocus Pocus saw the Sanderson sisters brought back to life by an unwitting teenager, Max Dennison, who didn't believe in magic. Max, along with his little sister (Thora Birch) and his high school crush, must stop the Sanderson sisters before midnight or be cursed forever.
The original film was released in theaters to middling box office results and poor critical reception. Hocus Pocus found a second life on television and home video and has become a cultural touchstone. Now a Halloween tradition for many, the film is considered a Halloween classic and has been reassessed in recent years as a Disney hit. All three Sanderson sisters, Parker, Midler, and Najimy, reunited recently, and expressed their hopes for a sequel.
It looks like their wish is being granted, with Hocus Pocus 2 confirmed to be in development at Disney's Investor's Day. Disney did not confirm whether all three Sanderson sisters will be returning for the sequel. Midler has already expressed hope that more of the original cast would return for the sequel, but nothing has been confirmed yet. Details as to the sequel's plot are under wraps.
Even though it’s been 27 years since the original, hype for the film has only grown. Salem, Massachusetts, the setting of the film (for which it filmed on location) has become flooded with tourists interested in seeing the sights from the film. With an entire tourist industry dedicated to it and a 24-hour airing on Freeform during Halloween, for which they receive millions of viewers, the sequel will be one of Disney’s most anticipated upcoming projects. If they can get it off the ground in time, it could premiere in time for Halloween 2021.
Parker, Midler, and Najimy’s stars have only grown in the last few decades, making their potential comeback all the more exciting. The original Hocus Pocus ended with the sisters being destroyed forever and the curse on Salem’s residents broken, so the film will have to find a way to bring the iconic witches back. The sequel will introduce the characters to a whole new generation and is sure to be as exciting and hilarious as the first, if Disney’s uptick in quality is any indication. They’ve been on a winning streak for the last few years, making Hocus Pocus 2 a surefire bet.
Source: Disney