As part of Disney+ Day, the company has now revealed a first look at the Sanderson Sisters in the upcoming film Hocus Pocus 2. Hocus Pocus, which originally premiered in 1993, wasn't a huge moneymaker in the domestic box office, but buoyed itself on home vide. Eventually, the film grew into a massive cult phenomenon, with many households re-watching it every Halloween. The film starred Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Kathy Najimy as the iconic Sanderson sisters, a trio of witches that return to 1990s Salem to suck the souls and youth out of children.
Hocus Pocus 2, which is expected to premiere on Disney+ in Fall 2022, will bring back all three characters as well as inveterate monster actor Doug Jones as the undead slapstick figure Billy Butcherson. The film began shooting in Rhode Island this October under director Anne Fletcher, who previously helmed the romantic comedy hit The Proposal. Fletcher is working from a script by Jen D'Angelo, who previously worked on the comedy series Workaholics.
While many set images and clips from Hocus Pocus 2 have been leaked during the production of the film, Disney+ just released the first official look at the Sanderson sisters' return. The image shows the actresses back in their classic costumes and wigs, looking like no time has passed at all. The background is rather simple and doesn't seem to give too much away about the series' setting, however. Check out the full-size image below:
Hocus Pocus 2 will also star Tony Hale as the mayor and Whitney Peak, Lilia Buckingham, and Belissa Escobedo as a group of teens attempting to stop the witches. Other cast members in unknown roles include Sam Richardson, Juju Brener, Froy Gutierrez, Taylor Paige Henderson, Nina Kitchen, and Ted Lasso's Hannah Waddingham. So far, it's looking like no other cast members from the original film like Omri Katz, Thora Birch, or Vinessa Shaw, will return.
Hocus Pocus 2 has a huge legacy to live up to, but if this image is any indication, the sequel is certainly doing its best to keep the spirit of the original movie alive. It remains to be seen if the plot will closely resemble the first film or branch out in a new direction, and how that might be received by die-hard fans. Nonetheless, the beloved Sanderson witches are certainly being treated right. If those costumes and performances deliver, the film will have the core it needs to succeed, considering how important they were in making Hocus Pocus a classic in the first place.
Source: Disney+