Bette Midler praises the in-development Hocus Pocus 2's story, calling it "pretty great." The 1993 film Hocus Pocus starred Midler as a witch named Winifred Sanderson from 1693 who, along with her sisters Sarah (Sarah Jessica Parker) and Mary (Kathy Najimy), returns to Salem, Massachusetts on Halloween centuries later after an unsuspecting teen (Omri Katz) triggers her resurrection. At the time of its release, Hocus Pocus stumbled at the box office and was greeted with mixed reviews from critics. However, over the years it has become a Halloween classic thanks to countless at-home viewings and re-releases in theaters.
Unsurprisingly, Hocus Pocus' status as a cult classic has made it ripe for sequel possibilities. There have been rumblings of a Hocus Pocus 2 for years, stretching back to 2014. However, it's only been in recent months that it has seemed to gain real traction. In October 2019, Hocus Pocus 2 was announced to be moving forward at Disney+, and it gained a director in Adam Shankman in March. Since then, Midler and other stars have signaled their desire to return, though nothing has been made official just yet.
Even if there hasn't been an official announcement, however, progress is definitely being made behind the scenes. Midler recently spoke to People and revealed she's seen the outline for Hocus Pocus 2's story. Fans apparently needn't worry that the magic will be diminished this time around, because Midler only had positive words to say about the sequel. Midler said, "They presented us with an outline, and after we picked ourselves up off the floor, because it's been 27 years, we looked at it and I think all of us agreed that it was pretty great."
Exactly where Hocus Pocus 2 could go remains to be seen and will likely depend on which characters end up returning. The first Hocus Pocus ended with the Sanderson sisters soundly defeated, but the final shot hinted they could return, as Winifred's spellbook winked at the audience (literally, as it has an eye in the cover). With all three Sanderson sisters eager to return, it seems certain Hocus Pocus 2's story will revolve around their latest resurrection. It could then bring them into contact with a new band of young heroes who must stop the witches from achieving their nefarious goals.
Of course, the best way to make Hocus Pocus 2 a truly memorable sequel would be to avoid copying the original exactly, so hopefully screenwriter Jen D'Angelo will find a way to honor the first film while providing something new. There's definite interest in Hocus Pocus 2, especially from the stars themselves. It would be disappointing if Disney didn't decide to follow through with the project. Luckily, though, with a story in place and stars ready to return, it sounds like Hocus Pocus 2 has a lot working in its favor.
Source: People