Not much is known about the plot of Hocus Pocus 2 prior to its release, but the movie won’t be able to follow the sequel novel, Hocus Pocus & the All-New Sequel, with its cameos of beloved characters. In the 1993 fantasy comedy horror Hocus Pocus, Thackery Binx became one of the most beloved characters in the film. Though it has been heavily rumored that Thackery may be back as the Hocus Pocus 2 trailers feature a black cat resembling Binx, the ending of Hocus Pocus makes this improbable.
Hocus Pocus opens with Thackery Binx attempting to save his sister Emily after the Sanderson sisters kidnap her in 1693. Unfortunately, the sister witches kill Emily, and they turn Binx into a black cat to prevent him from reuniting with his sister. Throughout the movie, Binx helps Max Dennison, his sister Dani, and his crush Allison to defeat the Sanderson sisters and peacefully move on with his sister in Heaven. In Hocus Pocus & the All-New Sequel book, the story follows Max and Allison’s daughter, Poppy, as she and her friends awaken the Sanderson sisters again. The witches send her family away, and Poppy gets help from Thackery and Emily’s spirits to save her family. Hocus Pocus 2 has the potential to take inspiration from the sequel novel, but without the cameos from Thackery and Emily.
The ending of Hocus Pocus sets up a gratifying resolution for Binx as he finally defeats the Sanderson sisters to prevent them from taking any other children and reuniting with his sister, which he wanted most. Including the novel’s cameo from Binx and Emily would do a disservice to their happy ending since they would have to leave their peaceful union in the afterlife to fight the Sanderson sisters again. Though this appearance from the novel wouldn’t work in the upcoming release, Hocus Pocus 2 can still have Emily and Thackery show up in other ways.
How Emily & Binx Could Appear In Hocus Pocus 2
Thackery and Emily’s ending can continue to be preserved through the series if their appearances are within flashbacks. It has been confirmed that Hocus Pocus 2 will use flashbacks to explore the Sanderson sisters’ past, and this can include more of the story of Thackery and Emily’s interactions with the witches. Though Emily’s will be short, Thackery would have more screen time as Hocus Pocus 2 could include new flashbacks that can expand on his journey to defeating the Sanderson sisters, which leads to their first defeat.
Thackery can also be included in flashbacks from returning characters, as well as stories about when Max conjured the Sanderson sisters. If Hocus Pocus 2 draws inspiration from the Hocus Pocus & the All-New Sequel novel, the film will follow the Dennison family, who assisted in defeating the witches in the 1993 film. The addition of the Dennison family would allow the main characters to have knowledge of the stories about the black cat, Binx, that helped them vanquish the sisters over 20 years ago.
Though the recent trailers have suggested Hocus Pocus 2 won’t follow the sequel novel’s plot, there are still ways that the beloved Binx and his sister Emily can be included in the film. After waiting many years for the Hocus Pocus sequel, it would be exciting to see other returning characters from the original to tie the stories together, in addition to the Sanderson sisters and Billy Butcherson. To keep the connection to the 1993 film and the nostalgia from the movie, it would be necessary for Hocus Pocus 2 to allow Binx and Emily to remain united in heaven without creating more anguish for the siblings with the Sanderson sisters.