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Summary

  • Hocus Pocus 3 is officially in development with teases about the cast, story, and release date of the threequel from Disney.
  • The sequel, Hocus Pocus 2, hints at the introduction of a new witch in Hocus Pocus 3, leaving open several storylines to explore.
  • The release date for Hocus Pocus 3 is still uncertain, but Halloween 2025 seems like a realistic prediction based on the timeline of the previous film's development and release.

Hocus Pocus 3 is officially in development, and there have already been some teases from Disney surrounding the cast, story, and release date of the threequel. It took 29 years for Disney to release a sequel to 1993's Hocus Pocus, which stars Bette Midler, Kathy Najimy, and Sarah Jessica Parker as a trio of witches known as the Sanderson Sisters. Though not an instant box office hit, Hocus Pocus gained popularity in the decades that followed, thanks to seasonal cable viewing around Halloween. Hocus Pocus 2 arrived at Disney+ almost three decades later in 2022, with Hocus Pocus 3 on the way to make it a Sanderson sister trilogy.

Following Hocus Pocus' footsteps decades later, in the second movie a group of Salem residents inadvertently bring back Winifred, Mary, and Sarah Sanderson. Winifred finally realizes that she has been putting her role as the most powerful Sanderson Sister above her relationship with her sisters after a spell for ultimate power means sacrificing Mary and Sarah. While Winifred realizes that she would rather reunite with her sisters, it isn't the end for the coven. In fact, a new witch could be in focus for Hocus Pocus 3 based on how the Disney+ sequel purposely seems to leave open a few storylines to explore.

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Most Recent Hocus Pocus 3 News

Screenwriter Jen D'Angelo Teases More Mother Witch In Hocus Pocus 3

Max lighting the Black Flame Candle in Hocus Pocus

The latest Hocus Pocus 3 news arrived on October 25, 2023. Writer Jen D'Angelo gave an update on the third Hocus Pocus movie in an interview with Entertainment Weekly, teasing several details for the Hocus Pocus 3 plot. D'Angelo, who also wrote Hocus Pocus 2, explained that the WGA strike in 2023 had slowed development on the script for the sequel, though work is still ongoing — "We're still in the story phase, we're still working on it. We've been working on some ideas, and it's been fun to dive back into that world and we have so many directions in which to go and so many new characters to explore."

As for potential storylines, Jen D'Angelo revealed that Hannah Waddingham's Mother Witch could play more of a central role in Hocus Pocus 3. "We've only scratched the surface of Hannah Waddingham's Mother Witch," teased D'Angelo, "I believe that she's that mother [referenced in the first Hocus Pocus] that she is the scorpion pie mother, and that they had a much more significant relationship with her than we've yet to see. But, maybe we will see. Anything's on the table." However, she was also clear that nothing about the plot of Hocus Pocus 3 is finalized yet:

Hocus Pocus 3 is still very much in the early stages, we don't really know what it is, but we're exploring all options and I think everybody is so delighted by the reaction that Hocus Pocus 2 got, and we're excited to continue those stories.

Hocus Pocus 3 Is Confirmed

Hocus Pocus Will Be A Trilogy

The Sanderson sisters at a Walgreens in Hocus Pocus 2

Hocus Pocus 3 is happening, with Walt Disney Pictures President San Bailey confirming that Hocus Pocus 3 is officially in development in June 2023. While Hocus Pocus 2 received mixed reviews, it was a huge hit on Disney+, as it was the service's most-viewed movie premiere (via Comicbook.com), so it's hardly surprising that a sequel has been greenlit. However, while Hocus Pocus 2 was released directly to Disney+, it's unclear if the threequel will follow suit.

Hocus Pocus 3 Cast

Will All The Sanderson Sisters Be Back In Hocus Pocus 3?

The Sanderson sisters in the woods in Hocus Pocus 2

The Hocus Pocus 3 cast hasn't been confirmed, but several franchise characters and the Hocus Pocus 2 director are hopeful that they'll reprise their roles. Director Anne Fletcher explained (via SFX Magazine) that she intentionally "kept it wide open for any sequel." Midler, Najimy, and Parker all sound supportive of doing Hocus Pocus 3. When speaking on the Hocus Pocus 3 possibility, Midler stated she would sign on but questioned where the story could go. Parker shared a similar sentiment: "Of course I'd be happy to have a conversation [for a third film]" before indicating that it also depends on what her co-stars want.

Katz revealed that he also wanted to return for the threequel. Hocus Pocus 2 writer Jen D’Angelo wants to see Katz and Vinessa Shaw, who played Allison, join the Hocus Pocus 3 cast (via Variety). The screenwriter explained, "We tried so hard to get the original cast back for cameos and then it just kept not working out for one reason or the other. But I’m hoping in Hocus Pocus 3, we’ll see Max and Alison living in California.” In addition, actor Sam Richardson, who played the villain Gilbert in Hocus Pocus 2, has expressed vehement interest in returning to the franchise (via Twitter).

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Hocus Pocus 3 is officially happening, but will the sequel be worth watching without Max, Dani, Allison, Billy, and Hocus Pocus 2's Izzy and Becca?

Hocus Pocus 3 Story

What Is Hocus Pocus 3 Going To Be About?

Becca, Izzy, and Cassie in the woods in Hocus Pocus 2

The Hocus Pocus 3 plot has yet to be revealed, but the story can be easily guessed based on the last film. When Winifred chooses to return to her sisters at the end of Hocus Pocus 2, the special spellbook, referred to as "Book," finds new ownership in Becca, setting up the Hocus Pocus 3 story. More importantly, Becca, who turns 16 that same Halloween night, finds out that she has the powers of a witch. Her newfound powers could even be the focus of Hocus Pocus 3 as the torch is passed to a new crew in Salem.

Hannah Waddingham's Hocus Pocus 2 character, The Witch Mother, is also lurking around in her bird form and can be seen as the teenage trio walks home in the movie's final moments. Of course, the most intriguing Hocus Pocus 3 story setup comes in the end credits scene, which reveals that Gilbert's magic shop houses a second Black Flame candle, an object needed to bring back the Sanderson Sisters.