Film

Hocus Pocus writer confident stars will return for sequel

  • Bang Showbiz
  • 17 August 2020
Najimy, Midler, Parker in Hocus Pocus

Hocus Pocus

Mick Garris, who wrote the original 'Hocus Pocus' film is confident that stars Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker and Kathy Najimy will return for the Disney+ sequel

'Hocus Pocus' writer Mick Garris has hinted that the film's original cast will return for the sequel.

Mick penned the script for the 1993 movie, which starred Bette Milder, Sarah Jessica Parker and Kathy Najimy as the Sanderson sisters – a trio of witches – and is confident that they will reprise their roles for the Disney+ follow-up, which is being directed by Adam Shankman.

Garris told Comicbook.com: "I'm excited about it, but I really think the main reason the movie worked was the Sanderson sisters, those actresses in those roles, those performances, that I think is key to that movie's long life.

"It was only modestly successful when it came out, at best. And I think they are the reasons that it's still around since it came out in 1993. And I would love to see them return in it. I think that's the plan, but I don't know."

Mick also explained that he will not be involved in the sequel, despite his insistence that the original stars will return.

He said: "I heard that that is what's happening, and I believe it's going to be for Disney+, but I'm not involved in it, which is fine. You don't always want to revisit all of the touchstones of your past."

Bette, who played the role of Winifred Sanderson in Kenny Ortega's cult classic, previously revealed that she would love to make a sequel.

When asked about the possibility of 'Hocus Pocus 2', the 74-year-old actress said: "Oh my goodness me. Oh I hope they get to me before I'm a corpse.

"We wanna fly again. I hope Disney+ is a big success and I hope we get to do it, because [Winifred] is of course one of my favourite characters."

Sarah – who played Sarah Sanderson – also revealed that she and her cast mates would be keen on reprising their roles.

The 'Sex and the City' star said: "I think that it is something Bette Midler, Kathy Najimy and I are all very hospitable to the idea.

"We've agreed publicly to the right people, yes, that would be a very, very fun idea, so we'll see what the future holds."

Hocus Pocus

  • 1993
  • US
  • 1h 37min
  • PG
  • Directed by: Kenny Ortega
  • Written by: David Kirschner/Mick Garris
  • Cast: Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, Kathy Najimy, Omri Katz, Thora Birch, Vinessa Shaw
  • UK release: 29 October 1993

Three 17th century witches are brought back to life in modern-day Salem, and go searching for young blood to keep them immortal. Max (Katz) is our hapless hero, helped out of one predicament to the next by resourceful heroine Allison (Vinessa Shaw). The story cracks along, the effects are moderate, the gags good, but it's…

Hocus Pocus 2

  • 2022
  • US
  • 1h 43min
  • PG
  • Directed by: Anne Fletcher
  • Cast: Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, Kathy Najimy, Doug Jones, Whitney Peak, Lilia Buckingham, Belissa Escobedo, Hannah Waddingham, Tony Hale, Sam Richardson

Sequel to the 1993 comedy film about witches.