Bette Midler, Kathy Najimy, And Sarah Jessica Parker Have All Signed On For The “Hocus Pocus” Sequel
I feel like we’ve been hearing about the Hocus Pocus sequel for years (OK, Internet says since 2019), but it looks like shit’s finally underway. And all three Sanderson sisters, Bette Midler, Kathy Najimy, and Sarah Jessica Parker, have signed on to return. Filming will begin this fall and the movie will premier on Disney Plus in 2022. OK, but what about Thora Birch? I miss Thora Birch. Bring back Thora Birch!
All three actresses posted this image to their socials:
Sistaaaahs! It's been 300 years… But we’re BACK! 🧹 #HocusPocus2 arrives Fall 2022 on @DisneyPlus. pic.twitter.com/OFMTlfjCDq
— bettemidler (@BetteMidler) May 20, 2021
Hairspray director Adam Shankman was originally attached to direct the sequel, but those plans have been dashed cuz he’s busy directing the sequel to the 2007 Amy Adams film Enchanted. He’ll stay on as an executive producer, and Amy Fletcher (The Proposal, 27 Dresses) will take over directing. Amy Fletcher and Adam are old buds, and first met in 1990 when they were dancers for the Oscars (the year after the Rob Lowe/Snow White one). Adam says (via Variety):
“As heartbroken as I am that I won’t be able to direct my friends Bette, Sarah Jessica and Kathy in what is sure to be nothing short of a major event for Disney Plus due to scheduling conflicts, I couldn’t be more pleased to be handing over the reins to Anne, who has brought so much laughter and joy into people’s lives with her previous work.”
Adam will executive produce alongside Ralph Winter, Steven Haft, and Lynn Harris (who Adam says helped him get the job choreographing Boogie Nights).
The sequel sounds a lot like the original movie. It’ll follow three young women (one of whom is Thora Birch, please?!) who accidentally bring the Sanderson sisters back to modern-day Salem. And then they gotta stop those kinky old ladies from soul-sucking pretty little children.
Amy Fletcher says she’s excited to direct, and we should all be laughing every single day, no exceptions:
“Now more than ever, people need to laugh,” Fletcher said. “We should be laughing every day, and there is so much fun to be had with these three unbelievable women playing delicious characters from such a beloved film. I am so grateful to be able to play a part in bringing these witches back to life, and to be working with my friends at Disney again makes it all the more special. This is a movie for everyone, from the fans who grew up with the first film to the next generation of viewers, and I can’t wait to get started.”
I went on YouTube to find a fun Hocus Pocus clip to end this post, but the first thing that popped up was this extremely coked up live version of the 1973 hit, Hocus Pocus, from the Dutch band Focus:
I could totally see the Sanderson sisters performing this. With Thora Birch, of course.
Pic: Wenn.com