Sarah Jessica Parker Shares Unexpected ‘Hocus Pocus 3’ Update as Sequel Remains in Early Development
It looks like fans waiting for Hocus Pocus 3 will have to stay patient, because the movie isn’t moving forward anytime soon. Sarah Jessica Parker recently gave an update that might disappoint some people hoping for a quick return of the Sanderson Sisters.
During an appearance on Andy Cohen’s Watch What Happens Live, Parker was asked by two fans in London if there was any news about the next Hocus Pocus movie. Rumors had been floating around that filming could start soon, possibly in London itself. But Parker’s answer was simple and clear.
She said, “Um, well, for the expats in London… no more developments, other than we would like to do it.” She then repeated, “We would like to do it.” She also mentioned that some conversations were happening behind the scenes but didn’t give any real details about what those talks involved or who was involved, although it’s likely that fellow stars Bette Midler and Kathy Najimy are part of the discussion.
Disney first announced plans for Hocus Pocus 3 in 2023, not long after Hocus Pocus 2 became a big success on Disney+. The sequel, which came out in September 2022, received good reviews and even broke streaming records.
At the time, writer Jen D’Angelo said that work had started on the third film. Speaking to Entertainment Weekly, she said, “We’re still in the story phase, we’re still working on it.” She also shared that she had plenty of ideas for new characters and possible directions for the story. D’Angelo mentioned Hannah Waddingham’s “mother witch” character from the second movie as someone who could play a bigger role.
In her words, “We’ve only scratched the surface of Hannah Waddingham’s mother witch.”
In another interview from June 2024, Bette Midler had said that Disney was working on the film “very gingerly and very gently.” That suggests that, while there is interest in making the movie, progress is moving very slowly.
Writer Jen D’Angelo also revealed that original cast member Thora Birch, who played Dani in the first movie, will not be involved in the third film. She explained that she really wanted Birch back and even had different ideas of how her character could return, including plans for her to fight back against the Sanderson Sisters. But in the end, none of those ideas worked out.
Meanwhile, another original actor, Omri Katz, who played Max in the first film, told Entertainment Weekly that he would love to return if Disney asked him. He said, “Yes, I would return if Disney approached me. It would be an honor to return, hopefully with some of my fellow castmates, and make a fun addition to the franchise!”
Sarah Jessica Parker herself once mentioned that her co-star Kathy Najimy had an idea for making the third movie animated. Back in 2022, Parker told Entertainment Weekly, “That would be cool and a smart idea. It’s fun, funny, and could be interesting and innovative, like old-fashioned or new animation.” At the time, she said she’d be happy to have that conversation, depending on what Najimy and Midler thought.
Right now, the future of Hocus Pocus 3 is uncertain. Parker says everyone wants to make it, but nothing solid is happening yet. Fans will just have to keep waiting to see if the witches of Salem will fly again.
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