The Sanderson Sisters Are Finally Getting Their Big-Screen Moment as ‘Hocus Pocus 3’ Moves Forward at Disney
Few properties in the Disney catalog carry the kind of seasonal devotion that the ‘Hocus Pocus’ franchise has built over three decades. What began as a 1993 Halloween comedy that flopped at the box office has since transformed into a genuine cultural institution, revived year after year through cable airings, streaming, and the kind of passionate fan loyalty that studios rarely take for granted.
The original film, about a trio of witches brought back to life in modern-day Salem, opened in the summer of 1993 and grew in esteem over the years thanks to home video and then repeated airings on The Disney Channel and Freeform. When ‘Hocus Pocus 2’ finally arrived in 2022, it proved the franchise still had serious commercial pull. The legacy sequel broke records on the Nielsen Top 10 streaming charts, with 2.7 billion minutes viewed in its opening weekend, and became the most-watched original film on Disney+ over its first three days of release.
Now, the Sanderson sisters are officially being summoned again. According to Deadline, ‘Hocus Pocus 3’ is officially in early development from Disney Live Action Studios, with Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Kathy Najimy all confirmed to reprise their iconic roles. The news ends years of on-and-off speculation and gives fans the confirmation they have been waiting for since the sequel left the door open for more chaos in Salem.
One notable shift from the previous installment is that the third film is planned for a theatrical release, unlike ‘Hocus Pocus 2,’ which arrived as a Disney+ exclusive and never made it to the big screen. That upgrade feels significant, both as a vote of confidence in the franchise’s drawing power and as an acknowledgment that audiences may be ready to see Winifred, Sarah, and Mary cast their spells on an even larger canvas. ‘Hocus Pocus 2’ director Anne Fletcher and writer Jen D’Angelo are also set to return to the franchise, with EVP of Production Jessica Virtue overseeing the project for Disney Live Action.
The road to this announcement was anything but smooth. A third installment was first announced in 2023 by Sean Bailey, then President of Walt Disney Studios Motion Picture Production, but after Bailey’s exit from Disney in 2024, ‘Hocus Pocus 3’ was left in limbo. Midler herself had previously revealed that a “brilliant” script was ready but that producers were still working out logistical matters before the cast could return to complete the trilogy.
During an appearance on ‘Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen‘ in July 2025, Parker revealed that the cast was in active talks for the third film, keeping fan hopes alive through a development period that tested patience on all sides. The film has gone through plenty of ups and downs since it was first announced, with both Midler and Parker commenting on the delays that had kept them from jumping back on their brooms.
As of now, no plot details are known, and it remains unclear which other cast members from the previous films might be joining the trio. Thora Birch has already expressed her desire to reprise her role, while Omri Katz and Vinessa Shaw have spoken positively about their experiences in the original. Whether the threequel pulls together a full reunion or charts new territory entirely, the spell has clearly been cast and anticipation is only going to build from here.
With the Sanderson sisters heading to theaters at last, are you ready to see them cause mayhem on the big screen, and which missing faces from the original would make ‘Hocus Pocus 3’ feel truly complete for you?
