Is there going to be a Hocus Pocus 3?

Will there be a Hocus Pocus 3? With Hocus Pocus 2 arriving after decades of waiting, fans may be wondering if a third film is also on the horizon.

We’re back, witches! After almost three decades, the Sanderson Sisters returned to enact their revenge on Salem, with a new group of teenagers struggling to stay alive and stop them.

The first Hocus Pocus has obviously become a nostalgic cult classic, and the Disney+ sequel is enjoyable despite it’s flaws, so is there a threequel on the way?

Well, get ready, because there’s plenty of witchy hints in the air…

Is Hocus Pocus 3 happening?

At the time of writing, yes, a third Hocus Pocus film has been confirmed.

During an interview with the New York Times earlier this year, Sean Bailey – President of Walt Disney Studios Motion Picture Productions – confirmed that Hocus Pocus 3 was in the works.

The movie’s screenwriter Jen D’Angelo later told EW that despite the movie’s production being slowed down by the recent Hollywood strikes, the story is still being worked on:

“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. We’ve only scratched the surface of Hannah Waddingham’s mother witch,” she said, hinting at the expansion of the sequel’s minor character.

However, no storylines are concrete just yet: “”I’m hoping that we are able to explore every aspect of these stories and take these characters on a bunch of fun adventures. 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.”

It was easy to expect a threequel, as while we won’t spoil the sequel’s post-credits scene here, it definitely leaves a door open for more adventures with the Sanderson Sisters. Hocus Pocus 2 director Anne Fletcher told SFX magazine that with the scene, she “definitely kept it wide open for any sequel.”

Will the Sanderson Sisters return for the threequel?

Disney+

The third film will of course hinge on the appearance of the three Sanderson Sisters, Bette Midler, Kathy Najimy, and Sarah Jessica Parker.

In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, the franchise’s stars discussed the idea of a Hocus Pocus 3. Midler, who plays head witch Winnie, stated how she wanted more sequels in her filmography: “After 30 years with no sequel to Hocus Pocus, I’ve always been envious of people who get to do their favorite character more than once. I’d love to have a franchise – especially a character I love playing.”

Parker, who plays Sarah, added that an animated concept had been discussed: “Kathy had a good idea that the third one should be animated,” she explained.

“That would be cool and a smart idea. It’s fun, funny, and could be interesting and innovative, like old-fashioned or new [animation]. Of course, I’d be happy to have a conversation, it just depends on what Kathy and Bette want!”

As for the other witch character, Mother Witch, played by Hannah Waddingham, there’s no confirmation of her return, but she does seem open to it. She recently stated to The Hollywood Reporter “I mean, that would be amazing. I feel like I just barely, barely scratched the surface or put half an eyelash on for her. I feel like there is far more for the Mother Witch to cause magnificent mayhem. I would be so down for that. I mean, for one, Salvador Perez’s costume needs another trot out for sure, and my cape that I wouldn’t let them cut, definitely needs another swish. And she needs a song, P.S.”

Hocus Pocus 2 is currently available to stream on Disney+. Check out our review here.