With Hocus Pocus 2 just days away from premiering on Disney+, the actresses behind the iconic Sanderson sisters, Bette Middler, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Kathy Najimi, have expressed interest in a potential third installment of the beloved series. The cultural relevancy of the original Hocus Pocus film has continued to grow for decades, despite being a box office flop at the time of its 1993 release. The original film, which follows a skeptical teenager who accidentally resurrects the wicked yet ludicrous trio of witches in modern-day Salem, and his subsequent quest to prevent them from gaining immortality, has gradually turned into a Halloween classic, annually airing on Disney Channel and Freeform throughout the weeks leading up to October 31. The yearly reemergence of the film, which was the highest-grossing theatrical rerelease of a movie in 2020, has cemented it as a cult classic.
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The cast and fans of the film alike have long professed their hope for a sequel and after nearly three decades of speculation, Disney+ announced in May 2021 that the Sanderson sisters would officially return for the upcoming Hocus Pocus 2. Bette Middler, Sarah Jessica Parker, Kathy Najimi, and Doug Jones have all returned to reprise their original roles. The film also adds Tony Hale and Hannah Waddingham, as well as relative newcomers Whitney Peak (Gossip Girl), Belissa Escobedom, and Lilia Buckingham to its cast. The sequel will follow a new young protagonist who repeats the mistake made decades prior by accidentally summoning the witches to haunt Salem once again. Still, fans can't help but wonder if there could be more of the Sanderson sister's story to tell.
Now, in an interview with EW about the fast-approaching sequel, the idea of a franchise seems more possible than ever as the central cast appears to be just as excited and on board as fans are. While Middler admits she is not sure what creative territory the story of the witches can venture into next, they believe that the power of their characters' strong, and often humorously chaotic, bond between the Sanderson sisters is enough to warrant a third film. Najimi adds she will "never say never" when it comes to visiting her beloved turn as Mary Sanderson once again, while Parker proposes that a potential third film take on a different approach altogether. Check out what they had to say below:
Midler: "I'm envious of other actors who have franchises, and I was hoping for a sequel to First Wives Club, but we never got that. 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. The fact that we got to do this finally, after 30 years of promoting the idea, I'm glad we got to do it. I'd love to have a franchise — especially a character I love playing. If there was a third one, of course I'd sign on, but I don't know how. I can't imagine what the story would be, but I love Winifred, Sarah, Mary, and our relationship. It's good for women. We stick together through hell and high water, but we do cause mayhem, and not many women cause that much mayhem!"Parker: "Kathy had a good idea that the third one should be animated. That would be cool and a smart idea. It's fun, funny, and could be interesting and innovative, like old-fashioned or new [animation]," she explains. "Of course I'd be happy to have a conversation [for a third film], it just depends on what Kathy and Bette want!"
Hocus Pocus 3 Could Take A Different Approach
When discussing what Hocus Pocus 3 could look like, the cast suggests a different format in which the story could continue – by way of animation. Parker points to the creative innovation that would be allowed by an animated follow-up as a smart and entertaining reason to change the way the Hocus Pocus witches' story is told. While the possibilities seem endless, especially with the three main cast members open to a continuation, if the 29 years between the first film and the sequel is any indication, audiences likely have a long wait in store before they can expect a Hocus Pocus 3.
Until then, the continuous reruns and upcoming sequel will have to suffice to give audiences their fix of spooky nostalgia. With the release of Hocus Pocus 2 on Disney+, it will be hard to gauge the film's success and the likelihood of whether Hocus Pocus 3 could get the greenlight from the studio. With the original film also gaining a passionate fanbase over decades, it could be awhile before Hocus Pocus 2 reaches those same heights.