Hocus Pocus 2 star Bette Midler talks returning to the franchise for a potential Hocus Pocus 3. The upcoming sequel to 1993's Hocus Pocus comes nearly 30 years after the first installment. Centering on three witches collectively known as the Sanderson sisters, Winifred (Bette Midler), Mary (Kathy Najimy), and Sarah (Sarah Jessica Parker), the original film is set in 1990s Salem. In the sequel, the Sandersons will be unleashed once again and return to Salem three decades later to wreak havoc once again.
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The sequel will star the original trio of witches as well as Billy Butcherson (Doug Jones), the zombie who was once Winifred's unfaithful lover, and the franchise will change directors from Disney vet Kenny Ortega to Dumplin' director Anne Fletcher. The latest Hocus Pocus 2 trailer revealed further hints of the storyline, teasing the Sanderson sisters' origin story reveal and the witches' interaction with a contemporary Salem as they continue to terrorize children. In the decades since its release, Hocus Pocus has become a cult classic and garnered a fan base eager for the long-awaited next installment, and in the era of sequels and revivals, some are already looking toward the future.
In a conversation with EW, Midler offers an answer about a potential Hocus Pocus 3. Though she doesn't have a clear picture of the storyline or whether a third film would even be possible, she confirms she would love to be part of it. See Midler's full quote below:
I don't know. 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!
Midler's comments confirm her love for the franchise, as well as her dedication to the character of Winifred Sanderson. It's encouraging to see an actor so passionate about her role, especially with the many other impressive titles in Midler's catalog. Her appreciation for the feminist element of the spooky films elevates the movies from simple seasonal kids' fare to a unique representation of strong female friendships and sisterhood. In this current era of sequels, remakes, and revivals, her mention of a potential franchise isn't an unlikely prospect, especially with the strangely positive representation and nostalgia the films would be sure to keep delivering.
After the couple of decades in between Hocus Pocus and Hocus Pocus 2, it makes sense that Midler is uncertain about the possibility of a threequel. However, her expressed interest in reprising the character once again will likely go a long way in bolstering fans' calls for a Hocus Pocus 3 after the sequel's release. Of course, the reception and overall performance of the sequel will be the main indicator of whether a third film is even possible. Based on the success of Hocus Pocus 2's marketing so far, it seems that the long-anticipated sequel will deliver everything fans have been waiting for.