Disney recently announced a premiere date for the long-awaited sequel to Hocus Pocus.
As reported by Entertainment Weekly, the House of Mouse revealed the sequel will release Sept. 30 on Disney+. The announcement included a clip from the movie in which two young girls light the Black Flame Candle, the mystical object which summons the sinister Sanderson sisters. Winnie Sanderson (Bette Midler) shouts "Lock up your children! Yes, Salem, we're back!" In addition to Middler, Sarah Jessica Parker and Kathy Najimy as the Sandersons, the clip features Doug Jones reprising his role as Winnie's zombified ex-boyfriend Billy Butcherson, Tony Hale as the Mayor of Salem and Sam Richardson in an unknown role.
Released in 1993 and directed by Kenny Ortega, Hocus Pocus was a family horror-comedy in which a trio of unwitting youths accidentally resurrect the Sanderson sisters, a coven of child-killing witches. They are forced to defeat the witches by the end of Halloween night. The film was a box office disappointment upon release, but over time it became a cult favorite thanks to annual airings on the Disney Channel and ABC Family (now Freeform). Disney announced a sequel was in development in October 2019 with Jen D'Angelo writing the screenplay.
According to an official synopsis, Hocus Pocus 2 will take place 29 years after the original and see the Sandersons return to wreak havoc on Salem, MA, as a new group of teenagers (Whitney Peak, Lilia Buckingham and Belissa Escobedo) try to stop them. In addition to Hale and Richardson, Hannah Waddingham and Froy Gutierrez have also been cast in unknown roles. Former RuPaul's Drag Race contestants Ginger Minj, Kornbread Jeté and Kahmora Hall will also appear as Sanderson impersonators.
Adam Shankman was originally set to direct the film, but had to step down due to his commitment to a different Disney+ sequel, Disenchanted. Anne Fletcher was announced as his replacement, with Shankman maintaining an executive producer credit.
"I am beyond thrilled to be involved in the sequel to a film that is as beloved as Hocus Pocus," Fletcher said. "Fans around the world have embraced these characters and have made this film a Halloween tradition whose popularity continues to grow, and how lucky am I to be back at Disney with these three extraordinarily talented ladies in the iconic roles they created, as well as our fabulous new additions to the cast?"
Hocus Pocus 2 will release Sept. 30 on Disney+.
Source: Entertainment Weekly