Slowly but surely it seems like Hocus Pocus 3 will happen — we just don’t know when. Sarah Jessica Parker recently spoke out about the film and hinted that Disney may still move forward with the project.
“No more developments other than we would like to do it,” the Sex and the City alum told Andy Cohen on a recent episode of his late night talk show Watch What Happens Live. “We’ve been having some conversations.”
The 1993 original was directed by Kenny Ortega and written by Neil Cuthbert and beloved horror maestro Mick Garris (one of my favorite pieces of horror trivia). The hilarious film went on to become a cultural phenomenon for 90s kids the world over. It follows three evil sister witches who set their sights on a town full of children — and youth — after an outcast resurrects them on Halloween night.
The witches in question were played by Bette Middler, Kathy Najimy, and Parker, all three of whom returned for the 2022 sequel film Hocus Pocus 2.
The third installment was, in fact, confirmed back in 2023 by Sean Bailey, president of Walt Disney Studios motion picture production. While speaking to The New York Times, Bailey also confirmed that director Anne Fletcher and writer Jen D’Angleo would also return for the third film.
That said, things have clearly been slow moving. Last year, Middler revealed she had “heard rumblings” coming from the project, but nothing set in stone just yet. “I think if they’re gonna [do it], they oughtta because time is not just marching,” she said on the QVC+ talk show Busy This Week in July 2024. “Time is barrel-assing to the finish line. Get us while we’re still breathing, I mean, God!”
Considering I don’t think anyone wants to see a Hocus Pocus movie without the Sanderson Sisters, Bette’s got a point.
Lex Briscuso is a film and television critic and a freelance entertainment writer for IGN. You can follow her on Twitter at @nikonamerica.
