Kathy Najimy, who played Mary, one of those three Sanderson sisters in Halloween classic Hocus Pocus, shows how far Hocus Pocus two development has transferred. Besides Najimy, Hocus Pocus starred Better Midler and Sarah Jessica Parker as Winnie and Sarah, the two other Sanderson sisters. The plot revolved around the trio of witches being awoken in the 20th century by a group of kids in Salem, Massachusetts. The 1993 film didn’t illuminate the box office but has remained a cult favourite in Halloween, with lots of fans re-watching the film every year.
Because of this, rumours of a sequel have swirled for years and began becoming more intense throughout 2020. Strategies for the movie to be made were verified when Midler said she, Parker, and Najimy had signed on for a Hocus Pocus 2. Aside from the affirmation of the original cast’s return, Midler has also said she has seen a story outline for its sequel, calling it”pretty excellent.” The movie is set to be directed by Adam Shankman and produced for Disney+ as part of its exclusive content offering.
Speaking to SiriusXM’s The Jess Cagle Show, Najimy has provided an update on Hocus Pocus 2. The actor, known for her role at the Sister Act films, says that she, Midler, and Parker spoke on the telephone about the sequel script within a few weeks, sharing notes. She adds that it is now only a matter of setting up the production particulars before they could roll cameras, revealing the movie is still in the early stages of pre-production. She also speaks about how Midler had such a massive effect on her life, paying tribute to the legendary star’s influence. You can read her complete remarks below:
Sarah and Bette and I had like a couple of months on the phone discussing the script, and that was fun, of course. Bette Midler, as Jess knows, was a huge, enormous inspiration for my whole life. Like half of me is me due to Bette Midler, half of me is me because of my mother, Gloria Steinem and Bette Midler. So we spoke a great deal about notes and when we did now, it is only, and we all have stated in a perfect world, yes. Now it’s only location, times and dates and how long and all that. So it is only, it is those things. So, you know, I can’t give a yay or nay either way.
Given that production plans have not been confirmed yet, the assumption would be that Hocus Pocus two will likely start filming in late 2021. This would give the production time to complete the cast, and bring back more of the original cast, including Thora Birch and Doug Jones, who played Billy Butcherson. That deadline means the movie is being lined up for a Halloween 2022 release on Disney+.
Sadly, that means the sequel will miss a chance to be released on the original’s 30th anniversary in 2023. Certainly, however, Disney and the stars want to get Hocus Pocus 2 made when they can. Fans will not complain after waiting almost 3 decades for a sequel. The advantage will be that the kids that loved the first can now share the sequel with their children.