'Hocus Pocus 2' Is Here and We Are Not Calm! Here Is Everything We Know About the Sequel
It seems a virgin has lit the black flame candle because the Sanderson Sisters are coming back to life! Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker and Kathy Najimy will once again be running amok, amok, amok as Winifred, Sarah and Mary in a follow-up to the 1993 cult classic.
Parade.com confirmed reports of a Hocus Pocus sequel back in 2019. Then in May of 2021 Disney announced that our favorite spooky sistahs would be conjuring up more chills, laughs and mayhem in Hocus Pocus 2.
“Now more than ever, people need to laugh. We should be laughing every day, and there is so much fun to be had with these three unbelievable women playing delicious characters from such a beloved film,” director Anne Fletcher said in a previous statement. “I am so grateful to be able to play a part in bringing these witches back to life, and to be working with my friends at Disney again makes it all the more special. This is a movie for everyone, from the fans who grew up with the first film to the next generation of viewers, and I can’t wait to get started.”
Before flying on over to the couch to watch the sequel, here is everything we know so far about Hocus Pocus 2.
When is the Hocus Pocus sequel's release date?
It's going to be a glorious morning when the live-action comedy premieres Sept. 30.
How to watch Hocus Pocus 2: Where will the sequel be streaming?
Hocus Pocus 2 is available to watch exclusively on Disney+.
When does Hocus Pocus 2 premiere?
Hocus Pocus 2 premiered Sept. 30 on Disney+ as a part of the streaming service’s Hallowstream celebration.
Related: Come, We Fly! Get Ready for Halloween With These 50 Hocus Pocus Quotes
Walt Disney Studios
Is the original Hocus Pocus cast returning for the sequel?
You can't have a Hocus Pocus movie without all three of the Sanderson sisters. Midler, Parker and Najimy will be reprising their roles as Winifred, Sarah and Mary.
The stars celebrated the sequel's news with posts and nods to their respective characters on Instagram. "Yep. I'm ready. To run. Amok, amok, amok, amok...#HocusPocus2 arrives Fall 2022 on @disneyplus Sisters," Parker wrote.
"Sistaaaahs! It's been 300 years...But we’re BACK! #HocusPocus2 arrives Fall 2022 on @DisneyPlus," Midler penned, while Najimy wrote: "The people have spoken: I smell children...again. #HocusPocus2 arrives Fall 2022 on @DisneyPlus."
In the past, Midler has expressed interest in playing Winifred Sanderson again. While answering questions on Reddit in 2014, the actress encouraged fans to “inundate the Disney company.” “I have canvassed the girls and they are wiling to do it, but we have no say in it, so if you want a HOCUS POCUS 2, ask the Walt Disney company," she wrote. "You have been SO adorable. This has been most enlightening. SISTAHS!"
The Politician star previously told E! News that Hocus Pocus is “the best thing” she ever did. Midler said, "I mean I've done a lot of stuff. I've done a lot in my life. I'm very proud of certain roles that I've played."
Doug Jones will also be back as Billy Butcherson. While several OGs are returning for the sequel, don't expect to see Max Dennison. Omri Katz, who played Max in the 1993 film, told Entertainment Weekly through his rep, "People have been asking, and unfortunately, I'm not in it. I would have loved to be involved."
Who else is in the Hocus Pocus 2 cast?
The sequel's cast also includes Sam Richardson, Whitney Peak, Belissa Escobedo, Lilia Buckingham, Froy Gutierrez, Tony Hale and Ted Lasso's Hannah Waddingham.
Walt Disney Studios
What will the Hocus Pocus sequel be about?
The Sanderson Sisters will be running amok in modern-day Salem. "It’s been 29 years since someone lit the Black Flame Candle and resurrected the 17th-century sisters, and they are looking for revenge. Now it is up to three high-school students to stop the ravenous witches from wreaking a new kind of havoc on Salem before dawn on All Hallow’s Eve," according to Disney+.
Is there a trailer for Hocus Pocus 2?
Disney+ released the official trailer for the long-awaited sequel on June 28, 2022, showing the Sanderson Sisters back in Salem ... and looking for a stage! It promises the same humor and wicked whimsy we know and love from the original, plus some special new twists and an introduction to the Sanderson Sisters' backstory.
How to watch the original Hocus Pocus
Fans can watch the 1993 film on Disney+ ahead of the sequel. The original movie is also part of Freeform's "31 Nights of Halloween" TV event, which kicks off Oct. 1, 2022. Hocus Pocus is scheduled to air 13 times throughout the month of October on the network. Set your DVRs!
Watch the original Hocus Pocus on Freeform:
Oct. 1: 7:15 p.m. EDT/PDT
Oct. 2: 8:35 p.m. EDT/PDT
Oct. 4: 9:00 p.m. EDT/PDT
Oct. 8: 7:10 p.m. EDT/PDT
Oct. 9: 4:45 p.m. EDT/PDT
Oct. 15: 5:30 p.m. EDT/PDT
Oct. 16: 7:40 p.m. EDT/PDT
Oct. 17: 8:50 p.m. EDT/PDT
Oct. 22: 9:20 p.m. EDT/PDT
Oct. 23: 5:15 p.m. EDT/PDT
Oct. 29: 9:25 p.m. EDT/PDT
Oct. 30: 7:05 p.m. EDT/PDT
Oct. 31: 9:00 p.m. EDT/PDT