After 26 years of waiting, the time has finally arrived. Disney is officially making a sequel to the 1993 Halloween classic Hocus Pocus and the world couldn’t be more excited. Hardly any details have been released about the upcoming project, but we’ve managed to piece together bits and pieces from various news sources and celebrity comments.
There’s so much that we don’t know about Hocus Pocus 2, which we hope will be here by Halloween 2020. But there are also a couple of facts that have been confirmed in recent weeks. Keep reading to find out five rumors about Hocus Pocus 2 and five details that have been confirmed.
Rumor: It Will Be Released In October 2020
Very few details have been released about Hocus Pocus 2, and many of the most basic pieces of information still remain a mystery. We don’t even know for sure when the film is set to be released, but there is a rumor that it will come out in October 2020.
This theory relies on common sense. It’s a Halloween-inspired movie, so it should be released around Halloween. That said, the original Hocus Pocus film wasn’t released in October, and that’s the mother of all Halloween movies. Actually, it was released in July. Anything is possible!
Confirmed: Disney Wants The Three Leads Back In Some Way
One of the limited details we do know for sure is that Disney would like the three lead actresses—Bette Midler, Kathy Najimy, and Sarah Jessica Parker, who played the resurrected Sanderson Sisters—to return for the sequel. According to People, the studio “is hopeful that they’ll be involved in some capacity.”
Ideally, we’d love to see the actresses return as the Sanderson Sisters, but it’s possible that they’ll just return for brief cameos and the role of the sisters will go to other actresses. That would follow more of a reboot-style production, but it’s still possible at this point.
Rumor: The Film Will Feature Max & Alison’s Daughter Poppy
Since the news of Hocus Pocus 2 surfaced, the internet has been brimming with theories about what the plot might entail. One rumor, as listed on Pop Culture Times, is that the story will follow a protagonist named Poppy, who is the daughter of Max and Alison from the original film.
It wouldn’t be surprising to find out that Max and Alison ended up getting married and having a family together. They seemed like such a great match back when they were teenagers! This is a plotline that we could definitely get on board with.
Confirmed: All Three Leads Are Interested In Appearing In The Sequel
At this point, no information has been released as to the cast and whether or not old names will be returning for the sequel. But aside from knowing that Disney wants the lead actresses to return, we also know that all three of them are interested in returning.
Sarah Jessica Parker herself confirmed this on Instagram by posting a photo from Hocus Pocus for Halloween in 2019 and then telling a curious fan that all three of the leads “have said yes.” Though we don’t know if anybody has signed on, that’s a very promising sign.
Rumor: The Story Might Feature Mother Sanderson
The silence surrounding the project has led fans to cling to any details that they can, whether they’ve been confirmed or not. One of the rumors about Hocus Pocus 2 is that the story will introduce us to the mother of the Sanderson sisters, and she will be played by Cloris Leachman.
According to Cheat Sheet, Mother Sanderson will make an appearance in the film after she is summoned by a museum worker. She will then cast a spell to resurrect her three daughters and together they will wreak havoc on the world.
Confirmed: Although The Main Stars Are Interested, They Haven’t Agreed… Yet
If Sarah Jessica Parker’s word is anything to go by, we know for a fact that the three main stars of the original Hocus Pocus film are interested in returning for the sequel. But SJP also confirmed that, although they are interested, nothing has been set in stone.
In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, she explained that she doesn’t actually know for certain whether a sequel is even happening, which confirms that she hasn’t signed on for anything yet. “There has never been a conversation ever in our lives.”
Rumor: It Won’t Be Set In Salem
It’s hard to imagine any sequel to Hocus Pocus being set anywhere but Salem. But according to rumors that are circulating the internet, the sequel will be set somewhere quite different: New York City. There’s a chance that the film will see Max and Alison living in New York with their family.
Show how do the Sandersons end up being resurrected from the Big Apple? It’s possible that a museum worker will accidentally resurrect the sisters’ mom in New York, who will then cast her own magic to bring back her daughters.
Confirmed: The Scriptwriter Also Wrote Workaholics
One detail that has been confirmed, according to In Style Magazine, is the scriptwriter who’s been hired for the film. Jen D’Angelo has reportedly been brought in to write the script, and if her previous work is anything to go by, we’ll have a great movie to look forward to!
D’Angelo is known for her work on the TV series Workaholics, which premiered in 2011. She has also worked as a writer and producer on shows such as Happy Together (CBS) and LA to Vegas (Fox). D’Angelo is also an actress, having played Veronica on the web series Loosely Exactly Nicole.
Rumor: Billy Butcherson Will Come Back
What kind of Hocus Pocus sequel would it be without Billy Butcherson, the deceased ex-boyfriend of Winnie Sanderson? Butcherson starts off as a bad guy, having had an affair with Winnie’s sister Sarah in life and then doing the witches’ bidding in death. But he soon comes around and helps the kids defeat the Sandersons.
Doug Jones, the actor who portrayed Billy, has expressed his desire to come back for the sequel. In an interview with Digital Spy, he revealed that he “would love to reprise Billy Butcherson.”
Confirmed: It Will Air On Disney+
Though there is so much we still don’t know about the Hocus Pocus sequel, there is one fact we can count on for sure: it will air on Disney+. In the past, it was rumored that the sequel would air as a TV movie on Freeform. But as of October 2019, it looks like the plans have changed and the film will air on Disney+ instead.
Available now, Disney+ is a streaming service offering the best titles from Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars, National Geographic, and of course, Disney.