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Disney Announces Third “Hocus Pocus” Film with Original Cast

5/6/2026

Summary

Disney Launches Sequel

Disney announced on May 6 a third “Hocus Pocus” film will be released theatrically with Bette Midler, Kathy Najimy and Sarah Jessica Parker returning as the Sanderson sisters.
Bette Midler told PEOPLE in 2024 a script should arrive, though she is not following it.
Sarah Jessica Parker said on Watch What Happens Live in July 2025 they want the third movie.
Bette Midler later called the script she saw “brilliant” in October.

Summary

Disney Plans Sequel

“Hocus Pocus 2” logged 2.7 billion minutes on Disney+ in opening weekend, becoming the platform’s most-watched original film in three days.
Nielsen placed the sequel #1 on the Top 10 streaming chart, a metric Disney cites as impetus for a third film.
Disney EVP Jessica Virtue will supervise “Hocus Pocus 3,” providing senior oversight from the live-action unit.
Bette Midler said Disney is reviewing the script’s cost and logistics, indicating an assessment before green-lighting.

Summary

Disney Secures Cast

Salary talks with Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker and Kathy Najimy have been settled, removing an obstacle to Hocus Pocus 3.
Sean Bailey announced sequel in 2023, but his departure from Disney in 2024 stalled the project.
Omri Katz, Thora Birch and James Murray have expressed interest in returning, though contracts are not confirmed.
Fans warn the third film must offer more than nostalgia after criticism that Hocus Pocus 2 was a nostalgia grab.

Summary

Hocus Pocus 2 Reception

Hocus Pocus 2 received a 65% Rotten Tomatoes rating and a 47% Popcornmeter audience score, indicating mixed critical reviews and lukewarm fan reaction.
Anne Fletcher directed the 2022 sequel, marking her first involvement in the franchise.
The film added Hannah Waddingham, Tony Hale and Sam Richardson to its cast.
The plot follows high-school students Becca and Izzy as they confront the Sanderson sisters.

History

Historical Context

In 1995 Disney released Pixar’s Toy Story, the first fully computer-animated feature, earning over $363 million worldwide. Its 1999 sequel, Toy Story 2, shifted from a planned direct-to-video project to a theatrical release and grossed $511 million, proving Disney’s sequel formula. That success underpins today’s strategy, prompting Disney to greenlight Hocus Pocus 3 after the 2022 sequel’s 2.7 billion streaming minutes.

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Disney Launches Sequel

Disney announced on May 6 a third “Hocus Pocus” film will be released theatrically with Bette Midler, Kathy Najimy and Sarah Jessica Parker returning as the Sanderson sisters.
Bette Midler told PEOPLE in 2024 a script should arrive, though she is not following it.
Sarah Jessica Parker said on Watch What Happens Live in July 2025 they want the third movie.
Bette Midler later called the script she saw “brilliant” in October.

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