Full Breakdown
Disney Confirms Early Development of Hocus Pocus 3 with Original Cast
5/6/2026, 11:19:01 PM
Hocus Pocus 3 Enters Early Development
Disney Live Action Studios has placed “Hocus Pocus 3” in early development, reuniting Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker and Kathy Najimy as the Sanderson sisters. The studio is weighing a theatrical release, unlike the streaming debut of the 2022 sequel.
Background & Context
The 1993 film, directed by Kenny Ortega, introduced three 17th-century witches who terrorize Salem on Halloween. Its 2022 sequel, directed by Anne Fletcher, premiered on Disney+ and logged 2.7 billion streaming minutes in its opening weekend, becoming the platform’s most-watched original film.
Principal Cast and Production Team
Midler (CAA), Parker (CAA and Schreck Rose Dapello & Adams LLP) and Najimy (Independent Artist Group) have confirmed their return. EVP Jessica Virtue will oversee the project, and writer Jen D’Angelo, who scripted the 2022 sequel, is developing story ideas.
Viewership and Critical Reception of Hocus Pocus 2
The sequel attracted 2.7 billion streaming minutes in its first weekend, earned a 65 % Rotten Tomatoes score and a 47 % audience rating on Popcornmeter, with critics noting its heavy reliance on nostalgia.
Official Statements & Responses
Disney has not issued a formal comment beyond confirming development. Midler called the script “brilliant” and said the team is sorting logistical and budget details. Parker pledged to follow Midler’s lead. D’Angelo said the story remains in the idea phase with new characters under consideration. Salary negotiations that briefly stalled progress have been resolved.
Criticism & Opposition
Some reviewers and fans criticized the 2022 sequel for offering little beyond nostalgia, warning the franchise could become a “pure nostalgia grab.”
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
No plot details, release date or definitive distribution plan have been disclosed. Sources differ on whether a theatrical run will occur, and it is unclear if supporting cast members such as Whitney Peak or Hannah Waddingham will return.
Verbatim Quotes
- “I think if they’re gonna, they oughta, because time is not just marching, time is barrel-assing to the finish line,” — Bette Midler, Actress
- “I got very excited, and now we’re trying to figure out what it is and where it’s going to be and how much it’s going to cost and all those logistical things,” — Bette Midler, Actress (Bravo)
- “They’re working on it. Where Better [Midler] goes, I go. Bette is like a 13-year-old girl with a new bike. She’s like, ‘I have wheels, let us travel.’” — Sarah Jessica Parker, Actress (Variety)
- “We're still in the story phase, we're still working on it. We've been working on some ideas, and it's been fun to dive back into that world and we have so many directions in which to go and so many new characters to explore,” — Jen D’Angelo, Writer (Entertainment Weekly)
What’s Next
The project stays in story development while Disney finalizes budget and distribution. With salary issues settled, the next steps include locking a script, confirming any new cast and deciding on a theatrical versus streaming release.
