Hocus Pocus 3 is in development, but Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Kathy Najimy may not return, according to Disney executive Sean Bailey

In a recent interview with The New York Times, Bailey confirmed the creation of Halloween 3 to be one of his upcoming projects.

Disney executive Sean Bailey says Hocus Pocus 3 is in development, but Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Kathy Najimy may not return

• What would the plot of Hocus Pocus 3 be?

Since the release of the sequel, speculation among audiences has been intense over the plot of a third film.

Many people think it has something to do with the new character Mother Witch, who gave the Sanderson sisters a spell book when they were small.

Some have speculated that Mother Witch, who appears to be following Becca and her new coven at the end of the film (in bird form), may become the main antagonist in a third film, perhaps when Becca and her new coven rise to power and seek the Sanderson sisters’ aid in vanquishing Mother Witch.

• Is Production on “Hocus Pocus 3” Underway?

Hocus Pocus 3 is in production, as revealed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Picture Production President Sean Bailey some months after Hocus Pocus 2 debuted on Disney Plus.

Bailey said, “Yes, Hocus Pocus 3 is happening,” during the interview, however she did not provide any other details.

Given that Hocus Pocus 2 broke a record with 2.7 billion viewing minutes in its first week on Disney Plus, the news isn’t all that shocking.

There has been no word from Disney+ about the production of Hocus Pocus 3. However, the post-credits scene in the sequel that reunited the Sanderson sisters left many viewers hoping for a third film.

Another Black Flame candle is seen waiting to be lighted, suggesting a potential sequel. The film’s director, Anne Fletcher, recently told SFX Magazine that she “kept it wide open for any sequel” on purpose.

• Is there any feedback from the cast on “Hocus Pocus 3”?

Sisters Winifred (Bette Midler), Sarah (Kathy Najimy), and Mary (Sarah Jessica Parker) all seem enthusiastic about doing a third Hocus Pocus film.

The Sanderson Sisters, played by Winifred (Midler), Sarah (Parker), and Mary (Najimy), are unintentionally resurrected on Halloween, three hundred years after they were executed in Salem. In 1993, the first Hocus Pocus film was released.

The children, played by Omri Katz and Thora Birch, who resurrected the witches alongside Vanessa Shaw and Doug Jones in this horror film.

Bette expressed interest in returning for a third installment while asking Screen Rant about the potential storylines for both the first two films.

Bette informed the media that she “envies” other performers who are part of successful franchises. “I was hoping for a sequel to First Wives Club, but we never got that. After 30 years with no sequel to Hocus Pocus, I’ve always been envious of people who get to do their favorite character more than once. The fact that we got to do this finally, after 30 years of promoting the idea, I’m glad we got to do it. I’d love to have a franchise — especially a character I love playing.”

“If there was a third one, of course I’d sign on, but I don’t know how,” Bette added. “I can’t imagine what the story would be, but I love Winifred, Sarah, Mary, and our relationship. It’s good for women. We stick together through hell and high water, but we do cause mayhem, and not many women cause that much mayhem!”

Sarah made a joke at the Hocus Pocus 2 premiere about Bette “starting rumors” of a third movie to Extra.

Bette is spreading rumors already, Sarah laughed. “I hitch my wagon to her star. If she wants to do a third one … No one says no to the Divine Miss M.”

A third film is in the works, but Bette said in February 2023 that she was “not sure” if it will ever be released. Nothing makes sense. Could be, I don’t know. Who can say?

• In Hocus Pocus 2, what happens after the credits roll?

In the end, the Sanderson sisters are vanquished once more with the aid of Becca (Whitney Peak), who turns out to be a witch.

Winifred discovers too late that the price of being the most powerful witch in the world is too high to pay: the deaths of her sisters.

Winifred begs Becca for assistance after seeing her sisters’ latest demise.

Becca, now in possession of Winifred’s spellbook, complies with her desire by casting a spell with the help of her pals that brings Winifred back to the afterlife to be with her sisters.

At the end of the film, while Becca and her coven are celebrating their newfound magic, they are followed by a bird that looks much like the one Mother Witch (Hannah Waddingham) transformed into at the beginning of the film.

The scene after the credits roll also suggests the Sanderson sisters may show up again.

Cobweb, Gilbert’s black cat, may be seen climbing up onto a shelf in Gilbert’s Olde Salem Magic Shoppe.

He takes a perch next to a box, and we see the label read “B.F. CANDLE #2,” implying there is a second Black Flame Candle that could revive the sisters.

• More details

The movie made $45 million at the box office and has since become a cult favorite since its home video debut.

On its 25th anniversary in 2018, a special was filmed in the Hollywood Forever Cemetery, and Freeform aired the film with an audience of 8.2 million on Halloween.

While the actors had previously shown interest in a sequel, 2019 marked the beginning of formal planning for it.

The audience included people of all ages; 25% were children ages 2 to 11, 25% were people ages 18 to 34, and 25% were people ages 35 to 49.

About 21% of the audience was made up of Hispanic people, and the 1993 original Hocus Pocus was reintroduced to the top 10 thanks to the sequel.

For the week of September 27-October 2, the original film’s 774 million viewing minutes landed it in eighth place.

Also, mobile viewing is not factored into Nielsen’s streaming rankings. Only desktop and TV viewing are considered.

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