Sarah Jessica Parker appeared on “Watch What Happens Live!” and got asked about “Hocus Pocus 3,” which Disney first announced was in development two years ago. Since then, it has been near radio silence from the studio about another sequel in the beloved fantasy series. Parker, however, remains committed to returning.
“No more developments other than we would like to do it,” Parker said. “We’ve been having some conversations.”
Parker headlined 1993’s “Hocus Pocus” alongside Bette Midler and Kathy Najimy as the Sanderson sisters, a trio of witches who get resurrected on Halloween night and try to scheme their way to permanently staying in the land of the living. All three actors returned for 2022’s “Hocus Pocus 2.”
Najimy called on Disney one year ago to hurry up and get the “Hocus Pocus 3” script finished because the three women aren’t getting any younger. She quipped: “I haven’t seen the script, but I’ve heard rumblings. I think if they’re gonna, they oughta, because time is not just marching, time is barrel-assing to the finish line. Get us while we’re still breathing, I mean, God!”
“Hocus Pocus 2” screenwriter Jen D’Angelo confirmed to Entertainment Weekly in 2023 after the end the end of the WGA strike that “Hocus Pocus 3” was still in development.
“We’re still in the story phase, we’re still working on it,” D’Angelo said at the time. “We’ve been working on some ideas. 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. We’ve only scratched the surface of Hannah Waddingham’s mother witch.”
“I’m hoping that we are able to explore every aspect of these stories and take these characters on a bunch of fun adventures,” D’Angelo continued. “We don’t really know what it is, but we’re exploring all options and I think everybody is so delighted by the reaction that ‘Hocus Pocus 2’ got, and we’re excited to continue those stories.”
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“Hocus Pocus 2” broke records on the Nielsen Top 10 streaming charts when it debuted, earning an opening weekend of 2.7 billion minutes watched. The movie also became the most-watched original film for Disney+ at the time of its release over its opening three-day frame. “Hocus Pocus 2” was directed by Anne Fletcher, who is also set to return to helm the third film.
Watch Parker’s interview on “Watch What Happens Live!” in the video below.
From Variety US