Twist the bones and bend the back, Hocus Pocus 3 is now on track. Again. Disney is reportedly working on a third film in its witchy franchise one again. Don’t get your knickers in a twist, though. Not only does it seem to really be happening this time, all three of the Sanderson Sisters will return.
According to Deadline, Disney Live Action Studios is in the early stages of development on a third Hocus Pocus film. It will once again star Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Kathy Najimy. EVP of Production Jessica Virtue is leading the project. Unlike with 2022’s Hocus Pocus 2, which debuted on Disney+, the series’ third entry is expected to get a full theatrical release.
This is not the first time Disney has developed a third film in the beloved kid’s Halloween franchise. In 2023 President of Walt Disney Studios Motion Picture Production Sean Bailey was overseeing the film, which he said was absolutely happening. That changed when he left the company the following year. Since then the project has seemingly been as dead Billy Butcherson. Which is fitting, because like Hocus Pocus 3, he also came back from the dead for more Salem fun.
The franchise’s three stars have always said they wanted to do another movie. Last October, Midler said the script was already complete. At the time she cited “logistics” as one of the issues holding up the project. Deadline says that problem is no longer a barrier. Parker, Najimy, and Middler are said to have agreed to new deals.
We’re not fancy studio heads or nuttin’, but if Bette Midler wants to return to your wildly popular franchise that is still going strong after more than 30 years, that seems like an easy and quick “yes.” And not just because we’re afraid of upsetting witches.
Even after all these years the Sanderson Sisters can still cast a spell on anyone.