Posted in: Disney, Movies | Tagged: Bette Midler, Hocus Pocus, Hocus Pocus 2, Kathy Najimy, Salem Witch Trials, sanderson sisters, Sarah Jessica Parker, witches

"Hocus Pocus": Bette Midler, Kathy Najimy, Sarah Jessica Parker Return for Sequel

When the Hocus Pocus sequel was announced for Disney+, there was speculation whether the first film's three main stars in Bette Midler, Kathy Najimy, and Sarah Jessica Parker reprise their roles as witches, the Sanderson sisters. Midler and Najimy spoke to Entertainment Tonight October 31 about where they stand. Parker revealed on her Instagram the three agreed to come on board.

Hocus Pocus' Lasting Impact

Midler, who played Winifred Sanderson, was eager to find out.

"Oh my goodness me. Oh I hope they get to me before I'm a corpse. We wanna fly again. I hope Disney+ is a big success and I hope we get to do it, because [Winifred] is of course one of my favorite characters. I mean she's, in the zeitgeist. I have met people — I've met grownup people, like 40-year-olds, 50-year-olds — who say, 'Oh I remember that! Hocus Pocus! I was brought up on that.' It's so mortifying 'cause I still look 35. I can't wait to read the script. We're gonna see what happens"

Whenever Midler reunites with her costars, Najimy and Parker, discussion often found its way to a possible sequel.

"We actually talk about it whenever we see each other. We laugh, we say, 'Oh, wouldn't it be great if?' Because all of us had pretty much the same experience on it."

Najimy, who played Mary, noted she hasn't been approached about reprising her role, yet.

"I heard about it online the same time as [everyone else], but here's the honest answer: Sarah and Bette and I all have a million projects and things that we're into, so I don't know if they're gonna offer us [roles]. I don't know if the worlds are going to collide so that we could all three do it at the same time. But I'm happy that it's happening, because the fans are really rabid and they really want it, [and] if we're not all available to star in it, I think it would be so great to do a cameo. I think that'd be really fun."

An Initial Flop

Directed by Kenny Ortega and written by David Kirschner, Mick Garris, and Neil Cuthbert, Hocus Pocus is about a teen named Max (Omri Katz) unwittingly releases the three sisters, who were executed in 1693 during the Salem Witch Trials. The Disney film drew mixed reviews and flopped at the box office at $39.5 million. It has since gained status as a cult classic.

Back in 2017, Ortega spoke with ET about the possible sequel.

"I would like to see a sequel, and I think that the fans would like to see a sequel. I think it would be much more fun to bring the ladies back. They're all still vital and in their prime and capable of doing so much that it would be great to see Bette and Kathy and Sarah come back together to do another movie and I think they would like to."

Parker, who shared the same first name as her character, posted on Instagram a still from the first film November 1st before responding to a fan.

View this post on Instagram.

The cryptic post reads, "Halloween 2019. One for the books. X, SJ." When a fan asked about the status of a sequel, Parker replied, "We have all said yes. Now we wait. X"

Did you see the original in theaters? Are you looking forward to the sequel?

Enjoyed this? Please share on social media!

Stay up-to-date and support the site by following Bleeding Cool on Google News today!