Hocus Pocus 2 Reportedly Moving Forward at Disney+
From the Walt Disney World News and written by: Michele
Just about everyone who knows me or who has followed TMSM over the years knows that I’m a Hocus Pocus super fan! It’s my must do movie every Fall. There have been rumors for YEARS about a sequel, but nothing ever materialized. Well, maybe with Disney+ that could change. Here’s an update from comicbook.com!
As the cult following of Hocus Pocus continues to grow, a new report from Collider claims that a sequel is finally moving forward for the streaming platform Disney+ from Workaholics writer Jen D’Angelo. The outlet also claims the writer is tasked with finding a way to bring back the characters portrayed by Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Kathy Najimy in the 1993 original. The first film debuted in the same summer that Jurassic Park dominated the box office, making for fierce competition, in addition to it being quite early for audiences to be flocking to witness a family-friendly adventure that took place during Halloween.
Despite being an initial disappointment, the picture has grown immensely popular over the years. Regular airings on various Disney-owned networks aided that growth, with the company’s Freeform network making it a staple of their October lineup. The channel is so committed to the film that it has begun traditions of airing back-to-back-to-back showings on Halloween itself.
The initial script for the film was written by Mick Garris, depicting a group of teenagers who encounter a three resurrected witch sisters in Salem, Massachusetts on Halloween night. As the project evolved, the script and story was tweaked towards a younger audience, ultimately resulting in the PG-rated film that fans know and love today.
Some filmmakers have expressed their frustrations about a studio taking a concept they created and turning it into something unrecognizable, yet Garris has nothing by pleasant memories of the film and its status.
“It’s a very, very happy part of my resume that I’m proud of, and that probably more people know me from that, despite my move away from family filmmaking since then, than know me in our very limited slice of the pie that our genre occupies,” Garris previously revealed to ComicBook.com. “If I can be involved in it as a consultant or as a director or something like that [for a sequel], I would be glad to be involved.”
Garris isn’t the only one who would be willing to return to the series, as actor Doug Jones, who played Billy the zombie in the film, would also happily be involved.
“There was talk about doing a ’20 years later’ sequel that I would have been involved with,” Jones shared with Digital Spy. “I was actually approached and asked about that. I would love to reprise Billy Butcherson.”
Stay tuned for details on Hocus Pocus 2.
Author: Michele
Michele Atwood is the Owner/Editor of The Main Street Mouse and it’s subsidiaries and author of the book “Moving to Main Street U.S.A.” Michele also contributes Disney news to the Joe Kelley Morning Show on 96.5 WDBO in Orlando. She and her family made the move from Michigan to the Orlando area to pursue their Disney dreams. Michele is a life long Disney fan, and has two sons who have followed suit, each going on their first Disney trip before their first birthday’s. Part of the goal Michele has for The Main Street Mouse is not only to keep members informed, but to create somewhat of a Disney Family by relating to others through personal experiences and opinions. Also, Michele is making it a priority to share stories of inspiration and hope to other Disney Fans in an effort to share the Magic and hopefully make a difference in the lives of others.
