Disney has recruited a director for Hocus Pocus 2, which is currently moving forward at Disney+. Released in 1993, the original Hocus Pocus starred Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Kathy Najimy as the Sanderson sisters, a trio of witches who are killed in Salem in 1693 only to be resurrected three hundred years later by a disbelieving teenager who inadvertently unleashes their curse upon the world. The fantasy comedy was actually a box office bomb upon release, but went on to become a huge cult hit on the home video market in the decades that followed.
After years of rumors about Hocus Pocus 2 being in the works and Disney developing (then abandoning) a Hocus Pocus remake for the Disney Channel, the sequel is now moving forward for real at Disney+. It even has a screenplay in place by Workaholics writer Jen D’Angelo, with Midler, Parker, and Najimy having all expressed their interest in returning as the Sandersons in the film. According to the latest Hocus Pocus 2 update, the plan is, in fact, to bring the trio back in some capacity, albeit with a new filmmaker at the helm.
Variety is reporting Adam Shankman has struck a deal to direct Hocus Pocus 2 for Disney+. In addition, the site’s sources have learned Midler, Parker, and Najimy are not officially attached at the moment, but the idea is have them reprise their roles in the sequel. However, there’s no word yet on whether any of the other cast members from the original Hocus Pocus (like Thora Birch) would also return for the followup.
A choreographer-turned filmmaker, Shankman’s previous directorial efforts include the Broadway adaptations Hairspray and Rock of Ages, in addition to comedies like The Wedding Planner, The Pacifier, and most recently What Men Want. His experience with helming family comedies and musicals ought to serve him well on Hocus Pocus 2; after all, in addition to being family-friendly, the original movie included a memorable sequence in which the Sandersons put a spell on the grown-ups of Salem by singing, well, “I Put a Spell On You". And speaking of Disney sequels: Shankman has been attached to helm the studio’s delayed followup to their hit 2007 Amy Adams film Enchanted for the past three years, but with little to show for it so far. For the time being, though, Hocus Pocus 2 appears to be moving forward faster than Enchanted 2 (aka. Disenchanted), so Shankman may helm that sequel first.
Beyond that, it makes sense to develop Hocus Pocus 2 for Disney+. Lest it be forgotten, the original movie was indeed a financial dud, and the sequel would be a bigger risk as a theatrical release than a straight to streaming one. Disney+ exclusives similarly carry a lower bar of entry; viewers don’t necessarily expect them to have great production values and/or deep narratives the way they do with most theatrical movies these days, so Hocus Pocus 2 should be free to be a silly-scary and fairly breezy comedy, much like its predecessor. That in no way guarantees it will carry over the first movie’s goofy charm, but bringing the original stars back as the Sandersons would certainly be a good start.
We will bring you more details on Hocus Pocus 2 as the story develops.
Source: Variety
