Doug Jones is reprising the role of Billy Butcherson in the long-awaited sequel Hocus Pocus 2, which is set to be released through the Disney+ streaming service on September 30th. With just one month left to go before that film is available for viewing, Entertainment Weekly has unveiled an image that offers the first look at Billy Butcherson’s return! You can see the image at the bottom of this article.
Directed by Anne Fletcher from a screenplay by Jen D’Angelo (Workaholics), Hocus Pocus 2 sees Bette Midler, Kathy Najimy, and Sarah Jessica Parker back in the roles of the Sanderson Sisters. The film has the following synopsis:
Picking up 29 years after a teen named Max lit the Black Flame Candle and resurrected the three 17th-century child-essence-stealing sorceresses, Winifred (Midler), Sarah (Parker), and Mary (Najimy) are now looking for revenge. With the Sanderson Sisters back to terrorize Salem, it’s up to three high school students to stop them. How do you do that? By summoning the wrath of an enchantress, of course.
Those three high school students are Becca (Whitney Peak, Gossip Girl), Cassie (Lilia Buckingham, Dirt), and Izzy (Belissa Escobedo, American Horror Stories). Also in the cast are Hannah Waddingham (Ted Lasso) Tony Hale (Veep), Sam Richardson (Werewolves Within), Juju Brener (Vanquish), Froy Gutierrez (Teen Wolf), Taylor Paige (Earwig and the Witch), and newcomer Nina Kitchen.
Speaking with Entertainment Weekly, Doug Jones said,
It is seamless between the first movie and the second, that’s the first thing I felt. It keeps the pureness and nostalgia alive and well for those who grew up with the first movie, and for any new fans we’re gathering now will be excited about modernization for the current time we’re in. Billy came back to me immediately, it was frightening how he’s been alive while I’ve been playing other characters all these years, but, Billy’s like, ‘I wanted my chance again.'”
During their conversation, Jones and Fletcher also revealed that Billy and Sam Richardson’s character Gilbert, “the owner of the Salem Magic Shoppe – an occult tourist attraction operating out of the old Sanderson Sisters cottage”, have their own buddy adventure “going off on the side as the movie plays out”.
In case you don’t remember his role in the original Hocus Pocus, Billy Butcherson is a zombie with the following back story:
When he was first alive, Billy enjoyed his relationship with a young woman named Winifred Sanderson. Unfortunately, when Winifred found out that Billy was cheating on her with her youngest sister Sarah, she flew into a jealous rage and poisoned him, sewing his mouth shut with a dull needle so he couldn’t reveal her secrets, even in death. He died on May 1, 1693.
Are you looking forward to watching Hocus Pocus 2 this Halloween season? Let us know by leaving a comment below.
Here’s the image of Jones back in the role of Billy Butcherson: