Hocus Pocus 3: Anne Fletcher returning to direct from Jen D’Angelo script

A couple days ago, we learned that Hocus Pocus 3 is in development at the Disney+ streaming service – and now The Wrap has confirmed that this sequel is coming from the same creative team as the previous sequel! Hocus Pocus 2 director Anne Fletcher is returning to direct the film from a screenplay by Hocus Pocus 2 writer Jen D’Angelo. Although we know who’s making the movie now, details on the plot they’re brewing up are still being kept under wraps.

The original cult favorite Hocus Pocus was released in 1993. Directed by Kenny Ortega from a screenplay credited to Mick Garris and Neil Cuthbert (and based on story Garris crafted with David Kirschner), that film was about a trio of witch sisters who have been cursed since 1963. The fearsome threesome is inadvertently resurrected 300 years later by a boy whose family has moved from Los Angeles to Salem. As they attempt to acclimate to the 20th century, they are horrified to discover that Halloween has become a holiday.

Fans had to wait 29 years for Hocus Pocus 2. Released during the Halloween season last year, that sequel saw Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Kathy Najimy reprising 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.

In the build-up to the release of Hocus Pocus 2, Entertainment Weekly asked the Sanderson stars if they saw a Hocus Pocus 3 in their future. Najimy responded “never say never“, but that she felt like they were done with the Sandersons because “We’ve pulled every story you could pull out of this.” Parker liked the idea of the next sequel being animated, but left a reunion up to her co-stars: “It just depends on what Kathy and Bette want!” Midler said, “I don’t know. I’m envious of other actors who have franchises, and I was hoping for a sequel to First Wives Club, but we never got that. After 30 years with no sequel to Hocus Pocus, I’ve always been envious of people who get to do their favorite character more than once. The fact that we got to do this finally, after 30 years of promoting the idea, I’m glad we got to do it. I’d love to have a franchise — especially a character I love playing. If there was a third one, of course I’d sign on, but I don’t know how. I can’t imagine what the story would be, but I love Winifred, Sarah, Mary, and our relationship. It’s good for women. We stick together through hell and high water, but we do cause mayhem, and not many women cause that much mayhem!“

Are you a fan of the Hocus Pocus movies? Are you glad to hear that the director and writer of Hocus Pocus 2 are both coming back for Hocus Pocus 3? Let us know by leaving a comment below.