Fans will be delighted to hear that Disney has confirmed that a third Hocus Pocus film is in development.
Three decades after the original movie was first released, the corporation confirmed that they will develop another sequel to the beloved film which stars Bette Midler, Kathy Najimy, and Sarah Jessica Parker.
The news was first confirmed by Sean Bailey, President of Walt Disney Studios Motion Picture Production, during his interview with The New York Times, where he was asked about the different projects set to be made and released.
This doesn't come as a surprise after the success of last year’s sequel, Hocus Pocus 2, which set a record for an opening weekend by a movie on a streamer. The flick spotlighted at number five on the most-streamed movies of 2022 with a total of 5.7 billion minutes viewed.
While there is no word on whether we will be able to see Winifred, Sarah, and Mary back on the big screen for the third time, it is heartwarming to know that there will be more wicked chaos.
The third film would follow Kenny Ortega's 1993 original and last year's Anne Fletcher-directed sequel, both of which showcased the fabulous trio of witches sucking the life force out of children in an effort to stay young.
Last year, executive producer Adam Shankman indicated to The Hollywood Reporter at the premiere that there might be more follow-up stories to be introduced - especially after teenage Becca (Whitney Peak) played a role in the sequel.
Shankman spoke about Becca’s discovery as a witch and said that the director "handled that [storyline] really, really beautifully," adding: "We went back and forth on how that was going to work if it was going to work, forever, and Anne was just like, 'This is what we’re going to do.' And I think it’s great. And it creates a lot of excitement about potential spinoffs."
In addition to this, Midler told Entertainment Weekly last year that she would be down to revisit her character, saying: "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," she added.
Parker also shared her thoughts on what the third film should entail, stating: "Kathy had a good idea that the third one should be animated. That would be cool and a smart idea.
"It's fun, funny, and could be interesting and innovative, like old-fashioned or new [animation]... Of course, I'd be happy to have a conversation [for a third film], it just depends on what Kathy and Bette want!", she added.
