Hocus Pocus 2 Is Finally Happening, Will Debut On Disney+

Some movies are instant box office hits, and others take time to find their audience. Disney's comedy Hocus Pocus was not a big success when it hit theaters back in 1993 but has gained a huge cult following over the years and is a key movie to watch at Halloween. A sequel has been in development for a while, and it's now been confirmed that the film is happening.

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The announcement of the Hocus Pocus sequel arrived during a Disney investor presentation this week. Admittedly, further details are very thin on the ground, but we know it will debut on the studio's streaming platform Disney+, and Adam Shankman will direct. Shankman's previous credits include the movies Rock of Ages and The Wedding Planner and TV shows such as Glee and Modern Family. He also has an extensive background in dance choreography and was a regular judge on the reality show So You Think You Can Dance.

There's no word yet on whether original stars Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Kathy Najimy will all definitely return as the spell-casting Sanderson Sisters. However, all three actors have previously expressed an interest in reprising their iconic roles. Midler recently told People, "We're trying to see who's available and who's still out there and still working and who can come back." In October, the three stars reunited for an online Hocus Pocus event.

The original Hocus Pocus was released in July 1993. It focused on three witch sisters from Salem who are resurrected 300 years later and discover--to their horror--that Halloween is celebrated as a joyous holiday. It was directed by Kenny Ortega, who later made the High School Musical films and, like Shankman, worked extensively as a choreographer.

Hocus Pocus isn't the only much-loved nostalgic favorite getting resurrected for Disney+. A sequel show to the 1988 fantasy movie Willow is due in 2022, and will start shooting in the UK in March. There's also loads of new Star Wars and Marvel shows on the way too, including Ashoka and Secret Invasion. There’s no word yet on whether the movie will be included in the Disney Plus price or if it’ll be Premier Access.