Hocus Pocus 2(2022).Photo: Disney Plus
Bette Midler,Kathy NajimyandSarah Jessica Parkerare as excited as the fans forHocus Pocus 2— and when it comes to a possible third installment, they each have different ideas.
“I feel like we’re done,” Najimy, 65, initially said in their interview withEntertainment Weeklyon Tuesday. “We’ve pulled every story you could pull out of this.”
TheSister Actstar then went back slightly on what she said. “I guess, never say never, but I feel grateful that we got to do it again,” Najimy added. “I don’t know that there are plans for a third one, but I know fans are dedicated to this film. I’m just happy we can bring this to them.”
Parker, 57, is onboard with a different concept. “Kathy had a good idea that the third one should be animated,” she said. “That would be cool and a smart idea. It’s fun, funny, and could be interesting and innovative, like old-fashioned or new [animation].”
But overall, theSex and the Cityactress is down for a third movie. “Of course I’d be happy to have a conversation,” she said, “it just depends on what Kathy and Bette want!”
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Midler said she would love to continue. “I’m envious of other actors who have franchises,” the 76-year-oldGrammy,EmmyandTonywinner admitted, “and I was hoping for a sequel toFirst Wives Club,but we never got that.”
“After 30 years with no sequel toHocus Pocus, I’ve always been envious of people who get to do their favorite character more than once,” Midler added toEW. “The fact thatwe 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.”
The actress and singer also added to EW that if there was a thirdHocus Pocus, she couldn’t figure out yet what the storyline would be.
“I can’t imagine what the story would be, but I loveWinifred, Sarah, Maryand our relationship,” Midler said. “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!”
Kathy Najimy, Bette Midler and Sarah Jessica Parker inHocus Pocus 2(2022).Matt Kennedy/Courtesy of Disney Enterprises, Inc.
During the interview, the stars also talked about reuniting and working together again. Parker, who had just wrapped filming forAnd Just Like That, went straight to the set of the new movie.
And even though the transition was stressful, she knew she could rely on her costars.
“Of course, you’re not alone,” Parker told EW. “You’re working with two other gifted comedians who are also recalling, remembering, and figuring out: Who are we? What do we do? How do we work together? Thatcame back strangely quick.”
As for Midler, she talked about their harmony together, as both actors and their characters. “It’s all shared now,” she said. “It’s a three-way composition as far as the sisters are concerned. It feels very sisterly. … After 30 years in purgatory or limbo, they’re happy to be free again.”
In a new trailer forHocus Pocus 2unveiled last week at Disney’s D23 Expo, the Sanderson sisters are back and ready for their closeup as they look for some youthful souls to devour.
“They were right to fear thee,” she tells them, before bestowing them with their trusty spell book. “Magic has a way of uniting. Happy 16th birthday, child.”
Fast forward 370 years, as Gilbert (Sam Richardson), who now operates the museum and gift shop inside the Olde Salem Magic Shoppe, formerly the Sandersons' home, gifts the Black Flame Candle –– which has the power to bring back the witches –– to local teenager Becca (Whitney Peak) and her friend Izzy (Belissa Escobedo).
Belissa Escobedo and Whitney Peak inHocus Pocus 2(2022).Matt Kennedy/Courtesy of Disney Enterprises, Inc.
“I have a gift for my favorite customers,” Gilbert tells them. “Legend has it, it’s on the 16th birthday that a witch gets her powers.”
All hell breaks looseas the Sanderson sisters returnfrom the grave, and their human-skin-bound spell book awakens.
But to stay alive past sunrise, they must once again steal the souls of Salem’s children, including Becca and Izzy.
The trailer features several callbacksto the original 1993 film, including a familiar black cat, a circle of salt and a couple of flying Roombas — not to mention Parker’s unforgettable chanting of the word “Amok!”
In the final moments of the trailer, Gilbert digs up another familiar face in the form of Billy Butcherson (Doug Jones), who scares Gilbert away before assuring him, “Stop, I am a good zombie!”
The movie is set “29 years sincesomeone lit the Black Flame Candleand resurrected the 17th-century sisters, and they are looking for revenge.”
Hocus Pocus 2premieres September 30 on Disney+.
source: people.com
