Bust out your broomsticks and hide your virgins, for we have the first official trailer for Hocus Pocus 2! Come little children and feast thine eyes below:
The original Hocus Pocus from 1993 is a longtime favorite of mine, so seeing Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Kathy Najimy back as the Sanderson Sisters left a bewitching smile on my face. The trailer we’re given here is only a teaser, but it looks like a new group of kids will raise the trio from the dead for another night of presumably wacky hijinks. While I’m somewhat sad to see the film debuting on DisneyPlus September 30 this year instead of in theaters like its predecessor, everything else about it looks inviting to me.
Check out the official synopsis:
HOCUS POCUS 2 OFFICIAL SYNOPSIS
A Disney+ Original movie debuting September 30, 2022, exclusively on Disney+, the live-action comedy “Hocus Pocus 2” is a haunting sequel to the Halloween classic which brings back the delightfully wicked Sanderson sisters for more comedic mayhem.
“Hocus Pocus 2” stars Bette Midler (“The First Wives Club,” “Beaches”), Sarah Jessica Parker (“Sex and the City,” “Divorce”), and Kathy Najimy (“Sister Act,” “Younger”), and is directed by Anne Fletcher (“Dumplin,’” “The Proposal”). It’s been 29 years since someone lit the Black Flame Candle and resurrected the 17th-century sisters, and they are looking for revenge. Now it is up to three high-school students to stop the ravenous witches from wreaking a new kind of havoc on Salem before dawn on All Hallow’s Eve.
“Hocus Pocus 2” also stars Sam Richardson (“The Tomorrow War”), Doug Jones (“The Shape of Water”), Hannah Waddingham (“Ted Lasso”), Whitney Peak (“Gossip Girl”), Belisa Escobedo (“American Horror Stories”), Lilia Buckingham (“Dirt”), Froyan Gutierrez (“Teen Wolf”), and Tony Hale (“Veep”). The film is produced by Lynn Harris (“King Richard,” “The Shallows”), with RalphmWinter (“Hocus Pocus,” “X-Men” franchise), David Kirschner (“Hocus Pocus,” “Chucky”), and Adam Shankman (“Disenchanted,” “Hairspray”) serving as executive producers.
Hocus Pocus was a box-office flop upon its original release back in 1993, but was loved by many who did see it and shared it with others every Halloween season over the past 20 odd years (No Halloween goes by without at least one watch from me). As such, the film has gained a reputation among my generation as a cult classic beloved for its humor, dark fantasy elements, and of course, the performances of its 3 leads in Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Kathy Najimy, with Midler having stated on many occasions that Winifred Sanderson is her favorite character she’s played over her long career.
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Director Anne Fletcher is an interesting choice for the film given that her filmography up to this point has primarily consisted of warm comedies like The Proposal, 27 Dresses, Dumplin’, and The Guilt Trip. While the original Hocus was funny, it was still a kid-friendly horror film about 3 witches who desired to suck the lives out of all the children in Salem, so I hope the horror aspect is retained here.
I’m also impressed with the new cast members they’ve gained here from Hannah Waddingham to Tony Hale and more. While the trailer doesn’t reveal much to us, I am excited to return to this world and characters again in the modern day to see what crazy antics they get up to. Hopefully it’s a bewitching good time.
We at The Illuminerdi will keep you updated on Hocus Pocus 2 as it develops.
Hocus Pocus 2 debuts on Disney+ on Sept. 30, 2022! What do you think of the teaser trailer for Hocus Pocus 2? Are you excited to see the Sanderson Sisters back from the dead? Did you see the original film back in 1993 or on video, DVD, or TV reruns? What are you most looking forward to about the upcoming sequel? Would you light the Black Flame Candle to see them come back from the dead? Let us know in the comments below and on our Twitter.
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