Sarah Jessica Parker, Bette Midler and Kathy Najimy Officially Returning for ‘Hocus Pocus’ Sequel

Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker and Kathy Najimy will reprise their roles as the Sanderson sisters in “Hocus Pocus 2,” the sequel to the 1993 Disney classic.

Disney initially revealed plans for a follow-up film in 2019 with the hopes that the trio of actors would return, but Midler, Parker and Najimy hadn’t officially confirmed their participation until now. The film is expected to premiere on Disney Plus in 2022.

Midler celebrated the news on Twitter, writing, “Sistaaaahs! It’s been 300 years… But we’re BACK!”

Along with the casting announcement, Disney said filmmaker Adam Shankman will no longer direct the movie due to scheduling conflicts. However, he will remain on the project as an executive producer as he directs “Disenchanted,” a sequel to “Enchanted,” for the studio. Anne Fletcher, whose credits include “The Proposal” and “27 Dresses” will take over behind the camera. Fletcher and Shankman go way back, having first met in 1990 when they were both dancers for the Oscars telecast. Shankman later hired Fletcher as his assistant choreographer and have partnered on over 100 different projects. He even produced her feature directorial debut, the 2006 dance film “Step Up”starring Channing Tatum and Jenna Dewan.

“As heartbroken as I am that I won’t be able to direct my friends Bette, Sarah Jessica and Kathy in what is sure to be nothing short of a major event for Disney Plus due to scheduling conflicts, I couldn’t be more pleased to be handing over the reins to Anne, who has brought so much laughter and joy into people’s lives with her previous work,” Shankman said. “I am still grateful and proud to help shepherd this ingenious project as executive producer alongside producer Lynn Harris, whom I have loved and admired as a colleague and friend since she helped get me the job choreographing ‘Boogie Nights.’”

Fletcher added, “Now more than ever, people need to laugh. We should be laughing every day, and there is so much fun to be had with these three unbelievable women playing delicious characters from such a beloved film. I am so grateful to be able to play a part in bringing these witches back to life, and to be working with my friends at Disney again makes it all the more special. This is a movie for everyone, from the fans who grew up with the first film to the next generation of viewers, and I can’t wait to get started.”

More to come…

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