Hocus Pocus 2 Release Date, Cast, And Where To Stream - What We Know So Far
"Hocus Pocus" is by far one of the most universally beloved Halloween movies. The enchanting fantasy adventure film follows Max Dennison (Omri Katz), his little sister Dani (Thora Birch), and his crush Allison (Vinessa Shaw) as they face off against a trio of recently-resurrected witches in Salem, Massachusetts.
The cult classic film is all about believing in magic and getting into the holiday spirit, making it a popular, family-friendly rewatch every fall. Networks like the Disney Channel and Freeform frequently include "Hocus Pocus" in their seasonal programming, further boosting its longevity.
Because of how revered the film is, many fans have been curious about a potential follow-up given the influx of reboots, remakes, and sequels in recent years. Rumors of a sequel have been flying around for decades to no avail. However, it's finally official: "Hocus Pocus 2" is happening.
Here's what we know about "Hocus Pocus 2" so far.
When will Hocus Pocus 2 be released?
Although "Hocus Pocus" is a movie about All Hallows' Eve, it was originally released on July 16, 1993. Of course, as the "Fear Street" trilogy proved, scary stories are just as welcomed in the summertime as they are during the fall. However, the upcoming sequel will not follow in its predecessors' footsteps with a summer release date, instead opting for something much more fitting.
On January 27, "Hocus Pocus 2" producer Adam Shankman took to Instagram to congratulate the cast and crew for finishing shooting for the long-awaited sequel. "Coming to you #halloween #2022," he added.
Before this, the release date was slated for fall 2022. Now, fans can rest easy knowing they have months to schedule their Halloween viewing parties of "Hocus Pocus 2," stock up on Black Flame Candles, and maybe even book a trip to Salem to check out some of the locations from the original movie.
Who is starring in the sequel?
It wouldn't be a "Hocus Pocus" sequel without the infamous Sanderson sisters running amok. Fans will be delighted to know that Bette Midler, Kathy Najimy, and Sarah Jessica Parker will be reprising their roles as Winifred, Mary, and Sarah, respectively.
While nobody else from the original cast is confirmed to be returning, "Hocus Pocus 2" will be bringing in a variety of new faces. Per Deadline, Tony Hale, Sam Richardson, Hannah Waddingham, Whitney Peak, Lilia Buckingham, Belissa Escobedo, Doug Jones, Juju Brenner, Froy Gutierrez, Taylor Henderson, and Nina Kitchen are set to star in the upcoming film.
Details about their characters are still unknown, but what we do know is that "Hocus Pocus 2" will once again see the soul-sucking witches chasing children in Salem. This time, though, Deadline reports that it will be three young women who presumably light the Black Flame Candle on Halloween night and try to stop the witches from destroying the city.
Where will Hocus Pocus 2 be streaming?
After the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted the entertainment industry and shut down movie theaters around the world, many films began to be released exclusively through streaming services. Given that "Hocus Pocus" and "Hocus Pocus 2" are Disney properties, it should come as no surprise that the sequel will debut on Disney+ later this year (via Deadline).
It's unknown whether or not the upcoming film will be available for rental or purchase on other platforms, so the best option seems to be getting a Disney+ membership or borrowing a friend's login information before Halloween. Unfortunately, it doesn't seem that there will be a theatrical release for "Hocus Pocus 2."
The original film is currently available for streaming on Disney+, Amazon, iTunes, Google Play Movies, and YouTube. By the time October rolls around, it will also be in constant rotation via most cable providers.
"Hocus Pocus 2" begins streaming exclusively on Disney+ on October 31, 2022.