Bette Midler, Kathy Najimy, and Sarah Jessica Parker Comment on Returning for HOCUS POCUS Sequel
Last week was Halloween, and families across America were watching Hocus Pocus, because that’s what we do. Freeform was even showing the movie for 24 hours on the big day! It’s a movie we grew up with that has held up, and now the next generation is enjoying it.
Last week, at Bette Midler’s annual Hulaween gala benefiting the New York Restoration Project, ET chatted with the star about whether she’d be returning to the second film, which was announced a couple of weeks ago. Here’s what she had to say:
"Oh my goodness me. Oh I hope they get to me before I'm a corpse," joked Midler, who dressed up as classic movie icon Mae West for Halloween this year. "We wanna fly again. I hope Disney+ is a big success and I hope we get to do it, because [Winifred] is of course one of my favorite characters."
When asked if anything had been made official yet, she went on to add:
"I can't wait to read the script. We're gonna see what happens."
She then talked about when she gets together with her co-stars from the film, and added warmly:
"We actually talk about it whenever we see each other. We laugh, we say, 'Oh, wouldn't it be great if?' Because all of us had pretty much the same experience on it."
Midler’s co-star, Kathy Najimy, was also in attendance that night, and she sounded a little less excited to get in on the action, but not opposed. She said:
"I heard about it online the same time as [everyone else]. But here's the honest answer: Sarah and Bette and I all have a million projects and things that we're into, so I don't know if they're gonna offer us [roles]. I don't know if the worlds are going to collide so that we could all three do it at the same time."
"But I'm happy that it's happening, because the fans are really rabid and they really want it," she added with a smile. "[And] if we're not all available to star in it, I think it would be so great to do a cameo. I think that'd be really fun."
Their friend and co-star Sarah Jessica Parker had previously commented on the possible reunion in an Instagram post. A fan asked, “Any chance of a sequel?”, alongside a photo of the Sanderson sisters from the film. Parker responded, saying, “We have all said yes. Now we wait. X”.
I can’t imagine a new film without these actresses. While fans are looking forward to a sequel, we want one that stays true to the original with throwbacks and all the fun of the original. So hopefully the writers and executives take note, and Najimy will be able to clear her schedule.
Are you excited for a Hocus Pocus 2?