Sarah Jessica Parker says the long‑awaited third Hocus Pocus film remains alive at Disney, but the coven is still waiting for the spark that will send them back to Salem. During a 14 July appearance on Watch What Happens Live, the actor told viewers that “we would like to do it” and confirmed that informal talks have begun, though no script is yet in place.
Her update echoes fan frustration that little has changed since the studio announced in June 2023 that a sequel was in early development with returning writer Jen D’Angelo. D’Angelo said last year she was exploring storylines that deepen the 17th‑century mythology introduced in the 2022 follow‑up, including the Mother Witch portrayed by Hannah Waddingham.
Bette Midler, who turns 80 in December, has publicly pressed Disney to move faster, warning on The Jess Cagle Show in 2024 that the company was proceeding “very gingerly and very gently.” Co‑star Kathy Najimy echoed the sentiment, joking that the Sanderson sisters “aren’t getting any younger” and urging executives to “finish the script.”
The second film, released straight to Disney+ in 2022, logged 2.7 billion viewing minutes in its debut weekend and 5.7 billion for the year, the platform’s best‑performing original. Those figures have fed speculation that Disney could return the franchise to cinemas as it reassesses its streaming strategy.
Analysts note the brand’s value lies not only in nostalgia but in seasonal park activations and merchandise, incentives now weighed against the aging principal cast. One commentator warned that the “window is closing” if Disney wants a live‑action reunion, a reality Parker acknowledged when she floated the idea of an animated sequel earlier this year.
Original stars Omri Katz and Vinessa Shaw have said they would return if asked, a possibility insiders say D’Angelo has kept “on the table.” The presence of a fresh Black Flame Candle in the last film’s end credits has already set the stage for another resurrection; what remains, as Midler quipped, is for Disney to “light this thing.”
