Bette Midler says momentum is building for a third Hocus Pocus film, telling Andy Cohen she has read a draft she called “brilliant” and that the project could be ready as soon as Halloween 2026, though budget and location are still being sorted out. She did not indicate casting beyond herself, and emphasized that key decisions remain in flux.
Her update contrasts with comments Sarah Jessica Parker made in July, when she said there had been “no more developments” beyond interest from the principals, underscoring how quickly prospects for a legacy sequel can shift as a studio weighs costs, schedules and creative direction. Writer Jen D’Angelo has previously discussed potential avenues for the story, including expanding mythology introduced in the last installment.
Disney confirmed in 2023 that a third film was in development following the streaming success of Hocus Pocus 2, which reunited Midler, Parker and Kathy Najimy nearly three decades after the original. That sequel set a Nielsen record for minutes viewed during its debut weekend on Disney+, a performance that strengthened the case for continuing the franchise even as the company retools its release pipeline and weighs theatrical versus streaming strategies for family titles.
If the 2026 timeframe holds, the production would need to lock its cast and creative team and enter prep in the coming months. Parker’s July remarks suggest some pieces may still be unsettled, while Midler’s new readout indicates at least one version of the screenplay is in hand. Franchise veterans who did not appear in the 2022 film have recently expressed interest in returning if invited, and the studio has not announced format or distribution details.
The first two films’ enduring seasonal appeal gives the third entry a clear marketing window, but the release plan will likely hinge on budget and platform calculus. Midler’s comments point to active discussions about scale and location, which could determine whether Disney positions the project as an event theatrical title, a streaming play aimed at Disney+, or a hybrid strategy designed around the Halloween corridor.
