Bette Midler Calls Hocus Pocus 3 Script “Brilliant” as Sequel Finally Starts to Take Shape
The witches are circling the cauldron again, and this time Bette Midler says the magic is strong. After years of speculation and studio silence, Hocus Pocus 3 finally seems to be inching closer to becoming a reality. During yet another visit to Andy Cohen’s Watch What Happens Live, the Divine Miss M herself revealed that she has officially read the script for the next installment, and she is very pleased with what she has seen.
“They sent a script, and a lot of it was brilliant,” Midler told Cohen, radiating the same theatrical delight that made Winifred Sanderson a Halloween icon. “So I got very excited, and now we are sort of trying to figure out what it is and how it is going, where it is going to be, and how much it is going to cost and all those logistical things.” In other words, the witches are stirring but the brew is not quite ready yet.
This is welcome news for fans who were beginning to think the third film had turned to dust faster than a witch in sunlight. Following the huge success of Hocus Pocus 2 in 2022, Disney was quick to tease the idea of another movie, with writer Jen D’Angelo returning to handle the script. Yet as time dragged on with no production updates, even the most loyal fans started to worry that the magic had worn off.
Jen D’Angelo, who has worked on Workaholics, Cougar Town and Young Rock, has been on a roll lately. She wrote Hocus Pocus 2, the time-traveling slasher Totally Killer, and the comedy Quiz Lady. Despite her busy streak, Hocus Pocus 3 seems to have taken longer than expected, likely due to the challenge of reuniting Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Kathy Najimy while also keeping Disney’s accountants from fainting at the budget.
Earlier this year, Sarah Jessica Parker also stopped by Andy Cohen’s show, which is rapidly becoming the official news outlet for all things Hocus Pocus, and said that conversations about the film were ongoing. Now, with Midler confirming that the script exists and that she loves it, it seems the Sanderson Sisters may soon return to terrorize Salem once again.
The original Hocus Pocus, released in 1993, was not an immediate success but became a beloved Halloween staple thanks to decades of television replays and nostalgia. Directed by Kenny Ortega and written by Mick Garris and Neil Cuthbert, the film followed three witch sisters resurrected in modern-day Salem after 300 years. What started as a box office disappointment turned into a yearly tradition for millions of families, with Midler’s unhinged performance as Winifred becoming legendary.
When Hocus Pocus 2 arrived nearly three decades later, the response was far more enthusiastic. The film brought back Midler, Parker, and Najimy for another round of spells, chaos, and musical numbers, introducing a younger cast to carry the torch and ending on a note that teased more adventures. Fans embraced it, making it one of Disney’s biggest streaming hits of the year.
While no plot details for the third film have been revealed, D’Angelo has hinted that it will expand the world of the witches and possibly explore new characters tied to the magic of Salem. Midler’s comments suggest that the story stays true to the series’ heart while finding new tricks to keep it fresh. Expect humor, mischief, and at least one show-stopping number about stealing youth or world domination.
It is also clear that Midler herself is determined to keep the Sanderson Sisters alive for as long as possible. In past interviews, she has joked that she would play Winifred “until I drop” and would “fly anywhere for those girls.” With that kind of enthusiasm and a “brilliant” script ready, Disney would be foolish not to fast-track the project.
If Hocus Pocus 3 can capture the balance of nostalgia, comedy, and witchy charm that made the first two films so beloved, it could cement the trilogy as one of Disney’s most enduring spooky franchises. For now, the candles are lit, the spellbook is open, and Salem is waiting for its favorite witches to rise again.
