Disney confirms Hocus Pocus 3 is officially on the way
Exciting news!
Disney has confirmed that a third Hocus Pocus film is officially on the way. The much-loved original 1993 film followed a trio of witches - played by Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker and Kathy Najimy - as they were resurrected on Halloween night.
A sequel, called Hocus Pocus 2, was released on Disney+ last year. The film saw Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, Kathy Najimy and Doug Jones reprise their roles, whilst Sam Richardson, Whitney Peak and Hannah Waddingham joined the cast.
Now, fans can look forward to another Hocus Pocus film after Disney boss Sean Bailey confirmed that a sequel is in production. Speaking to The New York Times, Sean said: "Yes, Hocus Pocus 3 is happening."
Bette Midler has previously spoken about her desire for more Hocus Pocus films. She said: "I'm envious of other actors who have franchises, and I was hoping for a sequel to First Wives Club, but we never got that.
"After 30 years with no sequel to Hocus Pocus, I've always been envious of people who get to do their favourite character more than once. The fact that we got to do this finally, after 30 years of promoting the idea, I'm glad we got to do it.
"I'd love to have a franchise - especially a character I love playing. If there was a third one, of course I'd sign on, but I don't know how. I can't imagine what the story would be, but I love Winifred, Sarah, Mary and our relationship. It's good for women.
"We stick together through hell and high water, but we do cause mayhem, and not many women cause that much mayhem."
Hocus Pocus and Hocus Pocus 2 are streaming on Disney+. You can sign up for Disney+ for only £7.99 per month. 18+. Subscription required. Ts & Cs Apply.
Take a look at some of the movies that are being released this year:
Magic Mike's Last Dance
Release date: 10th February
Magic Mike returned in 2023! The latest movie saw Channing Tatum reprise his role of, well, Magic Mike, alongside Salma Hayek. Magic Mike's Last Dance followed on from 2015's Magic Mike XXL, and was the third film in the franchise.
Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania
Release date: 17th February
Originally set for a 2022 release, the newest Ant-Man film was pushed back to 2023, and officially graced us in February! The action-packed Marvel Studios film welcomed back Paul Rudd in his famous role of Ant-Man in the Marvel Universe.
Scream VI
Release date: 10th March
A new Scream film was also released in 2023. Scream VI stars Melissa Barrera, Jasmin Savoy Brown, Mason Gooding, Jenna Ortega and Hayden Panettiere - and Courteney Cox reprised her role as Gale Weathers.
The Pope's Exorcist
Release date: 7th April
This supernatural horror follows Father Gabriele Amorth, Chief Exorcist of the Vatican, as he investigates a young boy's terrifying possession. Inspired by Gabriele Amorth's actual files, the plot follows the exorcist - played by none other than Russell Crowe, we might add - as he uncovers a centuries-old conspiracy the Vatican has kept hidden.
Peter Pan and Wendy
Release date: 28th April
Disney excited us all when they revealed some brand new titles coming in 2023, including a new Peter Pan film! The movie landed on Disney+ in April, and saw Jude Law take on the infamous role of Captain Hook.
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3
Release date: 3rd May
Another Marvel film to add to the collection, Guardians of the Galaxy returned for its third volume, as the gang rallied to defend the universe - and one of their own. Chris Pratt yet again starred in the film, alongside co-stars such as Dave Bautista and Will Poulter.
The Little Mermaid live-action remake
Release date: 26th May
Disney's highly-anticipated live-action remake of The Little Mermaid swam into cinemas in May 2023, starring Halle Bailey as the famous Ariel. Other stars featuring in the film include Melissa McCarthy, as Ursula, Daveed Diggs, as Sebastian, and Awkwafina, as Scuttle.
Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny
Release date: 28th June
Indiana Jones returned! Yep, Harrison Ford reprised his role as Indy in the fifth film of the franchise, following on from following Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull which was released way back in 2008!
With an original release date of 30th June, the UK and Ireland luckily saw the film released two days prior.
Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning, Part One
Release date: 14th July
Tom Cruise returned as Ethan Hunt in the latest instalment in his Mission Impossible franchise. The film is action-packed, with Tom sharing details of 'greatest stunt in cinema history' in some behind-the-scenes clips!
Barbie
Release date: 21st July
The highly-anticipated Barbie film hit cinemas in July 2023, starring Margot Robbie, Ryan Gosling and plenty of other huge names, such as Will Ferrell, Helen Mirren, Michael Cera and Sex Education's Emma Mackey and Ncuti Gatwa.
Oppenheimer
Release date: 21st July
The Christopher Nolan movie chronicles the life of J. Robert Oppenheimer, a theoretical physicist who was pivotal in developing the first nuclear weapons as part of the Manhattan Project. The film had a huge cast including Cillian Murphy, Emily Blunt, Matt Damon, Robert Downey Jr. and Florence Pugh to name a few. Released on the same day as the Barbie movie, so was born the 'Barbenheimer' meme.
Haunted Mansion
Release date: 11th August
The much-loved film made its return in 2023, with Disney releasing a brand new version of their classic movie Haunted Mansion. Starring the likes of Owen Wilson, Tiffany Haddish, Danny DeVito, Jamie Lee Curtis, LaKeith Stanfield, Dan Levy and Jared Leto, this re-vamp was seemingly scarier than the original, with the certificate being handed a 12A for moderate horror - a jump up from the original's PG certificate.
The Exorcist: Believer
Release date: 6th October
Marking 50-years since the release of the original film The Exorcist, a new chapter began in the form of The Exorcist: Believer. The film saw Ellen Burstyn reprises her iconic role as Chris MacNeil, for the first time since 1973. Not only that, but the reboot is part of a trilogy, with the follow-up film The Exorcist: Deceiver having a release date of 18th April 2025.
The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes
Release date: 17th November
Following the release of The Hunger Games: Catching Fire, Mockingjay Part 1, and Mockingjay Part 2, the latest Hunger Games film was released in mid-November 2023. The fifth instalment in The Hunger Games film series, the 2023 movie is a dystopian film based on the prequel of the same name.
WONKA
Release date: 15th December
The highly-anticipated WONKA film was FINALLY with us in December 2023. The film, starring Timothée Chalamet as the master chocolatier, details the years before Wonka opened his world-renowned chocolate factory, exploring his journey to becoming an illustrious candymaker. With a totally star-studded cast, it's a staple in the 2023 film catalogue.
Ghostbusters (untitled sequel)
Release date: 20th December
A sequel to the epic 2020 film Ghostbusters: Afterlife closed the year off, with the movie being a follow-on from the iconic original film. The potential for the sequel was teased in the end credits of Afterlife, when it was revealed the next instalment will be set in the iconic firehouse in New York City. Nostalgic!
Now read:
Home Alone is coming back to the big screen with a MAJOR twist 😱
Brand new trailer released for Barbie movie featuring amazing cast
Disney's live-action remake of The Little Mermaid is out NOW