Disney release a new clip from Hocus Pocus 2
The Sanderson sisters are back!
Last updated 15th Sep 2022
After much excitement around the sequel to the 1993 Disney classic, Hocus Pocus, the release date for Hocus Pocus 2 was officially revealed in June, and after the full official trailer landed, the official first clip from the movie has now landed.
Although it was understood the new movie would arrive in October 2022 for Halloween, thanks to a post back in February by creator Adam Shankman, it's now been confirmed by Hocus Pocus 2 will land on Disney+ on Friday 30th September.
In the lead-up to the exciting film release, the official Hocus Pocus social media account has been sharing new details about the movie, including the poster, which shows Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker and Kathy Najimy reprising their classic roles as the Sanderson sisters.
In mid-September, Disney Studios uploaded a 80 second clip of the upcoming movie, with the Sanderson sisters repeating their makeshift broomstick gag that took place in the original film but with some more modern choices.
Watch the official trailer for Hocus Pocus 2:
The latest trailer was released in the during Disney's D23 Expo in September, with Disney writing: 'This Halloween season, the Sanderson Sisters fly again. 🧹'.
Fans flocked to the comments to share their excitement, with one Twitter user saying: 'SISTAHSSSS OMG I CANT WAIT', and another adding: 'Wow. This looks better than I could have ever imagined. I love how easily they slipped back into those characters. So excited 😊'. (sic)
Watch the teaser for Hocus Pocus 2 below:
The teaser also shows that the Sanderson sisters are "looking for the stage" so it looks like we can expect another musical number to follow the original film's iconic 'I Put a Spell on You'.
Taking to Instagram last February, the movie's producer, and original creator Adam Shankman wrote: 'SISTAAAAAHHHHSSS! Aaaaand that’s a WRAP!!! #hocuspocus2 Congratulations to the amazing team @bettemidler @sarahjessicaparker @kathynajimy @567and8 @mrsleshem and the WHOOOOLLLEEEE cast and crew!!! Coming to you #halloween #2022 on @disneyplus'. (sic)
Although it was already in the rumour mill that there was going to be a second instalment of Hocus Pocus, Disney confirmed the news in 2021 that the Sanderson sisters would be returning to our screens for the sequel in 2022.
Due on Disney+, the news just gets better and better as it was also announced that original cast members Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker and Kathy Najimy will reprise their classic roles.
The news was unveiled on social media back in May (Thursday 21st May 2021), with Disney+ writing: 'It’s all just a bunch of Hocus Pocus 2️⃣ Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Kathy Najimy will reprise their roles as the delightfully wicked Sanderson Sisters in #HocusPocus2, coming fall 2022 to #DisneyPlus.' (sIc)
76-year-old Bette, who plays Winifred Sanderson, also took to social media to write: 'Sistaaaahs! It's been 300 years... But we’re BACK! 🧹 #HocusPocus2 arrives Fall 2022 on @DisneyPlus'. (sic)
In October, Halloween (of course!), more cast members were revealed, including West End legend and Ted Lasso star Hannah Waddingham, Tony Hale and Sam Richardson.
Other new cast members announced by Disney+ include Whitney Peak, Lilia Buckingham, Belissa Escobedo, Juju Brener, Froy Gutierrez, Taylor Henderson and Nina Kitchen.
Sarah Jessica Parker (Sarah Sanderson) then added: 'Yep. I'm ready. To run. Amok, amok, amok, amok.🕯️ #HocusPocus2 arrives Fall 2022 on @disneyplus Sisters??? X SJ'. (sic)
One change for the sequel will be a change in director. Anne Fletcher, who is best known for movies such as 27 Dresses and The Proposal, will take the reigns for Hocus Pocus 2, with original creator Adam Shankman taking the role of Executive Producer.
Check out all of the Disney films that have gone to the stage:
Beauty and the Beast
Disney bosses did not waste much time at all with getting Beauty and the Beast to the stage after the animated film was released in 1991! Opening on Broadway in 1994, Beauty and the Beast starred Terrence Mann as the Beast and Susan Egan as Belle, who later voiced Meg in Disney's Hercules. The musical ran until 2007 on Broadway, and in the West End from 1997 to 1999, following the same plot as the film: after her father is imprisoned by a beastly creature in the depths of the woods, Belle trades her freedom for his, but grows to love her captor.
Beauty and the Beast (2021)
After two decades away, a brand new production of Beauty and the Beast which went on a UK & Ireland tour and a summer run in the West End in 2022!
The Lion King
The Lion King is one of the most spectacular stage productions of all time! Following the same story as the 1994 animated film, the musical premiered on Broadway in 1997 and in the West End in 1999 - where it still continues to run. The show is renowned for its innovative use of staging and costumes, as well as puppetry for some of the animals.
The Hunchback of Notre Dame
One of the less popular movies, The Hunchback of Notre Dame has some of the most beautiful music from Disney's catalogue. Although it was never performed in the West End or Broadway, it ran successfully in Berlin from 1999 until 2002 and more or less followed the same plot as the 1996 film: Quasimodo is a kindly but lonely bellringer who longs to ingratiate himself in society and is controlled by his evil stepfather, Frollo. When he finally does break free, he falls in love with Esmeralda the gypsy... But so does Frollo.
Mary Poppins
Fans of Mary Poppins will know that the novel's original author, P. L. Travers, was something of a road block when it came to the 1964 film - and this was the case again when theatre producer Cameron Mackintosh approached her in 1993 to make a stage show; allowing it to go ahead but with certain stipulations. Mary Poppins pretty much followed the same plot as the film, but there were a few changes along the way. The show made its stage debut in the West End in 2004 - the only Disney musical to premiere in the UK - before opening on Broadway in 2006, with a West End revival in 2019.
Tarzan
Phil Collins returned to Tarzan after writing five songs for the original 1999 animated film, penning nine more for the stage show, which opened on Broadway in 2006 and ran for just over a year before performances all over the world, including a five-year run in Germany. It followed the story of the film: Jane and her father discover Tarzan living among gorillas, and his family's safety is jeopardised by the group Jane and her father arrived with.
The Little Mermaid
The stage show of The Little Mermaid was met with huge enthusiasm from theatre producers - but a brick wall came in the form of creating an underwater space on stage... So director Francesca Zambello had the actors wear Heelys and used lighting in a clever way to reflect water. Sierra Boggess originated the role of Ariel when the show premiered on Broadway in 2008 - her debut Broadway performance - and has gone on to become a huge stage star. The show closed just over 18 months later.
Aladdin
Aladdin the musical premiered in Seattle in 2011, before a Toronto tryout in 2013 and settling on Broadway in 2014. A West End production starred former Sugababe and Eurovision hopeful Jade Ewen as Jasmine, opening in 2016 and closing in 2019. A special performance of the show was filmed in August 2019 a week after it had closed at the Prince Edward Theatre, starring cast members from the original Broadway production, as well as the West End, and Australian and US tours.
Pinocchio
The on-stage version of Pinocchio premiered in December 2017 at the Royal National Theatre in London, running until April 2018. The National Theatre are well-known for their clever use of puppetry, which of course tied in well with a story about a boy made of wood!
Frozen
As one of the most popular Disney films of all time, it was no surprise that bosses chose to put Frozen on the stage! It follows the storyline of the 2013 film, with Queen Elsa struggling to control her snowy powers and accidentally injuring her sister Anna. Premiering on Broadway in 2018, the show was suspended in March 2020 due to the global pandemic and toured the US instead of returning to Broadway.
However, a West End production opened in April 2021 after being postponed, with Les Misérables star Samantha Barks as Elsa.
Bedknobs and Broomsticks
Disney's 1971 film Bedknobs and Broomsticks is an absolute classic, the original film is based on stories by Mary Norton, starred Angela Lansbury, included animated characters and had a flying bed! So it's no surprise that the film has finally been given the stage treatment.
The musical adaptation of Bedknobs and Broomsticks opened at the Theatre Royal in Newcastle upon Tyne in August 2021 which kicked off a UK & Ireland tour which ran until May 2022.
Newsies
Inspired by the New York newsboys strike of 1899, Newsies first arrived on screen in the 1992 with music Alan Menken and lyrics by Jack Feldman. Despite a disappointing performance at the box office, the film's cult following led the way for a stage adaptation to be made.
The stage musical of Newsies arrived on Broadway in 2012 following a run in New Jersey, and picked up eight Tony nominations with the musical becoming well known for its impressive ensemble of dancers. Ten years later the musical finally came to the UK with a new production at the Troubadour Theatre in Wembley.
Believe it or not, Hocus Pocus wasn't exactly a box office hit when it was originally released back in 1993, reportedly losing Disney $16.5 million!
However, this quickly changed over the years, with the movie now being a cult classic with people of all ages.
Hocus Pocus 2 is due out on Disney+ on Friday 30th September.
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