The Witches Are Back! New ‘Hocus Pocus 2’ Trailer, Poster, and More!

They’re back, witches! Hocus Pocus 2 is just a few months away from its premiere, and Disney+ just dropped a trailer, teaser art, and new stills to tease the release!

Since its release in 1993, hardly a Halloween goes by where people don’t enjoy revisiting the tale of the Sanderson sisters. Now the troublesome trio is back and better than ever in the anxiously awaited Hocus Pocus 2. The sequel promises to bring viewers another classic comedy-horror, and the newly released trailer gives us a glimpse at the Sanderson sisters back in their full glory.

Let’s take a look at Hocus Pocus’s humble beginnings and how an underperforming film turned into a cult classic.

Hocus Pocus: The Cult Classic We Know and Love

Hocus Pocus premiered on July 16, 1993, produced by Walt Disney Pictures. Surprisingly, the Halloween-themed movie didn’t premiere close to the holiday the plot centered upon.

Perhaps that’s what contributed to this box office failure. People just weren’t in the Halloween spirit. The flick received mixed reviews. And after initial calculations, the theatrical run lost Disney around $16.5 million.

However, the initial flop ended up becoming one of Disney’s most beloved holiday films. The annual airings on Disney Channel and ABC Family (now Freeform) cemented the film as a holiday tradition for many Halloween-loving enthusiasts.

The film gained popularity year after year, and each year Disney saw a spike in home video sales after it aired on syndicated TV as a part of Halloween movie marathons. This growth in popularity culminated in Disney finally greenlighting a long-awaited sequel after years of rumors about a revival.

After 29 years, the Sanderson sisters are back and spookier than ever.

Hocus Pocus: The Original Plot

Maybe you haven’t seen Hocus Pocus since it aired in 1993. Let’s give you a quick refresher on the plot.
On Halloween night, 1693, Thackery Binx watches the Sanderson sisters whisk away his little sister into the woods.

He confronts the sisters, Winifred, Sarah, and Mary, but they transform him into an immortal black cat. The townsfolk catch the witches and sentence them to hang for their crimes of witchcraft against the children. Winifred casts a curse that will resurrect them if a virgin lights the Black Flame Candle under an All Hallows’ Eve full moon.

300 years later, Max accidentally resurrects the witches while taking his sister trick-or-treating on Halloween night. Max and his sister narrowly escape the awakened sisters and steal their spellbook.

The three sisters spend the night trying to suck the soul from one of the children, as it’s the only way they’ll survive past dawn. With the help of Thackery the cat and the kids’ quick wits, they just might survive the night and put the sisters to rest for good.

Hocus Pocus 2: What to Expect

On June 28th, 2022, the first trailer for Hocus Pocus 2 dropped, and we couldn’t be more excited. Check it out below!

Here’s what we know so far about the plot: 29 years to the day after Max’s face-off with the Sanderson sisters, Becca, Cassie, and Izzy will make the mistake of summoning the sisters once again. As they attempt to gain a witch’s abilities on their 16th birthday, they get more than they bargained for. With the Sanderson sisters revived, they need to find a way to stop them before the witches cause chaos in Salem.

The Poster

The Cast and Creators

Would it really be Hocus Pocus without the original sisters? Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Kathy Najimy return as the wicked Winifred, Sarah, and Mary Sanderson. We’ll also get Doug Jones back as Winifred’s zombified ex, Billy Butcherson.

Here’s everyone else we know of so far that will appear in the Disney+ film:

• Sam Richardson from The Tomorrow War as Gilbert
• Hannah Waddingham from Ted Lasso, character name yet to be announced
• Whitney Peak from Gossip Girl as Becca
• Belissa Escobedo from American Horror Stories as Izzy
• Lilia Buckingham from Dirt as Cassie
• Froyan Gutierrez from Teen Wolf as Mike
• Tony Hale from Veep as Mayor Traske

With this star-studded cast and original trio, we can’t wait to see what’s in store when Hocus Pocus 2 comes to Disney+ on September 30, 2022!

Photo Credits: Walt Disney Studios