Hocus Pocus 2

Andrew Scott and Bella Ramsey star in Lena Dunham's bracing look at life in medieval England, while the 90s cult classic gets the original Sanderson Sisters ...

[atmospheric drama](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2020/jan/16/waves-review-drama-trey-edward-shults-peter-bradshaw). [2013 film](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2013/sep/05/aint-them-bodies-saints-review), a delicate, Malick-esque love story. [sprightly comedy](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2022/sep/13/catherine-called-birdy-review-lena-dunhams-delightful-medieval-romp) by Lena Dunham focuses on Birdy (Bella Ramsey) as she narrates her life as a 14-year-old aristocrat in medieval England. The work was done by the staff of Gazeta Sporturilor, which is known mainly as a sports paper, and though there are many depressing aspects to the film’s revelations, it does proves the vital role independent journalism can play in an open society. The serious nature of their situation is balanced by the giddy newness of adventure; their offence gaining iconic status in the Black communities they pass through and are welcomed by. Bridges is as magnetic as ever as the lawman on the verge of retirement, but Pine and Foster also impress as the errant siblings.

Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker and Kathy Najimy share what it's like to revisit the Sanderson sisters and what surprises are in store.

“I was excited about -- besides fans getting to be with their beloved characters -- was the origin story of our witches,” Fletcher said. “It’s about friendship,” she said. Would I be able to do it well enough that the fans are satisfied and happy? “Fans have been screaming from the hilltops,” Fletcher said. Over the years, “Hocus Pocus 2” has garnered a fanbase like no other. Since its 1993 release, “Hocus Pocus” has put a spell on audiences around the globe.

No movie can escape the post-credit scene. Hocus Pocus 2 is no exception. Read on as we delve into what happened to the Sanderson sisters in the Disney ...

It's an obvious set-up for a third movie and we can't rule anything out, although it would be a shame to backtrack on the emotional finale. They fight, and the three girls join forces to put protect themselves from the sisters spells. However, the girls trap the sisters in a salt circle. A relieved and joyous Winnie transforms into sparks which merge with her sisters' sparks and shine brightly before disappearing. However, the spell doesn't bring them back; instead, it sends Winnie to them. Gilbert is tasked with finding the head of Winnie's lover (aka Billy Butcher) among other things to complete the permanency spell. In the case of Hocus Pocus 2, the Sanderson Sisters (Bette Midler, Kathy Najimy, and Sarah Jessica Parker) return to wreak havoc on Salem. Becca and Izzy escape using Angelika leaves to remove the curse, but don't notice that it's actually channeling Becca's natural witchy abilities. The candle magically sparks alight with a black flame, calling the Sisters back from the beyond. We begin Hocus Pocus 2 not in the present day but rather in the distant past, with the Sanderson sisters as young girls. [Hocus Pocus 2](https://www.digitalspy.com/movies/a31148112/hocus-pocus-2-disney-plus-release-date/) and [Top Gun: Maverick](https://www.digitalspy.com/movies/a41186290/top-gun-maverick-biggest-sequel-ever/) have more in common than one might expect – which is nothing. He insists the rumours are true and that he saw them that Halloween night 29 years ago, but no one believes him.

Nearly 30 years on, the Sanderson sisters (Winnie, Sarah and Mary) return for more witchy adventures in 'Hocus Pocus 2'.

But this thoroughly enjoyable film succeeds in offering a knowing (but not too knowing) spin on the campy original. At one point, they come face to face with a trio of drag queens impersonating them (RuPaul’s Drag Race stars This time around, Winnie has revenge on her mind: when she realises the town mayor (Veep’s Tony Hale) is descended from a 17th-century nemesis, the poor man has a target on his back. Thankfully, this sequel from experienced comedy director Anne Fletcher (The Proposal, The Guilt Trip) is much more satisfying. When the sisters break into a rollicking rendition of ‘The Bitch Is Back’ – reworked as ‘The Witches Are Back’, obviously – one character deadpans: “Why are they singing?” It’s also really quite touching at the finish: a trick few sequels of this ilk manage to pull off. Fans have been clamouring for a sequel for years – Midler said back in 2014 that the ball was in Disney’s court – so this tardy follow-up should be slam dunk for Disney+.

The new sequel launches on Disney Plus almost 30 years after the original – here's who stars alongside Bette Midler, Kathy Najimy and Sarah Jessica Parker.

What else has Froy Gutierrez been in? What else has Sam Richardson been in? What else has Belissa Escobedo been in? Who is Gilbert? Who is Mother Witch? What else has Sarah Jessica Parker been in? Who is Jefry? What else has Whitney Peak been in? Who is Cassie? Who is Billy? Who is Sarah? The oldest of the three Sanderson Sisters, Winnie's signature magical ability is electrokinesis, but she has extensive knowledge of dark magic thanks to her prized sentient spell book.

Almost 30 years on from the iconic 1993 film, Hocus Pocus 2 brings back the three original Sanderson sisters - played, of course, by Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica ...

I was laughing my a** off and the sisters really still have that chemistry together! Now it is up to three high-school students to stop the ravenous witches from wreaking a new kind of havoc on Salem before dawn on All Hallow’s Eve." As well as bringing back the original main cast, Hocus Pocus 2 also picks back up with a follow-up story to the 1993 original. One viewer tweeted, "Just finished watching Hocus Pocus 2. Plus, Winnie, Sarah and Mary look basically *exactly* the same in costume. Almost 30 years on from the iconic 1993 film, Hocus Pocus 2 brings back the three original Sanderson sisters - played, of course, by Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker and Kathy Najimi.

The original film follows a trio of kids who work together to defeat the wickedly funny Sanderson sisters (played by Kathy Najimy, Bette Midler and Sarah ...

In that respect, “Hocus Pocus 2” remains quite the same. While the sequel sweeps the issue a little more under the rug, the birds and the bees conversation still haunts Salem, and even pokes fun at the uncomfortable “what’s a virgin?” conversation many families were forced into after the first movie. We get a shortened version performed by the Mother Witch (played by “Ted Lasso’s” Hannah Waddingham). The new generation of Salem youths are a group of teen girls: Becca (Whitney Peak), Cassie (Lilia Buckingham) and Izzy (Belissa Escobedo). [I Put a Spell on You](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DCTbr3vjb6I),” as performed by Midler, Najimy and Parker. To achieve their immortality in the original “Hocus Pocus,” the Sanderson sisters require a virgin to light a candle. Though it didn’t do particularly well in theaters or with home sales, it found a second life on television: When Disney started to air the film on its own channel, and later on ABC Family, “a generation of millennials … In the not-too-distant future look for ‘Hocus Pocus’ in the rental-store bins, or as part of a Halloween ‘Trick or Treat’ package.” You’re going to put the leads of the first movie in the background and be satisfied? You’re not going to be satisfied, you’re going to be angry,” she explained. The original film follows a trio of kids who work together to defeat the wickedly funny Sanderson sisters (played by Kathy Najimy, Bette Midler and Sarah Jessica Parker) after accidentally bringing them back from the dead. The only thing millennials have been waiting longer for than affordable housing is a “Hocus Pocus” sequel.

On Young Sheldon, Iain Armitage and Raegan Revord only play twins. As guest models for a special prime-time edition of the classic game show, they welcome an ...

[The Amber Ruffin Show](https://www.tvinsider.com/show/the-amber-ruffin-show)(streaming on [Peacock](https://www.tvinsider.com/network/peacock)): The [Late Night with Seth Meyers](https://www.tvinsider.com/show/late-night-with-seth-meyers)alum returns for a third season of comedy and conversation, with [Hillary](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/hillary-clinton)and [Chelsea Clinton](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/chelsea-clinton)as her first guests. [ABC](https://www.tvinsider.com/network/abc)’s [20/20](https://www.tvinsider.com/show/20-20)(9/8c) looks into the bizarre case of Sherri Papini, sentenced last week to 18 months in prison for perpetrating a kidnapping hoax and mail fraud. [Entergalactic](https://www.tvinsider.com/show/entergalactic)(streaming on [Netflix](https://www.tvinsider.com/network/netflix)): Scott “ [Kid Cudi](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/kid-cudi)” Mescudi and [black-ish](https://www.tvinsider.com/show/black-ish)’s [Kenya Barris](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/kenya-barris)are executive producers of an animated musical love story about an artist (Mescudi) pursuing love and a career in New York. Followed at 10/9c by the premiere of [Eli Roth Presents: My Possessed Pet](https://www.tvinsider.com/show/eli-roth-presents-my-possessed-pet), telling the opposite of cuddly animal stories, starting with the saga of a black stallion infected by an ancient evil. The impressive voice cast includes [Jessica Williams](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/jessica-williams), [Timothée Chalamet](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/timothee-chalamet), [Vanessa Hudgens](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/vanessa-hudgens), [Christopher Abbott](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/christopher-abbott), [Keith David](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/keith-david), [Arturo Castro](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/arturo-castro), [Macaulay Culkin](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/macaulay-culkin), [Laura Harrier](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/laura-harrier), and Ty Dolla $ign. [Stanley Tucci](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/stanley-tucci/)). The above-par supporting cast includes another Veep alum, [Sam Richardson](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/sam-richardson/), as a magic-shop owner and [Ted Lasso](https://www.tvinsider.com/show/ted-lasso/)’s sublime [Hannah Waddingham](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/hannah-waddingham/) as another witch from Salem’s past. [Ramy](https://www.tvinsider.com/show/ramy)(streaming on [Hulu](https://www.tvinsider.com/network/hulu)): The Peabody-winning comedy returns with all 10 episodes of a third season of soul-searching, as Egyptian-American millennial Ramy ( [Ramy Youssef](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/ramy-youssef)) abandons his spiritual journey — but for how long? [The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power](https://www.tvinsider.com/show/the-lord-of-the-rings-the-rings-of-power/). [Joseph Mawle](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/joseph-mawle/)) descends upon the villagers in the Southlands, with elf warrior Arondir ( [Ismael Cruz Córdova](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/ismael-cruz-cordova/)) and loyal Bronwyn ( [Nazanin Boniadi](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/nazanin-boniadi/)) holding down the fort-make that tower — reinforcements are sailing from Númenor. [Apple](https://www.tvinsider.com/network/apple-tv-plus/)’s [Central Park ](https://www.tvinsider.com/show/central-park/)presents one of the final voice performances of the late [ Ed Asner](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/ed-asner/). [ Discovery](https://www.tvinsider.com/network/discovery/)’s [Gold Rush](https://www.tvinsider.com/show/gold-rush/) begins its 13th season of prospecting.

Hocus Pocus 2 brings the Sanderson sisters back for more Halloween hijinks and manages to channel the fun of the original film nearly 30 years later.

Those who consider Hocus Pocus a Halloween staple are likely to find themselves embracing this new, two-film saga with the Sandersons going forward, as the trio’s return gives audiences even more of a good thing. Hocus Pocus 2 also does a fine job of avoiding the pitfalls some sequels encounter when attempting to add a new chapter to a film released several decades earlier. Much like the original film, the teenagers might be the story’s heroes, but the Sanderson sisters are the real stars of Hocus Pocus 2. Gossip Girl actress Whitney Peak portrays Becca, who accidentally resurrects the Sanderson sisters in the film, and carries her role in the family-friendly adventure well, with just the sort of earnestness that Disney films of this sort demand. Hocus Pocus 2 conjures up original cast members Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Kathy Najimy as Winifred, Sarah, and Mary Sanderson, respectively, the trio of witches who were accidentally resurrected in the 1993 film and terrorized the town of Salem before being defeated by a group of precocious teenagers and a magical black cat. And because this is a time when everything old is eventually new again — particularly if it’s gained the sort of post-release popularity Hocus Pocus has enjoyed — Disney has decided to

'My whole week off that we were supposed to enjoy the holidays, I was healing,' Kathy Najimy says of breaking a rib in the middle of filming Hocus Pocus 2.

"I love heights, I love to be scared, I love the whole thing. "Sarah and I ... she tells PEOPLE, joking, "I think if we did it 30 years later again, well, there would be walkers and canes involved. they'd say, 'Lunchtime.' And we'd say, 'Just leave us up here,' " Najimy remembers. "And then I was back at work wrapped up. and I fell like an accordion," she recalls. It's a lot, but who knows? Half the movie, I have a broken rib." "It was fun, but it's not nothing. And I saw that she had one of those machines that you put your legs in and you go upside down and it stretches you, because I have one. "The day I wrapped, I went over to my friend's house. "And broke my rib."

The long-awaited sequel features the three Sanderson witches we've come to know and love, with the movie starring the same iconic actors from the original such ...

Here are the details on how to watch and where you can see Hocus Pocus 2 . At the moment, there is no free trial for the streaming service, so you will need to sign up if you’re not already a member. How to watch Hocus Pocus 2: where to watch the sequel

Now that the highly anticipated Hocus Pocus sequel has arrived on Disney+, let's take a closer look at all the times the new movie paid tribute to its ...

And, instead of running amok, amok, amok, we combed through every scene of Hocus Pocus 2 to find all of the Easter eggs that [called back to the original](https://www.eonline.com/news/946512/hocus-pocus-celebrates-25th-anniversary-how-it-became-a-cult-classic). From hidden costumes to favorite lines, we're happy to report that Hocus Pocus 2 is chock-full of tributes to the first film. "It is very sweet," Bette said while reflecting on the love for the Sanderson Sisters. News at the Hocus Pocus 2 premiere that the fans are "the reason this movie got made." [Disney+](https://www.eonline.com/news/disney) released [the highly anticipated sequel](https://www.eonline.com/news/1336024/see-the-sanderson-sisters-reunite-in-first-hocus-pocus-2-teaser-trailer) to the 1993 cult classic Sept. There is something about the bond between the sisters."

Sarah Jessica Parker, Bette Midler and Kathy Najimy return as the witchy Sanderson sisters in Disney sequel 'Hocus Pocus 2.'

And after their 1993 rendition of “I Put a Spell on You,” of course the witches are obliged to revive their Vegas-style lounge act here, this time while crashing (what else?) a Sanderson Sisters-themed costume contest — a self-congratulatory wink at how popular the “Hocus Pocus” phenomenon has become. That lengthy gestation speaks to the long, weird shelf life of the first “Hocus Pocus,” received as a campy misfire but reclaimed, over the decades, as a Halloween staple and (oc)cult classic. They’re particularly funny in one sequence in which Becca and her friend, Izzy (Belissa Escobedo), try to distract the witches from their pedicidal rampage by taking them shopping at Walgreens, where they’re duly wowed by the advanced sorcery of beauty products and automatic sliding doors. That’s what happens again in “Hocus Pocus 2,” this time by way of a rather smarter teenager, Becca (Whitney Peak), and a very dumb Salem historian, Gilbert (Sam Richardson), plus some tortuous story logic that brings the evil sisters whooshing back to life. Flash forward to the present day, which happens to be exactly 29 years after the events of the first “Hocus Pocus,” when a virginal high schooler ill-advisedly resurrected the Sanderson Sisters for one Halloween night of literally soul-sucking mayhem. [“Hocus Pocus”](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1993-07-16-ca-13536-story.html) (1993), which, like “Avatar,” has now spawned a long-awaited follow-up.

Hocus Pocus 2 review round-up: What critics are saying about the new Sanderson Sisters sequel streaming on Disney+. Read more on Boston.com.

The truth about the original “Hocus Pocus” is harder to swallow than a witch’s brew containing “a bit of thine own tongue”: It’s a very bad movie. Never is OG Hocus Pocus director Kenny Ortega’s absence more felt than in the film’s big musical number, which doesn’t hold a (black flame) candle to Midler’s vampy rendition of “I Put a Spell On You” from last time around. The central trio of Midler, Parker, and Najimy fail to recapture the gleeful chaos of the first outing. All in all, it’s twice as good as “Hocus Pocus.” It’s easier to write that if you didn’t like “Hocus Pocus.” Hocus Pocus 2 is stuck, trapped somewhere between different times, audiences and tones, trying to do so much yet, in this instance, achieving so very little. The new sequel, “Hocus Pocus 2,” out on Disney+ 29 years later, is much, much worse. That’s “Hocus Pocus 2.” It manages to tell its story straight, so that’s a huge improvement over the first one. The highlights of the first film are celebrated (there’s a delightful musical number) and there are some very funny moments, including a Sanderson sisters costume competition. Though it’s been nearly 30 years, all three bring the same verve to their performances, gamely swooning and shrieking around the screen, and leaning into the film’s “Three Stooges”-style slapstick with aplomb. [64 percent freshness rating](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/hocus_pocus_2) at the time of this article’s publication. Thankfully, with a cast rounded out by Doug Jones, Hannah Waddingham and Sam Richardson, the brew-haha’s aren’t solely concentrated in the three leads. This time around, two best friends named Becca and Izzy (Whitney Peak, Belissa Escobedo) celebrate Becca’s 16th birthday in Salem’s Forbidden Woods, where they are unwittingly tricked into lighting the Black Flame Candle that summons the Winnifred, Mary, and Sarah Sanderson (Bette Midler, Kathy Najimy, and Sarah Jessica Parker, respectively) once more.

The long-awaited sequel to the Halloween favorite is now streaming on Disney+.

We’re a very decisive group which goes also goes to show that women can be decisive.” Whatever it is that our mission is, there’s not a lot of second-guessing which I don’t think you see a lot.” And we talked a lot about leaning on each other and counting on each other and loyalty to each other. She has a core friend group and no matter what happens, she eventually gets to [make] sure that she has her sisters behind her the entire time.” I think she is a very good example of misstepping and not being able to figure it out until she communicates with her best friends. “You know, as a fan of the movie itself, this was directed right at me. It wasn’t like you were just a lackey. “I think I just admire that she just has this, like, blind loyalty to these girls, [and] will do anything for them, no questions asked—totally would go against three evil witches.” “And I think it’s amazing that, you have one end of horror, and then you have this end of camp. “He kind of matches the energy and the floppiness and the fun and the overdone characters of the sisters. Advertisement io9 recently participated in the press conference for the film with the cast and creative team to discuss the making of the movie and why it t00k 29 years to get here.

Kathy Najimy, from left, Bette Midler and Sarah Jessica Parker star in a scene from the film “Hocus Pocus.” Andrew Cooper, Disney Enterprises Inc.

The film traces their interaction with a new group of teenagers and also gives their origin story. - “Hocus Pocus 2” explains the origin story of the Sanderson sisters, who appeared in the 1993 movie “Hocus Pocus.” The 1993 “Hocus Pocus” was popular and still persists as a classic Halloween movie. Reviews of “Hocus Pocus 2” are already out from The Sanderson sisters are hitting the screen again in “Hocus Pocus 2” — the sequel to “Hocus Pocus.” Released Friday on Disney+, this Halloween movie is generating buzz because the first “Hocus Pocus” was such a widely - “Hocus Pocus 2” is rated PG for action, macabre humor and some language, according to

She credited the sequel happening to her co-star, Bette Midler, who plays Winnie Sanderson. “To be completely honest, for the past 28 years, I didn't think much ...

[Extra](https://extratv.com/2022/09/27/sarah-jessica-parker-would-do-a-third-hocus-pocus-if-bette-midler-is-on-board/) in September 2022 that she would do a third Hocus Pocus movie is Bette Midler, who plays Winnie Sanderson, also returned. Here’s [how to subscribe for free](https://stylecaster.com/disney-plus-free-trial/). Will there be a Hocus Pocus 3? Kathy Najimy, who plays Mary Sanderson, for her part, told People in September 2022 about what it would take for her to come back for a third Hocus Pocus movie. [Entertainment Weekly](https://ew.com/movies/hocus-pocus-2-cast-interview-resurrecting-sanderson-sisters/) in September 2022, Bette Midler, who plays Winnie Sanderson, revealed that she proposed the idea of a Hocus Pocus sequel 10 years after the original movie’s premiere in 1993 but saw “no interest.” “Even when it became a phenomenon, [a sequel] wasn’t considered. My friend suggested that I go online, so I looked, and I was shocked because I’d never seen so much Hocus Pocus merch.” She continued, “I bought the costume, and I came as Winnie here and there, for this benefit or that benefit, and I realized there was something going on. See the full Hocus Pocus 2 cast below. (Disney Plus costs $7.99 per month, Hulu starts at $6.99 per month and ESPN Plus costs $6.99 per month for a total of $21.97 compared to [The Disney Bundle’s $13.99 per month](https://click.linksynergy.com/deeplink?id=t1ZX7*4ybQA&mid=42392&u1=SC-&murl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.hulu.com%2Fstart) price.) Disney Plus and ESPN Plus also come free with [Hulu+ With Live TV](https://click.linksynergy.com/deeplink?id=t1ZX7*4ybQA&mid=42392&u1=SC-&murl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.hulu.com%2Flive-tv), which costs [$69.99 per month](https://click.linksynergy.com/deeplink?id=t1ZX7*4ybQA&mid=42392&u1=SC-&murl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.hulu.com%2Flive-tv). Get More Unlimited, Play More Unlimited, Verizon Plan Unlimited, Go Unlimited, Beyond Unlimited and Above Unlimited.) If you have one of these plans, you can sign-up for a free six-month Disney+ subscription (which saves you about $42.) [Click here for Verizon’s FAQ](https://www.verizon.com/support/disney-bundle-faqs/) on how to sign up for its free Disney+ subscription. “And the amount of Hocus Pocus costumes and merchandise I saw was shocking. So there you have it—a way to watch Disney Plus for free. Hocus Pocus 2 sees the Sanderson sisters accidentally become resurrected again by two teenagers, Becca and Izzy, as they celebrate Halloween and Becca’s 16th birthday.

Larry Mantle and KPCC film critics Lael Loewenstein and Claudia Puig review this weekend's new movie releases on streaming and on demand platforms.

It stars Viola Davis and is directed by Gina Prince-Bythewood of ‘Love & Basketball,’ ‘The Secret Life of Bees,’ and ‘The Old Guard.’ In addition to strong reviews and word-of-mouth, ‘The Woman King’ has done quite well at the box office. [“](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt9731598/) [Bros](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt9731598/) [,”](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt9731598/)Wide Release - “ The new film, ‘The Woman King’ is a rarity in Hollywood with a Black female studio head, a Black female director, and an overwhelmingly Black cast.

'Hocus Pocus 2' features plenty of references to the beloved original film — TVLine breaks down 13 of the Disney+ sequel's Easter eggs.

Almost 30 years after the Sanderson sisters found their way into the hearts of millennial kids looking for some PG-rated Halloween content, they're back in ...

With a lively, witty script by Jen D’Angelo, “Hocus Pocus 2” finds the Sanderson sisters Winifred (Midler), Sarah (Parker) and Mary (Najimy) unleashed on their present day town once more. Peak, who played Idris Elba’s daughter in “Molly’s Game,” is a standout. This is not a testament to my taste at the time, when I thought “Grease 2” was one of the best movies ever, but more so indicative of the undeniable averageness of “Hocus Pocus.” I don’t think it was just me, either. Midler, Parker and Najimy are all once again game to ham it up for the audience (and sometimes no one but themselves) with spells, songs and dances. Set in a Stars Hollow-like Salem, it’s the perfect Disney+ movie — seasonally appropriate entertainment that, for at least one night, may save a family from the doom of endless scrolling and indecision. And yet, much to my bewilderment, “Hocus Pocus” became a thing over the years.

The Sanderson sisters are back and bewitching as ever in "Hocus Pocus 2", the long-awaited sequel to the 1993 Halloween classic. Bette Midler, Kathy Najimy ...

“There were three options we had for how to bring Dani back, all of which I was excited by,” the actress told ET this week, on the red carpet at the Variety Power of Women event. “Hocus Pocus 2” begins with a flashback to the Sanderson sisters’ childhood days in Salem, where we see the origins of a few of their classic mannerisms. That said, there seems to be no ill will, with Birch revealing that she plans to stream the new film. [“Hocus Pocus 2”](https://www.etonline.com/movies/hocus-pocus-2), the long-awaited sequel to the 1993 Halloween classic. However, their salt circle is hilariously thwarted in one scene by the pair of Roombas that Mary has been riding around town as a makeshift broom — another callback to the original, where the trio had to ride a broom, a mop and a vacuum. While we don’t get that answer in “Hocus Pocus 2”, a post-credits scene featuring Cobweb reveals that on the shelf of the magic shop, there is yet another Black Flame Candle. (Additionally, the book is shown to include a “cat transformation” spell, which would one day be used on Thackery Binx!) There are also two Salem residents dressed as their characters, the devil and “Medusa,” for Halloween. The introduction of a new black cat, Cobweb, who lives with Gilbert at the magic shop, likely will leave viewers wondering if he too is a trapped spirit, like Thackery Binx was in the first film. There’s also a passing reference to the sisters’ bus ride from the first film, when Mary refers to a car as a “very small bus.” The new film also ties up a few loose threads in regards to Billy Butcherson’s (Doug Jones) story, revealing that he and Winnifred weren’t actually in a relationship, per se, they simply shared one kiss. For one, the Sanderson Witch Museum has been reopened as a magic shop, run by a man named Gilbert (Sam Richardson), who claims to have witnessed the witches’ first night of mayhem back in the ’90s.

As you can see in the video above, I had the privilege of speaking with Ginger and fellow Drag Race icon Manila Luzon about the streaming event, which is when I ...

The two got to share an intimate moment while cameras were resetting, and the Drag Race legend was taught an important lesson in the process. As previously mentioned, Ginger Minj is also hosting the Huluween Dragstravaganza alongside RuPaul’s Drag Race’s Monét X Change. And to top it all off, the First Wives Club star personally Ginger under her wing during their time together. After working in administrative theater for a year in New York, he started as the Weekend Editor at CinemaBlend. [Huluween Dragstravaganza](https://go.redirectingat.com/?id=92X1640737&xcust=cinemablend_us_5810926650326892000&xs=1&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.hulu.com%2Fseries%2Fhuluween-dragstravaganza-a3d2d87a-becb-47a2-9a02-eb68b165c402&sref=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cinemablend.com%2Finterviews%2Fhocus-pocus-2-drag-races-ginger-minj-reveals-sweet-bette-midler-story-from-the-sequels-set) (opens in new tab), which is special coming to Hulu at the first of the month. Luckily the Emmy, Grammy, and Tony winner has known a drag queen or two during her years treading the boards. Later in our conversation, Ginger Minj further went on to explain this once-in-a-lifetime interaction with Bette Midler. That includes three alums from RuPaul’s Drag Race, who dress up as the witches during one scene: [Season 14’](https://www.cinemablend.com/television/14-seasons-in-rupauls-drag-race-has-hit-a-brand-new-casting-milestone)s Kornbread Jeté, Season 13’s Kahmora Hall, and three-time competitor Ginger Minj. Ginger Minj is a fan favorite from RuPaul’s Drag Race, and she’s having a busy month this October. Spooky season is officially upon us, with the festivities ushered in by the long-awaited release of Hocus Pocus 2 on Disney+. But that didn’t stop Bette Midler from bringing it as Winnifred Sanderson ( [the cast of Hocus Pocus 2](https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/see-the-original-hocus-pocus-cast-29-years-later-bette-midler-sarah-jessica-parker-kathy-najimy-and-more) decades after the original movie, she still took the time to make sure her drag counterpart Ginger Minj looked her best in the highly anticipated sequel.

Kellie Tomekowou, 5, landed an extra role as a preschooler during a Halloween festival scene.

"Its brought a lot of fun and confidence into their life," Tomekowou said. I have watched "Hocus Pocus" since I was a little girl," Caroline Tomekowou said. "It was really interesting.

Taylor Paige Henderson, a 15-year-old actress from Amarillo, plays a younger version of Bette Midler's Winifred Sanderson in "Hocus Pocus 2."

The original film aired almost 30 years ago and has been A Texas teen is now part of the "Hocus Pocus" Halloween tradition, as the long awaited sequel finally launches on Disney Plus on Friday, Sept. Taylor Paige Henderson, from Amarillo, is no stranger to the stage or the big screen, but this is the highest profile film she has been a part of.

In Hocus Pocus 2, Belissa Escobedo stars in her favorite Halloween film as Izzy, where she taps into brujeria on and off the screen.

[DC Comics](https://www.refinery29.com/en-us/2020/05/9820829/who-is-stargirl-in-dc-comics-powers-history). [The Baker and the Beauty](https://www.refinery29.com/en-us/2020/04/9644071/beauty-baker-abc-2020-original-series-streaming-amazon), but on September 30, she is making her way to Salem alongside the [Sanderson Sisters](https://www.refinery29.com/en-us/2018/07/204510/hocus-pocus-movie-hidden-detail-emphasis-on-virginity). Izzy is loyal and has this confidence to just go out and do whatever she can to help her friends and save the town, save Salem.” “To this day, people are like, ‘you remind me so much of young America Ferrera,’ and that’s such a compliment to me because she’s literally one of the people that made me see that I could do this, that we could be on screen. It’s the first Latino superhero who’s being played by the amazing [Xolo Maridueña](https://www.instagram.com/xolo_mariduena/?hl=en). And she’s so good in that movie.” Escobedo says that she has dreams of one day working alongside Ferrera. “I actually just finished filming DC’s new superhero movie, [Blue Beetle](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt9362930/). More on that later), and Izzy in the highly anticipated Disney+ Original movie [Hocus Pocus 2](https://www.refinery29.com/en-us/disney-plus-subscription-halloween-movies). We definitely have a long, long tradition of practicing. She just wants everyone to be happy and loves her friends so much. But Escobedo also has a deeper connection to Izzy. But as Latinos, it really is part of our culture.

After the 'alchemy' of 'I Put a Spell on You,' Kathy Najimy, Bette Midler and Sarah Jessica Parker cover a Blondie hit in the Disney+ sequel.

Walk to the left!’” “He and I went to town on any song under the sun that had the word witch, moon, cat, evil, you name it. “Will it take another 30 years?” he asks with a laugh. “There’s a part that’s not in the movie where Bette and I totally went insane: ‘We’re gonna slay ya/ then probably fillet ya/ it might upset ya/ but we’ll getcha.’ We worked really hard on it, and even when I think it’s good, there will always be that phone call at night from Bette saying, ‘We gotta fix this part.’ She’s endlessly striving for perfection.” “We had to work quickly, and since Bette is a consummate live performer, you don’t need to do more than a few takes with her and Kathy and Sarah, and you’ve got it in the bag,” says Ortega. Though critics panned the movie and the audio still has yet to be released, the sequence has developed a cultlike popularity over the last three decades as the film has become a Halloween-season staple. And that began with Bette: She had a great sense of humor about the work and her character that she would often crack herself up. She just couldn’t believe some of the places that Winifred Sanderson enabled her to go, and I just had to tell her, ‘Keep going!’” “At the time, I just couldn’t imagine getting all the way through this movie without taking advantage of her musical talent.” The original “Hocus Pocus” sees Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker and Kathy Najimy as sibling witches desperate to extract children’s souls in order to maintain their own youth. Composer Marc Shaiman, who regularly collaborated with Midler on her musical performances onscreen and onstage, rearranged the track into a family-friendly showstopper that highlighted her soaring vocals and animated acting choices. [“Hocus Pocus 2,”](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/movies/story/2022-09-30/hocus-pocus-2-review-bette-midler-disney) Bette Midler shouts off a set of direct commands.

'Hocus Pocus 2,' streaming on Disney+, brings back Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, Kathy Najimy as the Sanderson sisters.

[was happening](https://collider.com/hocus-pocus-2-disney-plus-writer-jen-dangelo/), and Jen D’Angelo would be writing the script. Hocus Pocus 2 serves as both a prequel and a sequel, opening in 1653 Salem on the origin story of the Sanderson sisters. But somehow, the same Hocus Pocus magic works: the movie leans into larger than life qualities while still maintaining the spirit of a Halloween classic. [Where All The Strongest Hurricanes Have Hit the U.S. About six years later, rumors began to swirl of a potential sequel in the works, though nothing came to fruition immediately. Eventually, Disney+ took over the film. Slowly but surely, Hocus Pocus became a seasonal staple, especially for those nostalgic millennials who caught it on Freeform’s 31 Nights of Halloween. In 1984, Kirschner pitched the idea to Walt Disney Studios, pouring candy corn on the table, hanging broomsticks from the ceiling, and putting up hand-drawn pictures of black cats. Since 2011, the movie has made “It changes tone as casually as the actors don their masquerade costumes, and has no scruples about breaking its own mood altogether.” The plot itself arose from a bedtime story that Kirschner told his two young daughters in the 1980s. Their sights are set, conveniently, on Max’s younger sister, Dani Dennison (Thora Birch).

An old Halloween favorite returns, Hulu brings Ramy back, Saturday Night Live starts season 48, and more.

[Entergalactic](https://www.avclub.com/tv/reviews/entergalactic-2022). Club’s review](https://www.avclub.com/entergalactic-review-kid-cudi-netflix-1849587013): [Save $120](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08PZHYWJS?asc_campaign=InlineMobile&asc_refurl=https://www.avclub.com/whats-on-tv-sept-30-to-oct-2-ramy-hocus-pocus-2-snl-1849586041&asc_source=&imprToken=d8c1c752-e71e-04ee-879&ots=1&slotNum=4&tag=kinjaavclubpromo-20) [My Best Friend’s Exorcism](https://www.avclub.com/film/reviews/my-best-friend-s-exorcism-2022) is set in 1998 and follows Abby (Elsie Fisher) and Gretchen (Amiah Miller) as they navigate boys, pop culture, and, most importantly, a paranormal force clinging to the latter. [Hocus Pocus 2](https://www.avclub.com/film/reviews/Hocus-Pocus-2-2022). [Saturday Night Live](https://www.avclub.com/tv/reviews/saturday-night-live) kicks off season 48 with [four new faces](https://www.avclub.com/snl-new-cast-hernandez-kearney-longfellow-walker-1849543159). At once a sumptuous visual album and a swoon-worthy romantic tale, Entergalactic is a feast for the senses. The cast faced a mass exodus event with Kate McKinnon, Aidy Bryant, Pete Davidson, Chris Redd, Kyle Mooney, Alex Moffat, Melissa Villaseñor, and Aristotle Athari all leaving over the summer. The steep price is the annoying part, but luckily you can make them slightly less annoying by picking them up now for $70 off. Look for an essay on the new season and an interview with Youssef and his co-star Hiam Abbass on The A.V. Everyone’s favorite Halloween rewatch gets a sequel as Bette Midler, Kathy Najimy, and Sarah Jessica Parker reprise their [Hocus Pocus](https://www.avclub.com/film/reviews/hocus-pocus-1993) roles as the Sanderson sisters. [Note: The weekly What’s On will publish on Sundays.]

The live-action comedy follows the wonderfully wicked Sanderson sisters—Winifred (Disney Legend Bette Midler), Sarah (Sarah Jessica Parker), and Mary (Kathy ...

“The original rings on her bodice were simply decorative, but I wanted them to have a meaning, so we made them out of hammered brass and had the Wiccan words for earth, fire, wind, and water carved into them.” “The original sleeves were made from a mesh fabric, which wasn’t a period detail, but Anne Fletcher liked the spider idea, so we decided to make the sleeves out of individually crocheted spider webs that were joined together to make up the sleeves,” he says. Winifred’s boots in the original film were off the rack, and a pointed toe was applied later on—but Perez wanted to push that look further in the sequel. “Then I found a French Chantilly lace that had the same pattern as the original skirt front, and the rest of the skirt is made from layers of dyed chiffon and organza.” Perez and his team wanted to study the original costumes and conduct a detailed assessment of each outfit before they could reimagine and update them for the sequel. “I incorporated the eye to reference the Book of Spells, and the ravens on the coals are inspired by the Witch [Hannah Waddingham] who first appears as a raven,” Perez says.

Hocus Pocus 2's director, Bette Midler, & Kathy Najimy shared how the sequel was a dream come true, changing the costumes, and the musical numbers.

She’s just one of the best people, one of the best directors and one of the best artists, ever in the world. In the 1600s, that version of witchcraft was tethered to the earth, the ocean, and the stars, all tied together. MIDLER: We talked a lot about sisterhood, and we talked a lot about leaning on each other and counting on each other and having loyalty to each other. NAJIMY: And there’s very little hesitation in our ideas and the things that we’re gonna do. In any situation where women are together, a bond of friendship and sisterhood is really, really important. And I think these three characters are really, in a strange and odd way, quite positive for women. They did the arrangement and the lyrics. And he said, “Because I love Hocus Pocus.” I was like, “All right. FLETCHER: The mission, in general, is the story, honoring the first movie, carrying that into the sequel, making sure that I’m honoring these characters for the fans, and bringing it into a new generation. I didn’t feel like I could compete with “I Put a Spell on You,” which Bette and Marc Shaiman wrote. When a teenager lights the Black Flame Candle, the 17th-century troublemakers are resurrected to run amok and continue wreaking havoc all over Salem before the end of All Hallow’s Eve, leaving a trail of mayhem in their renewed quest for immortality. After I realized it was actually a phenomenon, I started asking people around my age, “Don’t you think they would be interested in a sequel?” This was a long time ago.

So of course Disney made a sequel. Hocus Pocus 2, which started streaming on Disney+ yesterday, revives the reviled Sanderson sisters—Winifred, Mary, and Sarah ...

Despite how much they want to eat children, they exude a defiance and obstinacy that can resonate with young audiences also caught in the turmoil of having to grow up. It also reminded me of what I enjoyed most about Hocus Pocus as a kid, even when I caught scenes in snippets: the leads’ commitment to making the Sanderson sisters not just odd, but naively so. Not much about Hocus Pocus is realistic, except the trio’s anxiety about stepping into a world they don’t know how to navigate. It strips the plot to its bare bones, largely ignoring the events that came before in favor of sequences that allow the actors to chew as much scenery as possible. Hocus Pocus 2 understands that Hocus Pocus has a lot that doesn’t work, including an overstuffed plot, hokey dialogue, and chintzy effects. The plot, about a coven of witches who seek to eat children, involves a talking cat, a boy who despises trick-or-treating, and far too many mentions of virgins lighting candles.

After some twenty-nine years, the notorious Sanderson sisters returns to Salem to stir up chaos in the latest Disney film, "Hocus Pocus 2."

The plan was to take him to the safety of his house, and in the meantime, the girls rushed to Cassie’s house to warn her of the Sanderson sisters. Reuniting with them made her the happiest, and the Sanderson sisters left the world on a happy note. The Book had its own consciousness, and Becca convinced it to not support Winifred and to join her. Gilbert apologized to Becca, Izzy, and Cassie for tricking them into bringing the Sanderson sisters. Even the Book refused to show her the recipe of the magic at first, but Winifred managed to control it and prepared to make the potion. The Book obliged and turned to the page that could help her. How will Becca and Izzy stop the witches from taking the lives of the children of Salem? Becca lit the candle, and the two chanted their desire to manifest their intentions. Scared of the unknown, Becca poured water over the candle and extinguished the flame. It was the magic that would make her the most powerful witch in the world, and she would be able to rule all. She gave the sisters the Book that helped them learn magic and become the witches that they were. After their little shopping spree at Gilbert’s store, Becca and Izzy went to the woods to perform their birthday ritual.

A Disney+ sequel to the classic Halloween movie is magical. Plus, check out a new Marilyn Monroe biopic, "Blonde," a new stand-up comedy special from ...

Wouldn’t you be tempted to [light the Black Flame Candle to hear Midler belt out a show tune](https://www.cnn.com/2022/06/28/entertainment/hocus-pocus-2-disney/index.html), though? But it was also not fair to me.” I liked that the lyrics could be coming from two points of view, even if they were mostly written for one person to sing.” What did you like about today’s newsletter? What did we miss? I understand that probably he didn’t want a cohost, but the network wanted me to be the cohost and I didn’t think I should pass up that opportunity. [Ripa’s tension with her “Live with Kelly and Michael” cohost Michael Strahan](https://www.cnn.com/2020/01/30/entertainment/michael-strahan-kelly-ripa-interview/index.html), who famously left the show in 2016 amid Ripa’s complaints that she was the last to know of his decision. I don’t think it was fair to him. “These songs feel like my Great American Songbook, because of the songwriting and the impact that they had on me,” Wilson said in a statement. [ how tough things were at times with her former “Live with Regis and Kelly” cohost Regis Philbin](https://www.cnn.com/2022/09/27/entertainment/kelly-ripa-regis-philbin/index.html). Speaking of Halloween: Almost 30 years after Bette Midler, Kathy Najimy and Sarah Jessica Parker blessed us – or should it be cursed us? [she rapped Naughty by Nature’s “Hip Hop Hooray”](https://www.cnn.com/2020/03/22/entertainment/rita-wilson-rapping-coronavirus-trnd/index.html) in the early days of the pandemic.