Hocus Pocus 3 will premiere more than 30 years following the release of the first film, but the Sanderson Sisters will wait as long as needed to get what they want from the people of Salem, Massachusetts. Walt Disney Pictures released Hocus Pocus in 1993, and at the time, no one could have predicted how big of a hit the movie would be, especially in the month of October, for many years to come. It was initially a box office bomb and received mixed reviews from critics. But as the years passed by with numerous airings on syndication, the Halloween film became a cult classic and led to Disney ordering two sequels in the 2020s.
The third installment in the franchise will assumingly follow the events of Hocus Pocus 2, which premiered in September 2022. Although Disney has yet to confirm whether Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Kathy Najimy are returning for Hocus Pocus 3 (the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike has slowed down development surrounding the cast of the sequel), many expect them to reprise their roles. Given the newly released story details surrounding the script for the third movie, it would be almost impossible to make the film without Winifred, Sarah, and Mary.
Hocus Pocus 3 Writer Says The Sanderson Sisters Want Revenge On Salem
Jen D’Angelo, the writer of Hocus Pocus 2, is set to pen the script for the third movie, as well. During an interview with Collider, D’Angelo teased what she was working on regarding the development of the second sequel’s story. She told the website:
“Yes, I have my theories about what we could see, and what things mean and where we could take these characters. It’s interesting to be like, ‘Now we have even more possibility’ and it’ll be a challenge to sort of pick the avenue and really make the movie stand on its own. With the Sanderson sisters, the thing that makes them so fun is that they really are like herding cats. So I’m like ‘Yes, Winifred learned a very valuable lesson. She loves her sisters more than anything in the world.’ But she will also just immediately get distracted by whatever’s put in front of her. So if you dangle the carrot of a potential revenge against Salem, which she has always wanted, she might have a backslide where she gets singularly focused on the wrong goal again.”
Hocus Pocus and Hocus Pocus 2 centered around the Sanderson Sisters’ return to Salem on All Hallow’s Eve and immediately attempting to enact revenge on the citizens of the spooky town (they only had one night to do so, after all). Unfortunately for the three women, their ventures failed, thanks to two different sets of teens. Based on D’Angelo’s comments, it sounds as if the narrative of Hocus Pocus 3 will also focus on Winifred, Sarah, and Mary wracking havoc on Salem. Perhaps the third time will be the charm for the witches in the upcoming fantasy film.
After 2 Failed Attempts To Thwart Salem, The Sanderson Sisters Are Angry
As Jen D’Angelo mentioned, she is trying to craft a story for Hocus Pocus 3 that stays true to the characters but is also distinguishable from the first two movies. The third installment cannot just be another case of a virgin lighting the Black Flame candle during a full moon on Halloween, the Sanderson Sisters returning to inflict their revenge on the people of Salem, and then turning to dust by the end of the film. However, given that these exact events have happened twice (with a little variety in how both stories played out), the witches’ goals might be altered in the upcoming movie, making them lethal opponents for whoever has to face them.
Since Winifred, Sarah, and Mary have failed twice, they are likely going to be more determined than ever to obtain what they have always desired — to make Salem pay for what it did to the witches in 1693 (and to be young forever and have ultimate power, of course). Plus, they will be furious that they have yet to accomplish their ultimate goal. Once the Sanderson Sisters return to the Massachusetts town in Hocus Pocus 3, their anger at failing to thwart Salem twice will probably make them more dangerous than they have ever been, making for a unique and exciting sequel. Related: Hocus Pocus 3 Can Deliver On A Cut Allison Twist Fans Have Been Waiting 30 Years To See Play Out
Hocus Pocus 3 Needs More Dangerous Villains
If Winifred, Sarah, and Mary Sanderson return to Salem with more contempt than they have ever expressed before, Hocus Pocus 3 has the potential to distinguish itself from the first two films. Hocus Pocus and Hocus Pocus 2 (and assumingly the third installment) are technically comedies, and they both have lighthearted and unserious moments sprinkled throughout the story. But what the upcoming sequel needs is a more serious tone, and that can be achieved by showcasing what the Sanderson Sisters are truly capable of and proving they can be dangerous villains.
Winifred, Sarah, and Mary should return angrier than ever, making them more threatening than they were in the first two movies. The (to be determined) heroes must experience more difficulty defeating the witches than Max, Allison, and Dani did in the first film and Becca and Izzy in the second. If that happens, Hocus Pocus 3 should be a success.
