Disney has officially pushed Hocus Pocus 3 into active development, bringing Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Kathy Najimy back as the Sanderson Sisters.
The move gives fresh life to one of Disney’s most durable Halloween properties. Development on a third film first surfaced in 2023, but this latest update makes clear the project still has momentum. The studio appears to be leaning on the proven pull of a franchise that found a new audience on streaming while keeping its original fans close.
The return of the original trio signals that Disney sees Hocus Pocus as more than nostalgia — it remains a live franchise with real audience power.
That confidence did not come out of nowhere. Hocus Pocus 2 launched strongly on Disney+, and reports indicate it set records for the platform at release. That performance turned what could have been a one-off reunion into a longer-term bet, especially at a time when studios keep mining recognizable titles that can cut through a crowded entertainment market.
Key Facts
- Hocus Pocus 3 is officially in development at Disney.
- Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Kathy Najimy are set to return.
- Development on the third film was first announced in 2023.
- Hocus Pocus 2 performed strongly on Disney+ and helped drive the new sequel forward.
What Disney has not shared matters too. The studio has not outlined a release timeline, story details, or a wider cast. That leaves open basic questions about how quickly the project will move and how much of the previous film’s creative team will return. For now, the clearest signal is the one fans care about most: the core trio remains central to the plan.
Next comes the harder part — turning a familiar brand into a sequel that feels worth the wait. If Disney can pair the returning stars with a story that justifies another chapter, Hocus Pocus 3 could become another reliable streaming event. If not, it risks showing the limits of nostalgia-driven franchise building at a moment when audiences want more than a reunion.