Hocus Pocus may have been a box office bomb when it first premiered in theaters in the summer of 1993 when Jurassic Park was ruling big screens, but it has since become a staple of family-friendly Halloween season viewing. When Disney+ decided to bring back the Sanderson sisters back in 2022 with Hocus Pocus 2, it became so popular on streaming that we were left wondering why it didn’t go to theaters. Oh, and it was announced that a third movie is on the way. As we soon say goodbye to Halloween season, here's the latest on what’s going on with it.

Bette Midler was asked about the status of Hocus Pocus 3 when she appeared on Watch What Happens Live With Andy Cohen earlier this month. Here’s her update:

That’s a big step! A lot of what stalls productions has to do with a script not being written or not getting to the right place in time. But per Midler’s words, things are in a good place with current Hocus Pocus 3 script. So right now, the conversations being had has to do with “logistics” such as creating the budget and perhaps fine-tuning some elements of the script’s storyline.

Hocus Pocus 3 was first announced back in June 2025 when former president of Walt Disney Studios Motion Picture Production, Sean Bailey, confirmed the sequel was in development. Not long after that, it was reported that Hocus Pocus 2’s director Anne Fletcher and script writer Jen D’Angelo were going to resume their roles in the next installment. Per Midler’s words, it sounds like D’Angelo got the job done, after she previously teased about how the Sanderson sisters could return.

It’s great to hear about the forward movement of Hocus Pocus 3 after prior updates were a lot less concrete. The last time Bette Midler talked about the movie last year, she said the studio was “very gingerly and very gently” talking about the sequel. This past July, Sarah Jessica Parker expressed interest in doing the movie, and said “conversations” had been happening.

It certainly feels like a no-brainer for Disney+ to produce the movie after the movie had the biggest streaming movie debut ever, with 2.7 billion minutes viewed during its debut weekend on the service. Here’s hoping it’s not long before we’re seeing the trio back on set together celebrating the first day of filming. How exciting is it to know a new witches brew from the franchise is being cooked up?

Nostalgia is a powerful force in the entertainment world, which is why we'e gotten so many long-awaited sequels in recent years. Case in point: Hocus Pocus 2, which arrived in 2022 for those with a Disney+ subscription. Fans waited decades to see the trio of Sanderson Sisters back on their screens, and they managed to slip right back into character. I recently watched Hocus Pocus 2 for the first time since its premiere, and I was seriously distracted by the look of the movie. Specifically, it's muted colors.

Critics had a mixed reaction to Hocus Pocus 2 when it was released, and there were some big shoes to fill considering how much of a cult classic the 1993 original is. I enjoyed the sequel both times I've seen it, but I've got to say that the lack of vibrancy in the film's colors really distracted me the second time around. Seriously, it looked like a Zack Snyder movie at times.

Hocus Pocus 2's Color Looks So Dull Compared To The Original

The original Hocus Pocus is full of bright, vibrant colors. Simply glancing at the Sanderson Sisters' looks shows this, as well as the color of their magic and even the Halloween costume worn by Thora Birch's Dani. If you do a double feature and watch the sequel right after, the discrepancy between the color grading is even more obvious. Seriously, why does Anne Fletcher's follow-up movie look so muted?

Some scenes in here are worse in regards to its coloring, particularly the sequence where the witches go to Walgreens. The overhead lighting doesn't do them any favors, and the cast looks particularly washed out. This was never a problem in the 1993 original.

The sequel put the villains into a number of funny modern scenarios, while also harkening back to the original. It's a delightful sequel, but I just wish that it looked as vibrant as its predecessor. Hopefully that can be fixed if Hocus Pocus 3 is ever produced.

Why Does It Look So Dark?

Over the past few years there's been growing criticism about movies and TV shows being too dark to watch. Fans complained when Game of Thrones' Season 8 Episode, "The Long Night," was almost impossible to watch. So is Hocus Pocus 2's color issue more of a symptom of the entire entertainment industry?

A while back, digital imaging technician Nicholas Kay spoke to Variety about ongoing complaints with darkness in contemporary film projects. He encouraged folks to double check their TV settings, and also hammered down the importance of having high quality sets, as well as proper lighting that'll mimic movie theaters. He addressed how darkness might also be a creative choice, saying:

While Hocus Pocus 2 isn't alone in this issue, I found the discrepancy of color between the two movies to be super distracting. Moviegoers want big bold colors, Hollywood! At least, I do.

Both Hocus Pocus movies are streaming now on Disney+. We'll have to wait and see if/when a third movie comes together. For their part, the trio of leading actors seem down to return as the Sanderson Sisters.

On Saturday morning, it was revealed that Oscar-winner Diane Keaton had died at the age of 79. The news about the actress who starred in massive movies like Annie Hall and First Wives Club has led to an outpouring of tributes from Hollywood actors who loved her. Many of them, including Bett Midler, Steve Martin and more, had their own experiences working with her on the set of her iconic movies and called her a personal friend.

We’ll start with Bette Midler, who starred with Keaton in The First Wives Club back in 1996. She was quick to go on Instagram to say this:

Now, the third part of the trio, Goldie Hawn, has yet to comment on the loss at the time of this article’s publication, but her daughter Kate Hudson found the perfect scene of Keaton’s to celebrate the kind of presence she brought to the screen from The First Wives Club. Check it out:

The First Wives Club is such a quotable movie, and we’ll never forget Diane Keaton’s performance in it.

Another one of Keaton’s famed co-stars is Steve Martin, whom she was in the Father of the Bride movies with, and he paid tribute to her in a fittingly funny way. Here’s what he wrote shortly after news of her passing:

Keaton and Martin reunited with their Father of the Bride cast back in 2020 for charity, and seemed to be close. Martin found a lighter way to remember the talented actress, as we’d expect from the comedian.

Kimberly Williams-Paisley, who played their daughter in those movies, wrote this in an Instagram post:

Along with being in a lot of rom-coms and becoming a great director while still being an actor, Keaton played a lot of mom roles over the years, including in 2007’s Because I Said So with Mandy Moore. The This Is Us actress also penned a tribute to the late star, writing on Instagram:

Keaton is survived by her children, Duke and Dexter, whom she adopted in her 50s. The actress never married. Keaton's The Book Club co-star Jane Fonda also took to Instagram to say this:

Another fellow Oscar winner, Viola Davis, who never got to work with her, wrote this on Instagram following the news:

Similarly, Rosie O’Donnell sent all the love to Keaton’s family after hearing the news, which was originally reported by People. In her words on Instagram:

Here’s one more tribute from Octavia Spencer on Instagram. Clearly, a lot of women (inside and outside of Hollywood) really looked up to Diane Keaton:

As of right now, we don’t have details about Diane Keaton’s passing, other than she died in California with the Los Angeles Fire Department responding to her home at 8 a.m. on Saturday, October 11.

Here at CinemaBlend, we send our condolences to the family, friends and fans of the incomparable Diane Keaton.

Actors playing multiple roles in entertainment go back to the dawn of drama. Even the ancient Greeks did it. This is certainly true of the film era, where actors have been playing roles all the way back to the beginning. Sometimes it's as simple as playing twins, like Bette Midler and Lily Tomlin in Big Business, and sometimes it's more complex, like the great Peter Sellers playing three very different roles in Dr, Strangelove. In honor of those actors, here are some of our favorite examples of actors playing multiple roles in movies.

Peter Sellers - Dr. Strangelove

No list like this would be complete without the great Peter Sellers in his three fantastic performances in Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb. Sellers plays the resourceful Captain Mandrake, the bumbling President of the United States, and the completely over-the-top Dr. Strangelove in the movie. Sellers was also supposed to play the character Major Kong, but injured himself on set and the the role went to Slim Pickens instead.

Kate Hudson - Alex & Emma

Films with stories within stories are often a good place to find actors playing multiple roles, as is the case with Kate Hudson in Alex & Emma. In the "real" story, Hudson plays Emma, a stenographer helping Alex (Luke Wilson) complete his novel. As Alex and Emma work on the story, viewers are taken inside the story of a novel where both Wilson and Hudson play characters in the novel. Hudson, in fact, plays four different versions of a nanny in the book.

Michael J. Fox - Back To The Future Part II

While nothing will ever live up to the original Back To The Future, Back To The Future Part II is still pretty fun. One of the things that make it so is Michael J. Fox playing Marty (of course), and his son Marty, Jr., and his daughter Marlene in the movie. Thomas F. Wilson, who plays Biff Tannen, also plays multiple roles in the movie as the various members of the Tannen family.

Jodie Comer - Free Guy

This one is a little bit of a fudge, because in Free Guy, Jodie Comer is playing her character and her character's avatar. So in some ways they are kind of, sort of the same character. Still, she plays the roles different and for that reason, she deserves to be on this list.

Rory Kinnear - Men

Men is an odd movie, but in a good way. Rory Kinnear is what makes it unique. On the surface, Kinnear plays the owner of an inn in a small town, but he also plays most of the rest of the men in the town, all of whom are pretty odd characters.

Lupita Nyong'o - Us

Jordan Peele's horror classic Us features all of the cast members playing both their main character and "Tethered" character with that excellent cast being led by Lupita Nyong'o, who plays Addy and Red. It would be fair to put any of the cast members on this list though, about 20 in total, but we don't want to make this whole list about Us, despite how great it is.

Paul Dano - There Will Be Blood

It'll come as no surprise that a few entries on this list are actors playing identical twins in a movie. We had to include Paul Dano as both Paul and Eli Sunday in There Will Be Blood because Dano's performance, especially as the preacher Eli, is transcendent. The final scene between Eli and Daniel (Daniel Day-Lewis) is one of the most intense scenes ever to appear in a film.

Scarlett Johansson - Astroid City

Director Wes Anderson's Astroid City has a movie within a movie telling the story of the movie. As such, and as you'd probably expect, there are a few actors playing both their "real life" characters and the actors playing them in the movie inside the movie. Scarlett Johansson plays both Midge Campbell and the actor playing Midege, Mercedes. Jason Schwartzman also plays two roles, as do Matt Dillon, Maya Hawke, and others.

George Burns - Oh, God! You Devil

The legendary George Burns played God in not one, but three movies in the Oh God series. In the third installment, he added another character, the Devil. The best scene in the movie comes when God and the Devil play a game of poker for the soul of Bobby Shelton, played by Ted Wass.

Bette Midler And Lily Tomlin - Big Business

Movies about twins separated at birth have been popular in Hollywood forever, but in 1988, director Jim Abrahams upped the ante with two sets of twins separated at birth. Lily Tomlin and Bette Midler are two sets of sisters who discover they were separated from their identical twin. It's a decent movie that hasn't really been remembered by many movie fans.

Eddie Murphy - Coming To America

Of course, we had to include Eddie Murphy on this list! There are multiple movies where the great comedian plays multiple roles, but in the interest of brevity, we're just including the best Eddie Murphy movie, Coming To America. Murphy's main character, Prince Akeem, is the only one that he plays in the movie. Clarence, the barber, is also Murphy, as is Saul, the guy who just hangs out at the barbershop all day. Finally, Murphy also plays the character you may remember from the "What's Going Down" episode of "That's My Mama," Jackson Heights' own Randy Watson!

Christian Bale - The Prestige

The Prestige is a movie that gets a little lost in director Christopher Nolan's fimography, though, like most of his movies, it's excellent. Nolan teamed up with Christian Bale again on the heels of Batman Begins for this movie about rival magicians. Bale plays Alfred Borden and Borden's assistant, Fallon, who are living with a secret that we'll keep in case you haven't seen the movie.

Mel Brooks - History of the World, Part I

Mel Brooks is a one-man force of nature. Not only did he write, direct, and str in most of his movies, but he usually played multiple roles as well. One of the best examples was in History of the World, Part I, where he plays four characters, one in each segment of the film.

Tilda Swinton - Suspiria

There is little that Tilda Swinton can't do, including playing multiple roles in movies. She first did it in 2002's Teknolust, before playing oddball twins in the Coen Brothers' Hail, Caesar! In Suspiria, she plays three roles, Madame Blanc, Dr. Josef Klemperer, and Mother Helena Markos.

Leonardo DiCaprio - The Man In The Iron Mask

The titular character in The Man in the Iron Mask, was, supposedly, a prisoner kept by King Louis XIV during his reign. In the movie, the mysterious prisoner is Louis' twin brother, the fictional Philippe Bourbon. Both the king and the man in the iron mask are played by Leonardo DiCaprio in this historically dubious retelling of a classic Four Musketeer tale.

Janelle Monáe - Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery

As the title implies, there are a lot of layers in Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery. by writer and director Rian Johnson. One of those layers is just who Janelle Monáe's character is, either Andi Brand, the ex-partner of Edward Norton's character, or Helen Brand, her twin sister investigating Andi's unexpected death.

Arsenio Hall - Coming To America

Like his co-star Eddie Murphy, Arsenio also plays multiple roles in Coming To America. His main role, Semmi, is Murphy's trusted servant. Hall also plays one of the women the two meet at a club and one of the barbers, but the funniest character he plays has to be the preacher. Every line he delivers is hilarious.

Armie Hammer - The Social Network

Of all the double (and more) roles on this list, maybe the easiest to do double duty for is that of the Winklevoss twins in The Social Network. Don't get us wrong, Armie Hammer nails the role(s) as the swarmy twins who actually came up with the idea that would become Facebook. They may have had a case against Mark Zuckerberg (Jesse Eisenberg), but that didn't make them good people.

Graham Chapman - Monty Python And The Holy Grail

This is really an entry for all of the members of Monty Python, as all of them play at least four different roles in the movie. Graham Chapman plays King Arthur, so naturally, he gets top billing, but John Cleese, Michael Palin, Terry Jones, Terry Gilliam, and Eric Idle deserve the spotlight here. Actors Neil Innes, Sandy Johnson, and John Young also play multiple roles in the movie.

Halle Berry, Tom Hanks, Ben Whishaw, And More - Cloud Atlas

Cloud Atlas tells a story that spans centuries and in each timeline, the same core group of actors play different roles. This includes Tom Hanks, Halle Berry, Ben Whishaw, Jim Broadbent, Hugo Weaving, and many more. It's a wild movie to follow, but all the actors are on point, for sure

Jack Nicholson - Mars Attacks!

While Mars Attacks! may not be the first movie you think of when you think of the great roles Jack Nicholson has played over the years, you should because he's actually really great in both of the roles he plays. It's not often thought of as one of Nicholson's best movies, but maybe it should be, because it is hilarious and he's a big reason why,

Hayley Mills - The Parent Trap

Both versions of The Parent Trap, the original starring Hayley Mills as twins separated at birth and the remake starring Lindsey Lohan as the twins are great movies. Mills and Lohan are both great at playing the dual roles of the twins who discover their parents separated them when they were babies and they never knew.

Mike Myers - Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery

As the Austin Powers franchise chugged on, Mike Myers kept adding roles, but in the original, he started brilliantly as both the hero, Austin Powers, and the villain, Dr. Evil. It's hard to decide which character is funnier, but it's safe to say that without Myers playing the roles, neither would be as iconic and we wouldn't have as many classic lines from Myers.

Peter Sellers - The Mouse That Roared

While Dr. Strangelove is the most famous and revered example of Peter Sellers playing multiple roles in a movie, it wasn't the first time he did. A few years before the Stanley Kubrick classic, Sellers started in the wildly underrated war movie farce The Mouse That Roared. Sellers carries the movie in three different, ridiculous, and hilarious roles and it really should be better remembered today.

Margaret Hamilton - The Wizard Of Oz

Margaret Hamilton plays two different villains in The Wizard Of Oz. Of course, she plays the iconic Wicked Witch Of The West and Dorothy's obnoxious neighbor Almira Gulch, who takes Toto after claiming to be bitten by the innocent dog. Hamilton isn't the only actor in the movie to play dual roles, but both of her characters are the most developed of them.

Eddie Murphy - The Nutty Professor

Coming To America may be the best example of Eddie Murphy playing multiple roles, but The Nutty Professors and its sequel, Nutty Professor II: The Klumps definitely has him playing the most characters. Across both movies, he plays eight different characters. While both movies have their moments, neither quite reach the comedic heights of Coming To America.

Mia Goth - X

In The X series, Mia Goth plays both Maxine Minx and Pearl Douglas. the former is in Goth's wheelhouse, but the latter, an elderly woman who is the villain of both of the first two movies, X and Pearl. Goth is unrecognizable and brilliant in both.

Richard Pryor - Which Way Is Up?

Years before his Harlem Nights co-star Eddie Murphy started starring in multiple roles in movies, Richard Pryor pulled off the feat in Which Way Is Up? in 1977. While it's an uneven movie, it does have some funny moments, especially Pryor in one of his roles, the Reverend Lenox Thomas.

Cate Blanchett - Coffee & Cigarettes

Director Jim Jarmusch's Coffee & Cigarettes is a collection of short stories, 11 in total, that pay tribute to, you guessed it, those two popular vices. In one of them, Cate Blanchett plays a fictionalized version of herself and her fictional cousin, Shelly, who meet for a coffee and a smoke. The story is really just an uncomfortable conversation between Cate and the jealous Shelly, but it's one of the best stories in the movie.

Tom Hardy - Legend

Tom Hardy is never afraid to take on a tricky role and in Legend he takes on two, playing the psychotic Cray twins, Reggie and Ronnie. Based on the true story of the mobsters who gained fame in the mid-'60s as the owners of a popular nightclub frequented by celebrities in the "Swinging London" era.

Hilary Duff - The Lizzie McGuire Movie

Okay, we'll admit the plot of The Lizzie McGuire Movie is pretty silly. In it, Lizzie, played by Hilary Duff, of course, travels to Rome on a school trip and ends up in a weird love triangle of sorts with her Italian doppelganger, Isabella. Is it a great movie? Nah, not really, but it does fit on this list.

Adam Sandler - Jack And Jill

If you're an Adam Sandler fan, then you'll love Jack And Jill because you get twice as much Sandler as usual, as he plays the brother and sister, Jack and Jill. Honestly, unless you're a big Sandler fan, this is a movie you can skip, though it does seem to have fans for some reason.

Among the absolute best movies about female friendships, The First Wives Club is undoubtedly one to watch. The 1996 Hugh Wilson comedy stars Goldie Hawn, Diane Keaton and Bette Midler as three old friends who reconnect in their forties when their friend from college dies. They soon come to realize that they’re all facing similar situations, as each of their husbands has left them for a younger woman. This leads them to work together to exact revenge, though their efforts evolve into something more meaningful. And all the while, amidst some truly heartfelt and thoughtful scenes, hilarity ensues.

As you might expect from a film starring these three legends, there is no shortage of laughs to go around throughout The First Wives Club. So let’s get into some of the funniest and best quotes and scenes from the movie.

"You were with that man again, weren't you?"

As we’re being introduced to the characters, it becomes immediately clear that Annie’s daughter Chris is no fan of her own father, describing him as “that man” with evident disdain when she realizes who her mother spent the night with.

"You're forty-five. You know, if I give you one more face lift, you're gonna be able to blink your lips!"

Elise’s introduction in the present day has her meeting with her plastic surgeon (played by Rob Reiner) who expresses extreme reluctance to continue touching up her face.

"Fill 'em up!"

It really isn't funny to see just how desperate Elise is to maintain her youthful appearance as a Hollywood actress, knowing that the parts she’ll be eligible for are diminishing more and more. And yet, it’s also impossible not to laugh at the way Goldie Hawn delivers this line. She doesn’t want to hear her plastic surgeon’s protests, she just wants her lips filled up.

"You are married. You have a daughter. You're very happy. You don't need self-esteem."

Diane Keaton’s character faces resistance from above and below her own tier on the family tree. While Annie’s daughter disapproves of her efforts to patch things up with Aaron, Annie's mother (played by Eileen Heckart) is dismissive of the idea that “self esteem” is something Annie could possibly need.

"And your lips..."

As perfectly cast as First Wives Club is, I need to pause here and celebrate Maggie Smith as an unsung hero in this ensemble. While Gunilla plays a bigger role in the schemes of the First Wives Club later on in the film, we’re introduced to her first at Cynthia’s funeral, where she immediately comments on Elise’s freshly filled-up lips.

The Way Brenda Automatically Puckers Her Lips While Staring At Elise's Mouth

The First Wives Club is undoubtedly one of Bette Midler’s best movies, and she shares so many perfect moments with Goldie Hawn’s Elise. That includes this one early on, when she reintroduces herself to her old friend and can’t seem to help herself from leaning in to stare at Elise’s lips while she unconsciously puckers her own.

"He starts working out. He grows a mustache. He gets an earring. I said, 'Morty, Morty, what are you, a pirate? What's next, a parrot?'"

As miserable as Brenda seems while talking about the collapse of her marriage following Morty’s mid-life crisis, it’s also hilarious the way she describes her husband's slow transition into a pirate.

When We Meet Shelly (And She's The Worst)

Sarah Jessica Parker enters the scene perfectly and immediately establishes herself as the worst — or maybe tied for the worst with Annie’s therapist? Shelly and Brenda’s disdain for one another is instantly apparent, and we’re never supposed to like Shelly, obviously, but Sarah Jessica Parker is just so great in every scene.

"Elise Eliot, The Crypt Keeper... wow."

Tact isn’t something that movie director Brett Arthurian (Timothy Olyphant) seems to have learned in film school as he brutally describes the character he envisions for Elise as “the Crypt Keeper.” It doesn’t help that Elise showed up for the meeting thinking she was being eyed for the role of the character’s daughter.

"I love you." "I want a divorce."

Aaron (Stephen Collins) is awful. That much is clear from this scene, wherein we see him and Annie cuddle after spending a romantic night out dining and dancing, only to return to Aaron’s hotel for some more romance. While Annie clearly thinks this is the first night of them starting over, Aaron reveals that he wants a divorce. Somehow he thought one last date would be a good prelude to that announcement.

"Annie, let's use this. He's found someone new. You're free. Closure!"

As if therapist Dr. Rosen couldn’t betray Annie’s trust any further, having engaged in a romantic relationship with Aaron while treating Annie, when Annie finds out about the relationship (moments after Aaron tells her he wants a divorce), Marcia Gay Harden’s character actually tries to use this nightmare of a situation as part of Annie’s therapy because… I don’t know.

"I'm SORRY!"

Naturally, finding out that her husband has been seriously dating her therapist, Annie loses it. As she should, because it's completely outrageous. But Diane Keaton manages to make the scene funny anyway by delivering a screamed-out “I’M SORRY!” to her soon-to-be ex-husband and his new girlfriend.

"And I starched them ... well, I mean, I supervised."

Of course Annie has to clarify her actual level involvement in the care of Aaron’s shorts when explaining to her friends what she went through as his wife to take care of his needs. She may not have actually starched Aaron’s laundry herself, but she did supervise.

When The First Wives Club Comes To Order

It’s an iconic moment when Elise, Annie and Brenda agree to join forces and exact revenge on their exes, and it includes a champagne toast. Annie’s glass contains their discarded wedding bands, and while I don’t know how I feel about her sipping from a glass containing three recently worn rings, it’s the gesture that counts.

"GOD Bless you!"

The moment Elise, Annie and Brenda enter the bar where they’re trying to find Annie’s daughter, Elise is recognized and hit on by a woman (played by Lea DeLaria) who’s clearly a huge fan and eager to let her know just how hot she thinks Elise is. Elise’s reaction to this encounter is pure and total elation.

"Mom, you know you're in a gay bar?"

Poor Chris is just hanging out, chatting up a pretty woman at a bar when who else but her mother should walk in and completely fail to read the room. Oh, Annie is fully aware that she’s in a gay bar, and she’s totally supportive of it, which is nice. But she doesn’t seem to see how her showing up here and interrupting her daughter at the bar might not be just a little bit mortifying for Chris. A bonus bit of funny in this scene is the way Brenda does seem to be aware and can’t seem to get away fast enough.

"It's the '90s, Bill. Downsize."

Elise is especially enthusiastic about liquidating her and Bill’s (Victor Garber) marital property, instructing the movers to literally take the desk out from under him at one point. And she's probably in the right to be a bit overzealous, given the circumstances. And her comment about how he should "downsize" as she's leaving is even more warranted, in my opinion, after he suggests that her current behavior is hormonal.

"I'm Monique! And you can be my mom!"

Bill’s girlfriend, Phoebe (Elizabeth Berkley) clearly idolizes Elise and doesn’t seem to be remotely aware that the feeling isn’t mutual when she meets her. In fact, after revealing that she’ll be playing Monique — the role Elise was hoping to play — in Brett’s new movie, she enthusiastically suggests that Elise play her mom.

"ForK."

Gunilla steps up to help out the First Wives Club by participating in a ruse to manipulate Shelly. That includes a fancy luncheon where Shelly talks non-stop (including berating Brenda at one point), and we get a true sense of just how hard Gunilla is trying to mask her disdain for Shelly by the way she curtly orders her to give her salad fork to the server.

"That chair is agony!"

Bronson Pinchot plays Duarto, Brenda’s friend and a decorator who agrees to help decorate Shelly and Morty’s apartment as part of the revenge plan. Upon arriving at their place, he immediately declares Morty’s chair “agony.”

When The Trio Escapes Morty And Shelly's Apartment On The Window-Washing Scaffold

Though The First Wives Club makes excellent use of the comedic talents of its three leads throughout the movie, never is that better demonstrated than in this scene, where Elise, Annie and Brenda have to use the window-washing scaffold to sneak out of Shelly and Morty’s apartment, and nearly plummet to their deaths. Annie’s fear, Brenda’s determination to handle the situation and Elise’s enjoyment of it all combine for non-stop hilarity.

"Elise, you look great!"

Amidst their escape from Shelly and Morty’s apartment, the trio find themselves outside some random couple’s window. Fortunately, the interrupted man and woman are only surprised for a moment before they insist on letting Elise know how good she looks. Of course, Elise loves this (and Brenda clearly can’t handle it).

"She has impeccable taste... for an actress."

Maggie Smith’s character drops this funny line while trying to encourage Shelly to bid on an item at an auction. When Elise bids to get the price up, Gunilla says whatever she has to in order to encourage Shelly to bid even higher. That includes a little dig at actors.

"With my money you bought it. I bought me a gift!"

Shelly doesn’t seem to understand why Morty is so upset at all of the money — literally hundreds of thousands of dollars, at least — that she spent at the auction. They were gifts! Of course, all of the money she'd spent was Morty's, so he technically bought himself a $300k Lamborghini, among other things.

"I drink because I'm a sensitive and highly strung person." "No, that's why your co-stars drink!"

It’s devastating to see the trio have a full-on argument when things aren’t going their way. And the barbs they throw at one another are intense, particularly when Brenda and Elise go head to head and pull out all of the stops. Case in point, Elise claims she drinks because she’s sensitive and high-strung, but Brenda quickly turns that around on her and says those traits of hers are why her co-stars drink.

"You think just because I'm a movie star, I don't have feelings? Well, you're wrong. I'm an actress. I have all of them!"

Don’t accuse Elise of not having feelings just because she’s a famous movie star. She’s an actress, after all. If anyone knows anything about feelings, it’s her — she has all of them!

"Bill is so wrong, you are not Satan."

Once again, Phoebe’s lack of awareness is ridiculous and kind of endearing, especially when we discover that she’s actually younger than anyone thinks. She also seems to think she’s saying something complimentary when she tells Elise that Bill is wrong about saying she's Satan.

"Fifty cents?"

As great as he is as a dramatic actor, Victor Garber has also proven adept at providing subtly hilarious comedic support in certain roles (he has one of the best quotes in Legally Blonde, for example, and I love him so much in Sleepless in Seattle). He makes Bill just so perfectly unlikable in this movie, which is why it’s so satisfying to see the character's reaction when Elise gives him his half of the liquidated marital assets, which is a total of fifty cents. Elise is generous though and decides to give him the full dollar for what she received for all of their fancy belongings.

"Oh, Daddy, I'm a lesbian. A big one."

Earlier in the movie, Chris begs her mother not to tell her father that she’s gay, wanting to drop that reveal on “that man” at the perfect moment. She finds that moment near the end of the movie when Aaron is anxiously about to go in to meet with the First Wives Club to find out what’s going to happen next.

The You Don't Own Me Finale

Earlier in the movie, Annie revealed that she was terrified to sing "You Don't Own Me" along with her friends. By the end of the movie, as we see in this iconic finale, she's gained enough confidence to belt out the song solo and with her friends, and it's perfection.

"Gunilla was a first, second, third and fourth wife, which accounted for her very comfortable surroundings."

Annie’s narration informs us that Gunilla is no stranger to being married, having been someone's wife more than a few times, which explains the lavish lifestyle we see her living.

"Honey, she's a quilt."

Near the start of the movie, Duarto accompanies Brenda to Cynthia’s funeral. After spotting Elise, Duarto inquires about whether o\r not Elise has ever had any work done on her face. Brenda’s response implies that “work” would be an understatement.

Think of your favorite movie character of all time. There is a good chance that the actor who ended up playing that part is not the first actor the studio approached. See for yourself by taking a look at this list of celebrities who decided to pass on a movie role that would turn out to make cinematic history.

Will Smith (Neo In The Matrix)

It is actually pretty easy for us to picture what the Matrix movies might have been like with Will Smith as Neo. However, the Academy Award winner seems to believe that Keanu Reeves was the better choice to play the chosen one in the mind-bending, dystopian sci-fi movie classic, claiming in a video on his YouTube channel that he would have "ruined it."

Jodie Foster (Princess Leia in Star Wars)

Fresh off her Academy Award-nominated breakthrough role in 1976's Taxi Driver, a teenage Jodie Foster was offered the chance to be a part of the Star Wars movies as Princess Leia Organa. As she revealed to Jimmy Fallon on The Tonight Show, the two-time Oscar winner had a contractual obligation to an unnamed Disney movie, allowing Carrie Fisher to win the role.

Tom Hanks (Jerry Maguire In Jerry Maguire)

Tom Hanks was on top of the world with two Oscar wins (for Philadelphia and Forrest Gump) when he was offered to play a sports agent down on his luck in Jerry Maguire. He ended up passing on the eponymous role from Cameron Crowe's 1996 dramedy and later told Access Hollywood (via FandomWire), "I think you look at it now and it couldn’t have been anybody other than Tom Cruise," who would receive a nod from the Academy for his performance.

Leonardo DiCaprio (Patrick Bateman In American Psycho)

Christian Bale once told GQ that every one of his roles was first offered to Leonardo DiCaprio and one confirmed example is Patrick Bateman in 2000's American Psycho. The future Oscar winner told The Morning Call that he passed on playing the sadistic yuppie because he felt the script “didn’t mean anything in the end," but rumor has it Bale's stepmom, Gloria Steinem, convinced DiCaprio that it would be bad for his post-Titanic, romantic heartthrob reputation at the time.

Jean-Claude Van Damme (The Predator In Predator)

The titular terrifying alien enemy from 1987's Predator looked a lot different when Jean-Claude Van Damme was still in the role, according to THR's oral history. The Belgian actor star actually shot some footage in the original insect-like suit before deciding he would rather not be hidden in his own movie, leading to a redesign of the costume and the casting of 7'2" Kevin Peter Hall.

Jack Nicholson (Michael Corleone In The Godfather)

While we cannot imagine anyone other than Al Pacino as Michael Corleone, Jack Nicholson probably would have been great in the Godfather movies. However, the three-time Oscar winner refused the offer, explaining to Movieline in 2004 (via ScreenRant) that he believed "Italians should play Italians."

John Travolta (Forrest Gump In Forrest Gump)

When speaking with MTV News (via Collider), John Travolta revealed that he had no regrets about turning down the title role of the Best Picture Oscar winner Forrest Gump and it is no wonder why. Not only did Tom Hanks embody the role to Oscar-winning acclaim but Travolta found career-rejuvenating success with Pulp Fiction in 1994 instead.

Burt Reynolds (James Bond In Live And Let Die)

In 2015, Burt Reynolds told USA Today that, when approached to be Sean Connery's replacement in the James Bond films, he believed the public would not accept a 007 with an American accent. However, he would later come to believe that, "It was a stupid thing to say. I could've done it and I could've done it well."

Eddie Murphy (Winston Zeddemore In Ghostbusters)

While appearing on The Tonight Show in 2019, Eddie Murphy was asked by Jimmy Fallon if it is true that he passed on playing Winston Zeddemore in Ghostbusters. The comedian confirmed that it was true but added that it allowed him the opportunity to lead an even bigger hit from 1984: Beverly Hills Cop.

John Lithgow (Seth Brundle In The Fly)

Jeff Goldblum's iconic role from David Cronenberg's 1986 remake of The Fly was previously offered to John Lithgow, who told IndieWire that he said no, not wanting to play "something so grotesque.” Having witnessed Seth Brundle's transformation into a half-human, half-insect in the intense body horror movie, we cannot say we blame him.

Tom Selleck (Indiana Jones In Raiders Of The Lost Ark)

Having already worked with Harrison Ford three times before, George Lucas was reluctant to cast the Han Solo actor as Indiana Jones, opening up the opportunity for a rotation of actors, including Tom Selleck. As he recalled on Today, the actor was forced to pass on 1981's Raiders of the Lost Ark, due to his commitment to the CBS crime drama, Magnum P.I.

Christopher Lee (Dr. Loomis In Halloween)

While already a horror movie icon at the time for his acclaimed portrayal of Dracula and role in 1973's The Wicker Man, Christopher Lee could have added one of the all-time best horror movies, 1978's Halloween, to his resume. According to The Digital Fix, he would come to regret the decision to pass on the role of Michael Myers' psychiatrist, Dr. Sam Loomis, who was immortalized by Donald Pleasance instead.

Christina Applegate (Elle Woods In Legally Blonde)

Before Reese Witherspoon made Elle Woods an icon among fictional lawyers in Legally Blonde and among fictional politicians in the sequel, Legally Blonde 2: Red, White & Blonde, the role was offered to Christina Applegate. The former Married... with Children star later explained to Entertainment Tonight that she was afraid of repeating the ditzy blonde but jokes it was a "stupid move."

Emily Blunt (Black Widow In Iron Man 2)

Scarlett Johansson was perfect as Natasha Romanoff but Emily Blunt would have made a killing as the Avenger also called Black Widow. The English actor explained to Howard Stern that she could not originate the role for the MCU in 2010's Iron Man 2 because she was contractually obligated to appear in that year's adaptation of Gulliver's Travels.

Emma Watson (Mia In La La Land)

Playing Mia in 2016's La La Land earned Emma Stone her first Oscar win but the role of the aspiring actor had originally gone to another Emma: Emma Watson. The Harry Potter movies star said in a SiriusXM Town Hall interview (via Us Weekly) that her commitment to Beauty and the Beast and the hard work required to star in the musical led her to pull out.

Gwyneth Paltrow (Rollergirl In Boogie Nights)

Heather Graham made her mainstream breakthrough in 1998's Boogie Nights as "Rollergirl" – a role that was previously offered to Gwyneth Paltrow. The future Oscar winner told Howard Stern (via Us Weekly) that she passed because she feared the role, which required her to completely disrobe and simulate lewd acts on camera, would "kill" her conservative grandfather.

Jennifer Hudson (Precious In Precious)

Jennifer Hudson had previously said in her memoir, I Got This: How I Changed My Ways And Lost What Weighed Me Down, that she turned down the title role of Precious because she did not want to take a role that involved her weight. The Oscar winner later retracted that statement when speaking to The Huffington Post, explaining that Was not interested in what the role, which ultimately went to Gabourey Sibide, would have required her to do at that point in her career.

Matt Damon (Jake Sully In Avatar)

Sam Worthington became a household name when he led James Cameron's astonishingly successful sci-fi epic, Avatar, as Jake Sully – a role previously offered to Matt Damon. The Oscar winner once joked to Access Hollywood that not participating in the 2009 film cost the movie "a lot."

Ian McKellan (Albus Dumbledore In Harry Potter And The Prisoner Of Azkaban)

The Lord of the Rings movies' Gandalf actor, Sir Ian McKellan, could have added another famous wizard to his resume and become the Harry Potter franchise's new Albus Dumbledore. Instead, the part went to Michael Gambon after, as he told BBC News, McKellan turned it down because he couldn’t “take over the part from an actor who I’d known didn’t approve of me,” referring to the late Richard Harris who was a vocal critic of the actor.

Drew Barrymore (Sidney Prescott In Scream)

Given Drew Barrymore's A-list status in 1996, audiences assumed that she was the lead of Wes Craven's Scream, which could have been the case, as she confirmed on Hot Ones. However, she requested to be killed off in the beginning as Casey Becker, knowing it would shock the audience, paving the way for Neve Campbell to become a Scream Queen in the role of Sidney Prescott.

Angela Bassett (Leticia Musgrove In Monster’s Ball)

Halle Berry became the first Black Best Actress Oscar winner for her performance in Monster's Ball as Leticia Musgrove – a role that was offered to Angela Bassett. According to EW, the Black Panther: Wakanda Forever star felt the part of a Black call girl was too stereotypical.

Sean Connery (Gandalf In The Lord Of The Rings: The Fellowship Of The Ring)

Sir Ian McKellan mentions in an oral history about the Lord of the Rings series for The Independent that an earlier choice to play Gandalf the Grey was Sir Sean Connery. New Line Cinema executive Mark Ordesky notes that the former James Bond actor passed on the role of the wizard simply because he "did not get it."

Bette Midler (Annie Wilkes In Misery)

Despite having no qualms about playing an actual evil witch in 1993's Hocus Pocus, Bette Midler did have some reservations about playing Annie Wilkes in Rob Reiner's adaptation of Stephen King's Misery from 1990. The actor and singer told Variety that was interested in playing the sadistic nurse because of her violent, unfunny, and irredeemable qualities.

Warren Beatty (Bill In Kill Bill)

In 2003, Quentin Tarantino told BBC that he originally started writing the title role of Kill Bill with Warren Beatty in mind because he wanted to work with him and the Oscar winner was set to play the target of Uma Thurman's vengeful Bride for a bit. However, after realizing that David Carradine was a better fit, followed by consideration of the time commitment and martial arts training involved, the actor and filmmaker amicably agreed to part ways.

Michelle Pfeiffer (Clarice Starling In The Silence Of The Lambs)

Michelle Pfeiffer once told Today's Hoda Kotb (via People) that her reasons for passing on roles in the likes of Pretty Woman and Basic Instinct typically had to do with scheduling conflicts. However, she told The New Yorker she passed on playing Clarice Starling (which ultimately went to Jodie Foster) in 1991's The Silence of the Lambs because the “evil” in the film made her nervous.

Al Pacino (Han Solo In Star Wars)

In his memoir, Sonny Boy, Al Pacino reveals that, before Harrison Ford was cast in Star Wars, he was offered the role of Han Solo. The Oscar winner explains that he could not "make anything out of" George Lucas' script and chose not to play the pilot of the Millennium Falcon.

Bela Lugosi (The Creature In Frankenstein)

According to the book, The Immortal Count: The Life and Films of Bela Lugosi by Arthur Lennig (via SlashFilm), the star of 1931's Dracula had the opportunity to play two Universal Monsters in the same year, having also been offered to play The Creature in Frankenstein. However, the actor believed such a role was "beneath him," paving the way for Boris Karloff to rise up in the ranks of horror royalty as Dr. Victor Frankenstein’s creation.

Haley Lu Richardson (Dani Ardor In Midsommar)

Haley Lu Richardson, known for one of the best M. Night Shyamalan movies, Split, passed on the role of Dani Ardor in Ari Aster's 2019 sophomore effort, Midsommar. The A24 horror masterpiece was ultimately led by Florence Pugh, whom Richardson told Backstage she has nothing but praise for, despite not yet having the courage to watch the movie.

Julia Roberts (Annie Reed In Sleepless In Seattle)

The two most prestigious queens of the rom-com genre would have to be Julia Roberts and Meg Ryan but only one could play Annie Reed in Sleepless in Seattle. Roberts told InStyle (via ABC News) that she was offered the part but could not do it, adding that Ryan and Tom Hanks "are just such a jewel of a fit in that."

Jamie Lee Curtis (Regan MacNeil In The Exorcist)

Jamie Lee Curtis became horror royalty with her feature film debut in 1978's Halloween but her reign could have begun earlier if not for one thing: her mother, Janet Leigh. Curtis told EW that, when she was asked to audition for Regan MacNeil in 1973's The Exorcist (which would go to Linda Blair), the Psycho star spoke on the then-13-year-old's behalf and refused the offer.

Lee Marvin (Quint In Jaws)

Robert Shaw's performance as Quint in Jaws is nearly as famous as the man-eating shark itself but the English actor was actually not Steven Spielberg's first choice. The filmmaker told Vanity Fair that he previously approached Lee Marvin but the Dirty Dozen star was not interested.

Sarah Michelle Gellar (Amber In Clueless)

Elisa Donovan's character in Clueless, Amber, very nearly went to the future star of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Sarah Michelle Gellar. Adam Schroeder, the co-producer of the 1995 high school movie classic, told Vanity Fair that the actor's commitment to the soap opera All My Children at the time forced her to recede from consideration.

As with many years prior, several upcoming films will bring us tales of joy and woe with animated adventures, heartfelt family films, people overcoming horrific circumstances, fun comedies and more. But, something that many people love to see is a story that focuses either on people who do intriguing work or who have some true magic in their lives. As such, let’s take a look at 32 famous actors who’ve given us that by playing a wizard, witch or magician in some popular movies. 

Nicole Kidman (Practical Magic, Bewitched)

An Oscar winner who’s notably portrayed a witch twice in her big screen efforts is Nicole Kidman. Seeing as how Practical Magic 2 is now being worked on in earnest, you probably remember her 1998 hit with Sandra Bullock easily. But, do you recall her turn as a real witch hired to play a fictional one in the 2005 comedy, Bewitched?

Hugh Jackman (The Prestige)

We actually don’t get as many magicians on screen as one might think, but Hugh Jackman did us all a solid when he starred as one in the 2006 Christopher Nolan movie, The Prestige. If you somehow still haven’t seen this Edwardian London-set thriller, do yourself a favor and track it down. You won’t regret it.

Ian McKellen (The Lord Of The Rings And The Hobbit Trilogies)

This list would be nothing without mentioning maybe the most famous wizard in all of literary history, who made his major motion picture appearances courtesy of Sir Ian McKellen in The Lord of the Rings movies, as well as The Hobbit trilogy. Gandalf the Grey cannot be ignored, and not just because he’s so much taller than most of his traveling companions!

Neve Campbell (The Craft)

Fledgling teen witches count just as much as those who’ve been witchin’ for decades, which is why Neve Campbell’s eventual power-hungry sorceress, Bonnie, is on this list. The Craft is a teen horror classic that’s worth a watch.

Bette Midler (Hocus Pocus)

Here’s another classic movie witch who’s hard to forget. Bette Midler really dialed it up for her performance as Winifred Sanderson in 1993’s Hocus Pocus (along with fellow witchy Sanderson sisters Kathy Najimy and Sarah Jessica Parker), and the results were so memorable that a Disney+ sequel was made nearly 30 years later.

Jesse Eisenberg (Now You See Me)

We’ve come to another magician, but Jesse Eisenberg’s modern-day character, Atlas, is an illusionist who works in Las Vegas in a popular group…who are really teamed up to steal lots and lots of money. It was so popular that a sequel followed.

Alexandra Daddario (Mayfair Witches)

If anything, we could trust late horror author Anne Rice to pen an intriguing tale that keeps us glued to the pages of a book. It also turns out that White Lotus star Alexandra Daddario can help turn that story into a can’t-miss TV show, as she’s done by playing witchy lead Rowan on Mayfair Witches.

Cher (The Witches Of Eastwick)

Cher has excelled in pretty much every role she’s ever had, and that includes widowed mother/witch Alex in The Witches of Eastwick. This one gets wild but you’ll never regret watching her (or her co-stars Susan Sarandon, Michelle Pfeiffer and Jack Nicholson) as things go from weird to worse.

Nicolas Cage (The Sorcerer’s Apprentice)

We all know that Nicolas Cage has played a multitude of roles during his decades-long career, so it should be little surprise that he’s portrayed as a user of magic. Before you get too deep into wondering whether or not there’s a real difference between a wizard and a sorcerer, just know that Cage played the latter in this 2010 film that takes some inspiration from a segment in Disney’s animated classic, Fantasia.

Tia And Tamera Mowry (Twitches)

Sure, there have already been people on this list who played witches along with other really famous people, and those co-stars weren’t listed as the main star, but guess what: none of those other people starred with their twin, which is the case with Tia and Tamera Mowry in the beloved Disney Channel original film, Twitches. Did this one get a sequel? You bet it did!

Meryl Streep (Into The Woods)

No one can deny the prowess or ability of 21-time Oscar nominee (and three-time winner) Meryl Streep to deliver an amazing performance. The same can be true for when she played the character known simply as The Witch in the film adaptation of the Broadway musical Into the Woods (and, yes, got an Academy Award nomination for her work).

Steve Carell (The Incredible Burt Wonderstone)

And here we have another Las Vegas magician in Steve Carell’s Burt Wonderstone. Instead of watching him steal money, we follow along in this comedy as Burt attempts to reunite with his former partner (Steve Buschemi) so they can gain more traction than a competing magician (Jim Carrey) whose “tricks” mostly involve odd feats of endurance and real pain.

Edward Norton (The Illusionist)

You’d be forgiven for confusing this film with the above-mentioned The Prestige, as they’re both about old-timey magicians and released in 2006. However, this film stars Edward Norton as our…illusionist, and is more of a romantic mystery than Nolan’s thriller.

Lucy Lawless (Salem)

So many evil witches, so little time. The WGN TV series, Salem, was loosely inspired by the Salem witch trials, and focused on a lead who was trying to bring the Devil to earth. But, that wasn’t even the character played by Xena actress Lucy Lawless, as her Countess Palatine Ingrid von Marburg was simply a different and far more evil witch. Can’t anyone use magic to just like, keep everyone’s house clean so we can all have more free time?

Guy Pearce (Death Defying Acts)

It’s actually rather surprising that we’ve gotten this far into the list without coming to someone who portrayed a famous real-life magician, so we can thank Guy Pearce for that. His 2007 supernatural romance, Death Defying Acts, saw him play Harry Houdini.

Angela Bassett (American Horror Story: Coven)

Even for those who don’t follow along with the amazing antics on every season of the anthology series, American Horror Story, it would probably be a little shock to find out that the show has cast several witches during its long run. The subtitle of this 2013 season tells you that it was dedicated to witchy goings-on, and double Oscar nominee Angela Bassett had a notable guest role as real historical figure/Voodoo practitioner Marie Laveau.

Sebastian Stan (The Covenant)

The actor who would come to be known as Bucky “Winter Soldier” Barnes, Sebastian Stan, played a very different type of super-powered character in 2006, when he played teen warlock Chase Collins in the fantasy film The Covenant. It also features stars like Taylor Kitsch and Chase Crawford, who also get their magic on in the film.

Michelle Pfeiffer (Stardust)

As we’ve seen from the entry on Cher, Michelle Pfeiffer had already played a witchy woman by the time she appeared in the 2007 movie Stardust, as an evil (of course) witch looking to retrieve a fallen star to have ever-lasting beauty and youth.

Debbie Reynolds (Halloweentown)

Here’s another Disney Channel classic, which follows a young witch who realizes she has powers on her 13th Halloween, only to be transported to the titular town where supernatural creatures can live without human interference. The late Debbie Reynolds plays her grandmother (also a witch), and returned for all three sequels.

Benedict Cumberbatch (Doctor Strange)

This 2016 MCU entry stars Benedict Cumberbatch as an injured doctor who involves himself in the business of fighting evil with sorcery after losing the use of his hands and heading to a mysterious enclave to look for healing. Cumberbatch has appeared as the character in a number of Marvel franchise films now, including a 2022 sequel to his original solo film.

Mila Kunis (Oz The Great And Powerful)

Here’s a movie filled with magical beings that’s often forgotten. Oz the Great and Powerful saw Mila Kunis, along with Michelle Williams and Rachel Weisz, play witches of, yes, that Oz who have to determine if the Kansas magician who’s turned up in their realm is really the “great” wizard they’ve been waiting for.

Daniel Radcliffe (Harry Potter And The Sorcerer’s Stone)

This is another actor and portrayal that this list would basically be pointless without. Though Daniel Radcliffe has gone on to portray a wide variety of good and bad guys in the past decade or so of his career, for many he will always be known as the boy wizard, Harry Potter.

Selena Gomez (Wizards Of Waverly Place)

What? Did you forget that Selena Gomez, the Grammy-nominated singer and star of the Hulu hit show Only Murders in the Building, got her first taste of fame on a Disney Channel series? Well, shame on you for not being able to remember that Gomez led Wizards of Waverly Place through a magical four-season run as the supernaturally gifted teen, Alex Russo.

Elizabeth Olsen (WandaVision)

Do we have yet another MCU stalwart for you? You bet we do! Elizabeth Olsen first took on the role of Scarlet Witch during the post-credits scene of Captain America: The Winter Soldier, later starring in several more of the franchise films and the critically lauded Disney+ series, WandaVision, for which she received an Emmy nomination.

Sam Neill (Merlin)

While there have certainly been a number of movies and shows that have given us versions of the mythical wizard known as Merlin, NBC’s two-part, 1998 miniseries saw Sam Neill use his recent Jurassic Park stardom to show us an adventurous tale of Merlin’s life before the birth of King Arthur.

Rosamund Pike (The Wheel Of Time)

Many of the portrayals we’ve discussed (and will continue to discuss below) have dealt with book-to-screen adaptations that are based on already incredibly popular novels, and The Wheel of Time is certainly one of those. The Amazon series, which takes its story from the 14-book franchise by Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson, stars Rosamund Pike as powerful magic user Moiraine Damodred, who takes a group of young adults on a journey to save the world.

Julia Ormond (Witches Of East End)

This Lifetime series, which ran for two seasons from 2013 to 2014, followed the women of the Beauchamp family, witches in a small, fictional seaside town who are led by their mother, Julia Ormond’s Joanna, and have to fight to save themselves and the people of their town from dark magical forces.

Emma Thompson (Beautiful Creatures)

This 2013 Gothic fantasy romance focuses on a teen who will learn on her 16th birthday whether or not her witch tendencies will be for good or ill. Two-time Academy Award-winning actress and screenwriter Emma Thompson plays her mother, Sarafine, who didn’t raise the girl but wants her on that dark side really, really badly.

Tilda Swinton (The Chronicles Of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch And The Wardrobe, Suspiria)

Considering that Tilda Swinton has played everything from a gender-switching hero in Orlando to the MCU’s version of the Ancient One in the aforementioned Doctor Strange and the archangel Gabriel in Constantine, is anyone surprised to know that she’s played some witches? In both The Chronicles Of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch And The Wardrobe and Suspiria she was very good at playing magical ladies who wanted (or already had and wanted to continue) to do some very bad things, but the latter film has WAY more serious and bloody fun for those who watch.

Jack Black (The House With A Clock In Its Walls)

Frequent funny man Jack Black as a warlock? That’s what the 2018 fantasy The House With A Clock In Its Walls delivers, as the Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle star portrays a boy’s magic uncle who lives in the house of a dead evil wizard and is trying to discover the location and purpose of a clock the previous dastardly owner hid in the walls.

Jude Law (Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes Of Grindelwald)

While much of the Harry Potter franchise featured either actors Richard Harris or Michael Gambon as the beloved Professor Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore, when the prequels were made, a younger Albus Dumbledore was needed and they called in Jude Law to fill the wizard’s very important and legendary shoes.

Julianne Moore (Seventh Son)

Last but certainly not least on our list of famed actors who’ve brought wizards, witches and magicians to life is lauded talent Julianne Moore. The Academy Award winner starred in 2015’s Seventh Son as the evil witch Mother Malkin, who escapes after many years imprisoned and looks to restore her full power by any means necessary.

As you can see, many of our most beloved stars have portrayed wizards, witches and magicians!

When spooky season rolls around each October, Hocus Pocus has long been one of the great fun Halloween movies for families to watch. In 2022, Disney offered audiences with a blast of an annual double feature for the holiday season with Hocus Pocus 2. Now Bette Midler just spoke about the potential of Hocus Pocus 3 giving the Sanderson sisters a trilogy!

Hocus Pocus 2 hit Disney+ during the 2022 fall season and broke a major record for the total number of minutes watched by a streaming film across its debut weekend (2.73 billion), per Deadline. The massive appeal of the movie had us wondering why Disney didn’t send it to theaters. So it didn’t come as a surprise when word came that Hocus Pocus 3 had begun development last summer. When Midler just spoke about Hocus Pocus, here’s what she shared:

While it's not news to us that another Hocus Pocus 3 is happening, it sounds like it’s not a done deal! While speaking to SiriusXM, Midler shared that Disney is “gingerly” and “gently” talking about another movie since the sequel was so huge. Jen D’Angelo, who wrote the second film, is reportedly working on the next script, with the sequel’s director, Anne Fletcher, also attached. It should be noted, though, that last year’s WGA writer’s strike likely delayed things.

Her words came after she was asked about if she knew the original 1993 movie would take off as much as it has. As she continued:

Midler also said that it was a “real surprise” to see how successful Hocus Pocus became because the movie didn’t take off right away. Hocus Pocus actually bombed at the box office, though oddly enough, Disney decided to release it in July (apparently to cater to kids who were off from school). The movie came out the same summer as Jurassic Park, which obviously dominated! Midler also said this about her beloved character:

As Midler shares, Winifred is such a fun character for her to play, even if she is the least like her. Over the past 30 years, Winifred and the rest of the Sanderson sisters, played by Sarah Jessica Parker and Kathy Najimy, have become such popular characters that they are regularly tributed during Halloween. While we wait for their next movie, you can stream both Hocus Pocus movies right now with a Disney+ subscription.

Abbott Elementary is one of the most beloved TV shows of the past few years, with Quinta Brunson and Co. raking in award nominations and critical praise since its 2021 premiere. It’s no secret, then, why everyone from Hannah Waddingham to Christina Ricci to Ramy Youssef has expressed interest in appearing on the mockumentary-style sitcom. Most recently, Bette Midler has thrown her hat in the ring for a specific role on Abbott Elementary, and who do I need to talk to to make this perfection happen?

Bette Midler, star of stage and screen, has summoned the gods of social media to help her achieve this dream casting role, pitching herself for the role of someone close to Lisa Ann Walter’s character. Midler wrote on X (Twitter): 

You heard her, somebody tell Quinta Brunson immediately! Anybody who’s seen Abbott Elementary knows it would take a pretty special kind of gal to raise a woman like Melissa Schemmenti, and Bette Midler fits the bill in every way. 

First, there’s enough physical resemblance between the two that I would totally buy them as mother and daughter. Also, I’m not sure what kind of relationship Melissa and her mother have (the fact that in the third season she hasn’t made notable mention of her might be an indication), but if there were ever two actresses worthy of pulling off the presumably complicated family dynamics of these two New York Italian Schemmentis, I’d put my money on Lisa Ann Walter and Bette Midler.

Abbott Elementary has already cracked the door on Melissa’s family life, with Lauren Weedman guest-starring as her sister Kristin Marie, a teacher at a rival school, and Mrs. Schemmenti wouldn’t even be the first of the main characters’ mothers we meet. 

In Season 2, Taraji P. Henson made an appearance as Vanetta, the mother of Quinta Brunson’s Janine Teagues, and she even received an Emmy nomination for the guest role. It’s not hard at all to imagine that Bette Midler would be capable of a performance that produced similar accolades. 

The series has featured some amazing celebrity cameos in its run so far, and not all in fictional roles. NBA star Andre Iguodala guest-starred as the boyfriend of school principal Ava Coleman (Janelle James), and the Season 3 premiere saw appearances from Jalen Hurts, Jason Kelce and Brandon Graham of the Philadelphia Eagles. Bradley Cooper also appeared as himself, and we’re looking forward to even more fun guest stars to come when Season 3 returns to ABC at 9 p.m. ET Wednesday, May 1. 

Only time will tell if Quinta Brunson will jump at the chance to accept Bette Midler’s offer to play Melissa Schemmenti’s mom, but we’ll be keeping our fingers crossed. In the meantime, you can watch every episode of Abbott Elementary on streaming with a Hulu subscription, and be sure to check out our 2024 TV schedule to see what premieres are coming soon. 

Very few series have been on the air anywhere near as long as The Simpsons has, which means very few TV shows come close to being on the same level when it comes to guest stars. Beloved characters like Sideshow Bob and Fat Tony wouldn’t exist without recurring guest actors like Kelsey Grammer and Joe Mantegna, but we’re here to appreciate a smaller sub-section of Springfield visitors: celebrities who have played themselves.

Though The Simpsons has relied far more on famous folks playing fictional characters, the series has also boasted a wide variety of celebs from the worlds of art, entertainment, sports and literature across the past 30+ years. (Speaking of Mantegna, he actually voiced himself during Fat Tony’s first episode “Bart the Murderer.”) Now let’s look at a bunch of famous faces who popped up in 2D alongside the Simpson family and other characters. All but one episode noted below is available to stream with a Disney+ subscription.

Tony Bennett

With a career that spanned 70 years, Tony Bennett earned innumerable accolades including a whopping 20 Grammy wins. One of his more noteworthy feats, at least for animation fans, is that he was the very first Simpsons guest star to play themself. Even if it wasn’t the meatiest of Bennett's many film and TV cameos, it still opened the door for others to follow in his crooning footsteps.

Appears As Himself In: Season 2’s “Dancin’ Homer” Also can be heard singing “Capital City” in Season 14’s “Bart Vs. Lisa Vs. the 3rd Grade” and Season 24’s “Whiskey Business”

Betty White

National treasure Betty White first made her way into The Simpsons’ universe in Season 11 as a pledge drive host, though the role was initially offered to her former co-star Mary Tyler Moore. She was presumably the first choice for her second appearance seven seasons later, however, in which she plays up the fact that she and Homer had met before. 

Appears As Herself In: Season 11’s “Missionary: Impossible” and Season 18’s “Homerazzi”

Anthony Bourdain

Celebrity chef and “food bad boy” Anthony Bourdain was no stranger to hosting his own TV shows, which played into his Simpsons cameo in one of Marge’s food-centric dreams. The award-winning chef and author wasn’t the only foodie guest star in that ep, as it also featured Gordon Ramsey and Mario Batali. 

Appears As Himself In: Season 23’s “The Food Wife”

Halle Berry

Academy Award winner Halle Berry graced the animated Oscars stage for her big Simpsons guest spot as the presenter announcing “Angry Dad” as the Best Animated Short winner. Though not before she introduced the show’s cracking Wallace & Gromit parody, nor before she confessed to dreaming about her teeth flying out of her mouth.

Appears As Herself In: Season 22’s “Angry Dad: The Movie”

Paul And Linda McCartney

Paul McCartney is one of three founding Beatles members to guest star on The Simpsons, and the only one to be accompanied by his wife, Linda McCartney. Their appearance came out under the specific condition that Lisa Simpson remain a vegetarian throughout the rest of the show’s run, and she’s stuck to her sustenance-minded guns since.

Appear As Themselves In: Season 7’s “Lisa the Vegetarian,” which also uses the song “Maybe I’m Amazed” over the end credits

Drew Barrymore

Multi-hyphenate celeb Drew Barrymore first popped up on The Simpsons back in 2000 as Krusty the Clown's daughter from a one-night stand, and it took another 24 years for her to return, this time as herself from the set of her daytime talk show.

Appears As Herself In: Season 34’s “The King of Nice,” and as Sophie Krustopfsky in Season 12’s “Insane Clown Poppy”

Stephen King

The King of Horror appeared on The Simpsons in 2000, which was the rare year in which Stephen King didn’t publish any finalized fictional works. (He did release the nonfiction memoir On Writing and the incomplete serialized e-book The Plant.) King turned down the offer to reprise himself for 2022’s Halloween parody special “Not It.”

Appears As Himself In: Season 12’s “Insane Clown Poppy”

• RELATED: Building The Ultimate Stephen King Collection: Every Book, Movie And TV Series A True King Fan Should Own

Britney Spears

In the months before the release of her second mega-popular album Oops!...I Did It Again, as well as her first Grammy nomination, the fictional version of pop star Britney Spears took on some low-hanging job fruit by co-hosting the annual Springfield Pride Awards opposite Kent Brockman. She also aided in the death of 108-year-old Cornelius Chapman, as her kiss sent him to the Circus in the sky.

Appears As Herself In: Season 11’s “The Mansion Family” 

Gal Gadot

A year after her blockbuster leading role in Wonder Woman, Gal Gadot attempted to land an acting gig playing Lisa Simpson for a faith-based movie sourced to Bart’s fabricated story about seeing heaven after a serious injury. The episode also featured a jokey reference to her handing out hamburgers at the 2018 Oscars.

Appears As Herself In: Season 30’s “Bart’s Not Dead”

Cheech And Chong

The comedic duo of Cheech Marin and Tommy Chong teamed up once more in animated form for a Simpsons episode dating back to 2011, and one that didn’t hinge upon the leafy plant that fueled their early careers. Also noteworthy: even though Cheech and Chong technically first appeared on South Park, those cameos were recorded separately years before they formally reunited.

Appear As Themselves In: Season 22’s “A Midsummer’s Nice Dream”

Carmen Electra

Baywatch and Scary Movie fave Carmen Electra popped up in one of The Simpsons’ more bizarro celebrity cameos. After Marge and Homer were blamed and jailed for the death of an elderly woman (voiced by Frances Sternhagen), it was all revealed to be part of a new Fox prank show, and not only was the woman still alive, but she was actually Electra in disguise. 

Appears As Herself In: Season 13’s “The Frying Game”

Daniel Radcliffe

Harry Potter vet Daniel Radcliffe poked fun at his own massive fame when he appeared as himself following two previous Simpsons guest spots, running into Homer at a video game convention while in costume, though he immediately gave himself away, only to be consumed by a group of nearby fans. 

Appears As Himself In: Season 29’s “No Good Read Goes Unpunished,” as vampire Edmund in Season 22’s “Treehouse of Horror XXI,” and as Bart’s new friend Diggs in Season 25’s “Diggs”

50 Cent

Grammy winner 50 Cent appeared in one of The Simpsons’ music-centric episodes paying homage to hip-hop, though he didn’t contribute to the musical side of things, and instead tried to make inspiring Bart count as community service. The episode is also notable for inspiring the “Thursday the 20th” necklace meme.

Appears As Himself In: Season 16's "Pranksta Rap"

Suzanne Somers

While still in the midst of her run as a TGIF fan-favorite character in Step By Step, Suzanne Somers appeared as herself opposite an animated David Brinkley as the commentator hosts for the Itchy & Scratchy Show-themed parade. But while the Three’s Company vet did indeed provide her voice for the gags, Brinkley was voiced by Simpsons vet Harry Shearer. 

Appears As Herself In: Season 7’s “The Day the Violence Died”

Matt Groening

The Simpsons’ co-creator Matt Groening is one of the few guest stars whose celebrity status was directly influenced by the existence and success of the show itself. He first appeared as a featured celeb in the show’s Bi-Mon-Sci-Fi-Con, and could be seen gloating about his wealth while loading comics into a truck in the Season 21 premiere, with both eps revolving around Comic Book Guy plots.

Appears As Himself In: Season 15’s “My Big Fat Geek Wedding” Season 21’s “Homer the Whopper” as an announcer in Season 23’s “Holidays of Future Passed”

Lady Gaga

The Season 23 finale stands out as a special one, in that Lady Gaga’s appearance as herself was a core part of the main narrative, as opposed to just a limited cameo. The episode’s focus on unhappiness wasn’t so well-received, but it’s still a great send-up of the singer-songwriter and American Horror Story vet.

Appears As Herself In: Season 23’s “Lisa Goes Gaga”

"Weird" Al Yankovic

Parody mastermind “Weird” Al Yankovic is always dependable for a great cameo, and his first Simpsons appearance featured the faux parody “Homer and Marge,” spoofing the John Mellencamp hit “Jack & Diane.” He next showed up in flashback form (with glasses and curly hair galore) for the layered parody “Brain Freeze,” sending up Homer’s Nirvana-spoofing grunge song “Shave Me.” He then showed up as himself to sing and play the opening theme for a Season 34 couch gag.

Appears As Himself In: Season 14’s “Three Gays of the Condo” Season 19’s “That 90s Show” Season 34’s “Hostile Kirk Place”

• RELATED: Weird Al Yankovic's Greatest Parodies And Other Songs About Movies

Bette Midler

A winner of multiple Grammys and Emmys, Bette Midler showed up in one of The Simpsons’ most eclectic batch of guest stars, many of whom were portrayed to be quasi-friends of Krusty the Clown. (Including Johnny Carson, Elizabeth Taylor, Hugh Hefner, and more.) In a callback to a similar performance devoted to Johnny Carson on The Tonight Show, Midler sings “Wind Beneath My Wings” to Krusty, which is quite the surreal (and unearned) sight.

Appears As Herself In: Season 4’s “Krusty Gets Kancelled”

Jim Parsons

Less than a year after bidding adieu to The Big Bang Theory, Jim Parsons achieved further geek cred by appearing as himself on The Simpsons for a fun educational-esque video about cryptocurrency.

Appears As Himself In: Season 31's "Frinkcoin"

Dolly Parton

Country music legend Dolly Parton was one of seven different guest stars who voiced themselves for the 1999 episode that aired following Super Bowl XXXIII, including NFL vets Dan Marino and John Madden. (And Rupert Murdoch, because why not?) But as the animated halftime entertainment, Parton is the only one who helped break Homer & Co. out of their stadium cell, so she gets the glory. 

Appears As Herself In: Season 10’s  “Sunday, Cruddy Sunday”

Mary-Kate And Ashley Olsen

Before they turned down reprising the role of Michelle Tanner for Fuller House, Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen appeared as themselves for a 2004 ep in quite a savvy way: as the voices beyond the audiobook for Marge’s torrid romance novel The Harpooned Heart.  

Appear As Themselves In: Season 15’s “Diatribe of a Mad Housewife”

Yo-Yo Ma

One of the most accomplished cellists in existence, Yo-Yo Ma made his official vocal and musical debut on The Simpsons in 2015, decades after he and co-creator Matt Groening lived in the same Harvard dorm. Yo-Yo Ma had the unenviable task of helping woo Marge's mom for Mr. Burns. The accolade-laden Grammy winner also performed the Simpsons theme song for the closing credits.

Appeared As Himself In: Season 27's "Puffless"

Eartha Kitt

William Daniels provided the voice of Knight Rider's KITT twice on The Simpsons, but here we're talking about the wildly talented singer, actress, and Broadway luminary Eartha Kitt. She appeared in Season 21 as one of Krusty's former wives, who notably didn't make it beyond six hours before getting divorced. 

Appeared As Herself In: Season 21's "Once Upon a Time in Springfield"

Paul Rudd

Paul Rudd is the rare celeb who seems to age better than his animated self, and there are multiple versions to look back on. The MCU vet first brought his Rudd-ity to The Simpsons in the faux biographical film Streaming Valor alongside occasional cohorts Seth Rogen and Judd Apatow. He next appeared as a version of himself who wanted little to do with a judgmental Comic Book Guy in an airport. 

Appeared As Himself In: Season 25's “Steal This Episode,” Season 32's “Three Dreams Denied,” and as therapist Dr. Zander in Season 22's "Love Is a Many Strangled Thing"

Martha Stewart

Homemaker extraordinaire Martha Stewart showed up as herself, or at least a fantasized version of herself, during Marge's dream sequence in Season 22's segmented Christmas episode. She didn't exactly save the holidays, but then nothing can with this family.

Appears As Herself In: Season 22's "The Fight Before Christmas"

Ringo Starr

One of The Simpsons’ earliest guest stars was also one of its most noteworthy. Ringo Starr was the first of the Beatles to appear as a guest star, as well as the subject of several paintings from Marge’s youth. He specifically chose for his Simpson-ized look to resemble his animated look in the 1968 film Yellow Submarine.

Appeared As Himself In: Season 2’s “Brush with Greatness”

Kylie Jenner

The first member of the Kardashian-Jenner clan to make it into the world of The Simpsons in an official capacity, Kylie Jenner lent her voice for the tech-based segment "Wild Barts Can't Be Token" in the 2023 "Treehouse" installment. Though she appeared alongside Rob Gronkowski and Jimmy Fallon, she was the only guest star to provide her own voicework.

Appears As Herself In: Season 35's "Treehouse of Horror XXXIV"

Bob The Drag Queen

Bob the Drag Queen became a household name after he took the grand prize in Season 8 of RuPaul's Drag Race, and then reached a whole other kind of icon status by getting Simpson-ized alongside drag sister Monét X Change in Season 34 for a fabulous final "viral vid" scene depicting a Waffle House faceoff between the pair, which George R.R. Martin watches instead of working on his next book.

Appears As Himself In: Season 34's "My Life as a Vlog"

Alan Moore

Comic book master Alan Moore has built up a reputation as one of the industry’s more prickly creatives, which makes it all the more incredible that The Simpsons not only landed him, but used him for an amusing Watchmen Babies gag two years before Zack Snyder’s Watchman film was released. The ep also featured cameos from another pair of brilliant comic creators in Art Spiegelman and Daniel Clowes.

Appears As Himself In: Season 19’s “Husbands and Knives”

The ever-energetic pianist Little Richard showed up on The Simpsons in all his gloriousness to present Edna with the Teacher of the Year Award. Though not before having to tell Homer to shut up for getting him confused with Prince (and Michael Jackson). 

Appears As Himself In: Season 14's "Special Edna"

Judy Blume

Four years before her famed book was adapted into the acclaimed film Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret, bestselling author Judy Blume appeared as herself in a vision Lisa has that reignites her appreciation for America. If anyone has the power to inspire one of animation's smartest schoolgirls, it's Blume.

Appears As Herself In: Season 30's "D'Oh Canada"

Adam West

Years before he started voicing himself as the Mayor of Quahog in Family Guy, Adam West appeared as himself at the Springfield car show where Homer buys the snowplow that lends itself to the episode's title. The cameo is a fun one for Batman fans, with the camera angle slowly skewing diagonal in reference to the live-action series' villain shots. 

Appears As Himself In: Season 4's "Mr. Plow," and as Batman in Season 14's "Large Marge"

There is no genre more near and dear to my heart than comedy. The skills necessary to make others laugh -- whether live and in-person or through a screen -- are a unique and beautiful combination that should be protected at all costs. Some artists are able to do so without leaning in to touchy subjects or cursing, while others go all the way to really earn that R rating. The tactics may differ, but the end goal is the same, to bring others joy through jokes. 

Many comedians see movies as the apex of a potential career, but most don't start out their careers in Hollywood. Many grow first through either stand-up comedy or sketch comedy. This list honors them. Here's a look back at famous actors who started in either the stand-up or sketch comedy world and went on to bigger screens.

Rainn Wilson

Known as arguably one of the best characters on the hit show The Office, Rainn Wilson got his start in the arts in New York City where he studied acting at NYU. He went on to do theater both off and on Broadway as well as sketch comedy. He even did a post-modern clown show before getting his big break on the show Six Feet Under in 2001. 

Whoopi Goldberg

Whoopi Goldberg got her start by studying drama in New York, where she landed a few stage performances before trying her hand at stand-up comedy. Like many others on this list, her comedy routine -- "The Spook Show" -- caught the attention of Oscar-winning director Mike Nichols, who helped get the young comedian to Broadway. She eventually landed her first film in Steven Spielberg's film The Color Purple, for which she earned an Oscar nomination in 1986. 

Steve Buscemi

The veteran character actor made his acting debut in 1985, but also tried his hand at stand-up comedy. Eventually, Busemi decided he "wasn't funny enough," and switched to acting instead. Buscemi has since starred in popular movies including Fargo, Resevoir Dogs, and the hit HBO Max show Boardwalk Empire.

Emma Thompson

If you're looking for a stand-up with some serious credentials, look no further than Emma Thompson. Winner of two Academy Awards, two Golden Globe Awards, two British Academy Film Awards, a British Academy Television Award and a Primetime Emmy Award, the talented actor got her start in stand-up while in Cambridge. 

John Candy

Arguably one of the greatest comedy legends to ever live, John Candy led a fascinating life, getting his big break after joining the ensemble of SCTV — which is, essentially, the Canadian equivalent to SNL. In 1989, the star even added radio personality to his resume. The LA Times did a whole write-up of his syndicated, two-hour program, Radio Kandy, which sounds wild and apparently included rock music and comedy sketches featuring some of his former SCTV co-stars.

Mo'Nique

Mo'Nique started her comedy career with stand-up, heading to It's Showtime at the Apollo and Def Comedy Jam before eventually landing a leading role on TV's The Parkers. The comedian took her acting to the next level in 2009's Precious, for which she won an Academy Award.

Steve Carell

A versatile actor with numerous groundbreaking performances in both television and film, Steve Carrell was once a legend at Second City in Chicago who went on to land his dream job working on the ill-fated Dana Carvey Show, which you can learn about in Too Funny To Fail, one of the best comedy documentaries to date. Known best for his role as Michael Scott in the U.S. adaptation of The Office, Carell eventually went on to become a leading man in both comedies and dramas. 

Michael Keaton

To put himself through college where he studied acting, Michael Keaton worked as a cab and ice cream truck driver, and it wasn't until 1975 that he officially debuted on television. He did some stand-up comedy in his early 20s, which he recounted in an interview with Ellen, but he eventually found the right calling with movies.

Tina Fey

Known for her work on the smash hit show 30 Rock, Tina Fey got her start in acting at Second City which quickly led to a job at Saturday Night Live as notably one of the only female writers at the time. She got her break co-hosting Weekend Update and later went on to be a huge star in Hollywood. 

Jamie Foxx

It all started with a dare from a girlfriend to try his hand at an open mic. Flash forward some years and that performance led Jamie Foxx to multiple awards, including two Academy Awards, double digit Grammys, and three Golden Globe Awards, all while showing a versatile ability to crush performances across multiple genres and artistic art forms.

John Cleese

Coming from the United Kingdom, John Cleese is a British comic actor best known for his television work on Monty Python’s Flying Circus and Fawlty Towers. Cleese began writing and performing in comedy revues at Clifton College in Bristol, England, and was a member of the renowned Footlights Club while a law student at the University of Cambridge. He is best known for his work with Monty Pythion, namely Monty Python And The Holy Grail. 

Ricky Gervais

Ricky Gervais went to school at Ashmead Comprehensive School before going on to study at University College, London, where he gained a degree in Philosophy. After university, Gervais attempted to pursue a pop career with Seona Dancing, a synth-pop duo he formed with a fellow student. After forming a writing partnership with Stephen Merchant, he would go on to land his breakout role on The Office, premiering in 2001. In between all his acting gigs, he's performed plenty of stand-up and has multiple Netflix specials. 

Eddie Murphy

Growing up in Brooklyn, New York, SNL star Eddie Murphy began performing his own comedy routines at 15. In 1980, the work of the soon-to-be comedy legend caught the attention of Saturday Night Live producers. In 1982, Murphy landed his first leading role in the film, 48 Hrs, which led to multiple leads in classics such as Beverly Hills Cop and Coming to America. He went on to earn an Oscar nomination for Dreamgirls and truly set the bar by playing six characters in the 1996 smash hit, The Nutty Professor. His '80s comedy specials are still discussed today. 

Amy Schumer

Amy Schumer is certainly better known these days for her work in numerous films including the fantastic Trainwreck, but most of those career opportunity doors opened through her stand-up comedy. She built a name for herself through her work on the live mic before mostly switching to movies.

Chris Rock

An SNL vet, Chris Rock's comedy career began in 1984 at 19 when he took the stage in the New York City club Catch a Rising Star. His performance ended up catching the eye of future comedy legend Eddie Murphy, who had been watching his act. Murphy would become a huge presence in Rock's life and served as a mentor, giving him his first break with a role in Beverly Hills Cop II.

Ron Perlman

Known for very courageous roles such as Clay Morrow on the FX show Sons Of Anarchy, Ron Perlman said his ventures as a stand-up comedian ended after a heckling exchange in the Bronx escalated and he retreated out of the venue through the back door, which seems like a strange move for such an intimidating man. 

Robin Williams

Arguably one of the best comedians of all-time, Robin Williams studied acting at the Juilliard School, which he later dropped out of to devote himself entirely to stand-up comedy before making the leap to television and movies. Known for his high energy and skillful impressions, he himself has inspired other actors to reenact some of his most dramatic real-life moments in honor of the late comedian. 

Patton Oswalt

The Prince of Queens, Patton Oswalt went from struggling in the comedy world to writing for the sketch comedy show MADtv and earning his own comedy special on HBO. He continued to impress critics and fans alike, with roles such as the voice of the lead character Remy the Rat in the Pixar film, Ratatouille. 

Richard Pryor

Unfortunately, tragedy and comedy often go hand-in-hand. Such is the case with arguably one of the genre's biggest icons, the late, great, Richard Pryor. The legend had a tough life growing up and eventually joined the military before playing nightclubs as both a musician and comedian at age 23. His comedy career was populated with milestones and achievements, as well as struggles and substance abuse before passing away in 2005 due to complications from M.S..  

Bette Midler

Bette Midler landed her first Broadway role in Fiddler on the Roof by 1966, four years before trying her hand at stand-up comedy. In 1972, she released the album The Divine Miss M, which earned her a Grammy Award, and she started making frequent appearances on late-night television shows and eventually a huge acting career. Along the way, she performed live comedy and even released an album.

Norm Macdonald

Norm Macdonald's first job was writing for The Dennis Miller Show and then Roseanne. While writing on the show, he was noticed by Lorne Michaels, who liked Norm's stand up so much that he offered the young comedian a job on Saturday Night Live in 1993.

Jim Carrey

Jim Carrey, who is easily considered one of the greats, was himself taken under the wing of another comedy legend, Rodney Dangerfield, who spotted the young comic in a Toronto nightclub. Carrey eventually made it to The Tonight Show which led to his role on In Living Color and parts in many comedy classics that we know and love today, such as Dumb and Dumber, The Mask, and Ace Ventura. 

Tim Allen

Tim Allen started his career as a comedian in 1975 in a pretty peculiar way. On a dare from one of his friends, he participated in a comedy night at Mark Ridley's Comedy Castle in Royal Oak, outside of Detroit. Following his release from prison in 1981 for a drug-related crime, he returned to comedy and went on to lead the hit show Home Improvement on ABC. 

Steve Martin

From community theater, to Disneyland, to the big screen, Steve Martin began his showbiz career as a teenager. After writing his own comedy routines, plays, and music, he went on to study philosophy and poetry before winning his first Emmy Award for comedy writing on The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour at the young age of 23.

Lily Tomlin

Initially studying biology at Wayne State University, Lily Tomlin decided to audition for a play which led to her changing her major to theatre and diving into stand-up comedy. Her stand-up was so impressive that it attracted the attention of the producers of Laugh-In, the notorious 1960s sketch comedy show. Tomlin went on to snag an Oscar nomination for her acting work.

Dana Carvey

One of SNL's most talented and beloved alumni, Dana Carvey absolutely dominated during his six seasons on Saturday Night Live, creating some of the show's most memorable characters. He never drifted far from stand-up though and has continued to take the stage and release specials.

Tom Hanks

Tom Hanks took the weirdest route to stand-up of anyone on this list. He was already in Hollywood and establishing a nice career when he decided to audition for a movie about stand-up comedy called Punchline. As part of that process, he developed his own stand-up routine and performed in clubs. There's even footage of it that trends every now and again.

Bob Odenkirk

Starting out as a D.J. in Illinois, Bob Odenkirk got his start in local improv workshops in Chicago, where he also did open-mic stand-up comedy for several years. In Chicago, he became friends with Robert Smigel, who would later help him become a writer for Saturday Night Live.

Larry David

Starting out in stand-up comedy, Larry David befriended Jerry Seinfeld and later went on to co-create Seinfeld. He also wrote for Friday's and Saturday Night Live and famously went on to create the all-time ridiculous show Curb Your Enthusiasm. 

Ed Helms

Ed Helms was studying improv with the Upright Citizens Brigade when he got his big break as a correspondent on Comedy Central's The Daily Show with Jon Stewart. He later moved on to the hit NBC show The Office where he played Andy Bernard. From there, Helms went on to star in The Hangover trilogy. More importantly, he also acted in Captain Underpants: The First Epic Movie.

Mel Brooks

There aren't many names in the world of comedy that stand larger than Mel Brooks. The legend started his career in stand-up before working as a writer for Sid Caesar's variety show Your Show of Shows from 1950 to 1954. After that, he, of course, took over Hollywood, winning an EGOT and directing classics like Blazing Saddles, The Producers and Robin Hood: Men In Tights.

Simon Pegg

A comedic force to be reckoned with in the U.K. before dropping smash hits like Sean of the Dead in the U.S., Pegg once told The Hollywood Reporter “I went into stand-up because comedy was something I enjoyed but also because it offered me a certain autonomy that I wouldn’t have if I was sitting and waiting for the phone to ring as an actor.”

Dan Aykroyd

Dan Aykroyd started performing comedy at 17 and later joined the main casts of Second City in Toronto and Chicago. Later, it was his work in the sketch comedy powerhouse Saturday Night Live that turned him into a huge name and opened the door for him to start in classics like The Blues Brothers and Ghostbusters.

And those are some of the actors who also took the stage to perform stand-up or sketch comedy at some point during their careers!

We see it quite often – comedians and comedic actors cut their teeth performing stand-up or appearing on beloved sketch comedy shows before knocking everyone’s socks off with a remarkable and remarkably emotional dramatic role. Sometimes, these earn the actors and actresses Academy Awards or at least their first Oscar nomination for unforgettable performances that make us cry as much as they once made us laugh.

That being said, here are 32 examples of people known for their comedy being great in dramatic roles…

Robin Williams

Even before Robin Williams earned a much-deserved Oscar for his performance in Good Will Hunting, the comedian proved time and time again that he was more than capable when it came to dramatic roles. In fact some of Williams’ best movies like Dead Poets Society and Awakenings showed early on what he could achieve in a less comedic capacity. And let’s not forget his frightening turns in One Hour Photo and Insomnia.

Jim Carrey

After being an almost guaranteed box office draw in the mid 1990s, Jim Carrey showed he was more than just an over-the-top slapstick comedian with roles in The Truman Show and Man on the Moon. However, Carrey’s most notable dramatic turn, and probably his best overall performance can be found in 2004’s Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind.

Eddie Murphy

For years, Eddie Murphy was well-known for beloved comedic roles in classics like Coming to America, 48 Hrs., and Beverly Hills Cop, but he’s also displayed a more dramatic side over the years. At the top of this list is Dreamgirls, the 2006 musical drama that saw him take on the role of James “Thunder” Early, a performance that should have earned him an Oscar.

Whoopi Goldberg

Whoopi Goldberg is an all-time great comedian who has made audiences laugh with her stand-up specials and various film and TV projects for the better part of the past 40 years. During that time, Goldberg has also given us some of the richest and most nuanced dramatic performances like her take on Celie Harris Johnson in Steven Spielberg’s The Color Purple, which earned her a Golden Globe and numerous other accolades.

Adam Sandler

When he wants, Adam Sandler can stand toe-to-toe with just about any living actor. Though he’s mostly known for his various comedies like Happy Gilmore, The Waterboy, and the Grown Ups movies, let’s not forget his outstanding dramatic performances in Punch-Drunk Love, Reign Over Me, and Uncut Gems. Watching Sandler in the Safdie Brothers’ 2019 crime thriller is like watching a completely different actor.

Steve Carell

Around the same time Steve Carell was making us fall over with laughter with his portrayal as Michael Scott on The Office, he was also giving audiences some of the best dramatic performances in movies like Little Miss Sunshine and Foxcatcher. Even since then, Carell has continued to steal the show with heart-wrenching turns in Beautiful Boy and Last Flag Flying.

Jamie Foxx

Jamie Foxx made a name for himself as one of the funniest comedians on the planet in the early ‘90s thanks to shows like In Living Color and The Jamie Foxx Show, which he followed up with some truly great movies in the final decade of the 20th century. But in 2004, Foxx showed off his dramatic chops in Michael Mann’s thrilling Collateral and the must-watch music biopic, Ray, a performance that earned him an Oscar.

Aubrey Plaza 

To some, Aubrey Plaza will always be remembered for her hilarious portrayal of April Ludgate on Parks and Recreation, but the comedian has given some commanding dramatic performances over the years as well. Movies like Emily the Criminal and Black Bear, as well as the second season of The White Lotus, have shown she’s a force to be reckoned with.

Melissa McCarthy

Okay, Melissa McCarthy may be one of the funniest comedic actors on the planet right now, but let’s not overlook her gripping portrayal of literary fraudster Lee Israel in 2018’s Can You Ever Forgive Me, a movie that saw her hold her own with Richard E. Grant. That’s not nothing.

Will Ferrell

Though Will Ferrell’s dramatic roles still have the comedian's unique style of humor, his performances in Everything Must Go and Stranger Than Fiction are still worth bringing up. He’s less manic and a tad bit quieter in these two movies, but that charm is still there, which really messes with your head.

Ben Stiller

Ben Stiller has shown over the years that he can do more than play the lovable loser in movies like Meet the Parents, detestable villains in Dodgeball, or caricatures of models in Zoolander. In fact, he’s given quite a few outstanding dramatic performances in everything from The Secret Life of Walter Mitty to the gutting Permanent Midnight.

Mo'Nique

In addition to being a prolific comedian with multiple stand-up specials including The Queens of Comedy, as well as having a lead role on the long-running sitcom, The Parkers, Mo’Nique is also an Academy Award, Golden Globe, and BAFTA winner thanks to her lights out performance in the 2009 drama film, Precious. 

Bette Midler

Bette Midler has made us laugh ourselves out of our seats countless times over the years, but her performance as Cecilia Bloom in Beaches has been making everyone cry for decades now. It’s impossible to listen to “Wind Beneath My Wings” without thinking of that masterful dramatic turn.

Richard Pryor

Legendary stand-up comedian Richard Pryor had a series of comedies with frequent collaborator Gene Wilder at the height of his career, but the comic also gave a dynamic dramatic performance in Paul Schrader’s 1978 crime film, Blue Collar. The movie, which showed the actor’s range, also featured Harvey Keitel and Yaphet Kotto. Talk about a cast.

Lily Tomlin

Lily Tomlin, an actress who continues to thrive decades into her career, is best known for performances in comedies like 9 to 5, shows like Grace and Frankie, and various stand-up specials and Broadway productions. But Tomlin can also pull off dramatic roles like her Academy Award-nominated performance in Nashville, her feature film debut.

Albert Brooks

Albert Brooks is wonderfully hilarious in movies like Finding Nemo, Broadcast News, and so many others, but his trademark happy-go-lucky and funny sensibility and charm went out the window with his bone-chilling portrayal of Bernie Rose in Drive. Ice cold.

Marlon Wayans

Here’s something wild to think about: Marlon Wayans played the stereotypical stoner Shorty in the parody horror flick Scary Movie and Tyrone in Darren Aronofsky’s devastating drama Requiem for a Dream in the same year. During the latter film’s development, the star of The Wayan Bros., the comedian had to go through five auditions.

Kristen Wiig

Some of Kristen Wiig’s best movies are those that lean more towards the dramatic side of the spectrum, with Mother, The Skeleton Twins, and The Secret Life of Walter Mitty all coming to mind. This isn’t to say her comedic work isn’t great, as Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar is legitimately one of the funniest movies of the 2020s.

Jason Segel

Jason Segel, through shows like Freaks & Geeks and How I Met Your Mother, has shown time after time that he’s undeniably hilarious. However, through work in movies like The End of the Tour and the 1999 dramedy SLC Punk, the actor has proven he can handle more dramatic performances as good as the rest.

Steve Martin

On top of being the all-time best SNL host, Steve Martin is also one of the most prolific actors of our time. But in addition to all of that, the actor, writer, musician, and what we can assume is a generally good hang, Martin can also pull off more dramatic roles. This can best be seen in the 2005 romantic drama, Shopgirl, which was based on one of his novellas.

Maya Rudolph

Two years after her Saturday Night Live tenure came to an end, Maya Rudolph gave a passionate and beautiful performance in Sam Mendes’ 2009 dramedy, Away We Go. The role, which saw her play the pregnant wife trying to find a place to settle down, allowed the comedic actress to play a more grounded, and sincere character.

Goldie Hawn

In 1991, Goldie Hawn took on the role of Adrienne Saunders in Damian Harris’ psychological thriller, Deceived, which saw her play the wife of the manipulative Frank Sullivan (John Heard in a devilish role). Though the movie wasn’t all that well-received, Hawn was still masterful in it, showing a great deal of range in the process.

Seth Rogen

Seth Rogen has given one wonderfully funny performance after another for nearly the past quarter-century, but the actor and writer behind movies like Superbad and Pineapple Express can handle his own when it comes to drama. Danny Boyle’s 2015 biopic, Steve Jobs, saw the comedian portray Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak, which required him to go head-to-head with Michael Fassbender’s tech CEO in some extremely intense scenes.

Kevin Hart

Kevin Hart made the jump to serious drama in The Upside in 2019, an English remake of the french film, The Intouchables. However, this wouldn’t be a one and done type situation for the comedian. He would give another emotional performance in the 2021 Netflix drama, Fatherhood, in which he played a widower trying to raise his daughter in the wake of his wife’s sudden passing.

Jack Black

After dipping his toes in the drama waters with his charming performance in The Holiday, Jack Black played his darkest role yet in the 2011 crime biopic, Bernie. In Richard Linklater’s movie, Black took on the role of mortician Bernhardt “Bernie” Tiede, who was later convicted of murdering his friend and millionaire Marjorie Nugent (Shirley MacLane). 

Anna Kendrick

Anna Kendrick is best known for her starring roles in musical comedies like the Pitch Perfect franchise and the Trolls animated movies, but the comedic actress has also given commanding dramatic performances. This includes the likes of Up in the Air, 50/50, Alice Darling, and A Simple Favor, all of which show her dynamic range.

Awkwafina

If you look at Awkwafina’s best movies, you’ll see a lot of great comedies like Crazy Rich Asians, Ocean’s Eight, and Quiz Lady. However, you’ll also find Lulu Wang’s 2019 drama, The Farewell, which saw the comedian pull off a whole range of emotions throughout its story. In fact, she even won a Golden Globe for her performance.

John Lithgow

John Lithgow has had a remarkable career full of great comedies, including 3rd Rock from the Sun and Shrek, but he’s also given some impressive dramatic performances throughout his career. Be it shows like Dexter and The Crown or a list of movies that includes Killers of the Flower Moon, Terms of Endearment, and Interstellar, the decorated actor has always been able to pull off some impressive feats.

Jerry Lewis

One-half of Martin and Lewis with Dean Martin, Jerry Lewis was one of the funniest names in show business throughout his career, be it with his Vegas shows or various movies like The Nutty Professor and The Ladies Man. But Lewis also gave a terrific dramatic performance in Martin Scorsese’s The King of Comedy, which saw the legendary comedian play a late night TV host kidnapped by an obsessed fan (played by Robert De Niro).

Jennifer Aniston

Jennifer Aniston will always be remembered for her take on Rachel Green in the landmark sitcom, Friends, but the actress has since taken on some rather dramatic roles that worked quite well. One of the most notable is the 2014 drama, Cake, which saw Aniston take on the role of a woman coming to terms with the death of her son.

Jonah Hill

Jonah Hill spent the better part of the 2000s appearing in comedies like Superbad, Grandma’s Boy, and Accepted, but he started to take more dramatic roles in the 2010s. One of the most promising was his part in 2011’s Moneyball, which saw him play Billy Beane’s (Brad Pitt) incredibly intelligent (and sometimes awkward) assistant to great effect.

Steve Coogan

Steve Coogan is lights out in comedies like the Night at the Museum movies and Tropic Thunder, but he was equally as good in the 2013 drama film, Philomena, which saw him take on the role of a journalist helping a woman (played by Judi Dench) track down the son she was force to give up for adoption decades earlier.

Each of these comedians found a way to turn audience expectations on their head and give us some all-time great dramatic performances. It’s safe to say we’ll never forget some of these beloved, and wonderfully emotional roles and the people who brought them to life.

Released on Disney+ in the fall of 2022, Hocus Pocus 2 was a massive success. On the Tuesday following its debut, in fact, the Walt Disney Company declared it the "#1 film premiere on Disney+ domestically" – the metric used being hours streamed during its first three days. It was made clear immediately that fans are interested in new adventures featuring the Sanderson Sisters... which brings us to the news today that Hocus Pocus 3 is officially in development.

As far as details are concerned, we unfortunately have very little to provide, as the source of this news is a single sentence in a New York Times profile about Disney executive Sean Bailey. The piece mentions the sequel as being in the works alongside a number of live-action remakes of animated classics – specifically Moana starring Dwayne Johnson, Hercules, and Lilo And Stitch. It's further noted that the Disney's live-action division "makes two or three big-budget films annually for release in theaters and three modestly budgeted movies for Disney+," but it isn't specified which lane Hocus Pocus 3 is fitting into.

Hocus Pocus 2 was clearly a big win for Disney's proprietary streaming service, and there's an obvious logic in the sequel having the same distribution method as its predecessor – but one has to wonder if that will actually be seen as the best course of action for the project. Streaming numbers aren't made public, but it's possible that Hocus Pocus 3 could be a much more profitable and impactful venture for the studio as a theatrical release. It was a question when Hocus Pocus 2 came out, and it's a question now.

In the last year, there have been certain developments that make a pivot to theatrical for Hocus Pocus 3 seem possible. For starters, there's Disney's decision to give Zach Cregger's Barbarian a run in cinemas instead of having it go straight to streaming – which turned to be a smart play, as the film was a box office success in the fall of 2022. Additionally, this past weekend saw the release of Rob Savage's The Boogeyman, which was planned as a Hulu exclusive before Stephen King helped get it theatrical distribution. Obviously Hocus Pocus 3 is a different kind of horror movie than those two titles, but as an all-audiences friendly feature, it could potentially be a massive big screen hit during the 2024/2025 spooky season and make a much bigger pop culture impact than it would as a Disney+ library title.

Because of the on-going WGA Strike, development on the sequel is probably halted right now, but we'll certainly be curious to learn more details about the project. Will Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Kathy Najimy return as the Sanderson sisters? Will Anne Fletcher come back to helm after directing Hocus Pocus 2? Will Whitney Peak, Belissa Escobedo, and Lilia Buckingham be back as Becca, Izzy, and Cassie? Stay tuned here on CinemaBlend in the coming days/weeks/months for updates.

Bette Midler is an entertainment force who wowed audiences for over four decades, with her best movies including The Rose, Hocus Pocus, Beaches, and more. But can you believe one of those movies could have been Sister Act? This singer/actress revealed the hilarious reason why she turned down the chance to star in Sister Act. 

This Tony Award winner is not one to miss the opportunity to wear eye-piercing costumes. She’s been a witch, a mermaid, a stripper, a young lady, an old lady, a bad lounge singer and a showgirl, to name a few roles. Well, she could have played another type of showgirl in Sister Act as Deloris Van Cartier, but she told Variety’s “Just for Variety” podcast why she turned this singing nun role with the following:

Yes, that is amazing. Now I’m mentally adding Bette Midler’s face onto a nun’s to picture what she would look like. Yep, I can imagine her rocking that look just like Whoopi Goldberg did, and Midler agrees that Goldberg “wore [that habit] all the way to the bank.” That she did. Another movie that The First Wives Club actress could have been well known for that she turned down was Misery, which is one of Kathy Bates’ best movies. She felt the role of an obsessed fan was too violent for her, with no funny bits to peak her interest. This proves that not all roles resonate with everyone the way they do with others.

Bette Midler may not have shown off her singing chops in Sister Act, but she still got to star in a couple of movies with one of the musical film’s supporting actresses. Kathy Najimy and Midler played sisters in Hocus Pocus 29 years ago and reunited again last year for the long-awaited sequel. It was a breath of fresh air to see these iconic actresses stand side-by-side again in those memorable witchcraft garbs and sinister cackling. Even getting to see them react to Hocus Pocus 2's trailer gave wholesome, nostalgic vibes. These two may have missed out on singing in a choir together, but they instead got to “Put a Spell On You” in the most magical way for the Hocus Pocus films. 

A third Sister Act is officially coming to Disney+, but the jury is still out on who else, besides Whoopi Goldberg, will be gracing us with their presence the third time around. Kathy Najimy has expressed interest in wanting to return back to the habit. If she sadly doesn't reprise her role as Mary Patrick, Goldberg thanked Najimy’s Hocus Pocus sequel for getting Sister Act 3 off the ground. After all, it seems like so many well-known ‘90s films are coming back today to reach a new generation of audiences. Something tells me based on what happened around the first movie, Disney most likely won’t be asking Bette Midler if she’d like to take on the role of a nun for the upcoming Disney movie.

Since it’s been 30 years since Bette Midler was first approached about playing a nun, I wonder if she’d be open to wearing a habit this time around. If she were to play one of the singing nuns in Sister Act 3, you better believe it'd be a party! You can watch the Sister Act movies, as well as the Hocus Pocus movies, with your Disney+ subscription.

While Hocus Pocus 2 brought back the Sanderson Sisters after 29 years, notably the kids, Max, Dani and Allison, along with Thackery Binx the cat, were not in the long-awaited sequel. Now, following Hocus Pocus 2's successful release on Disney+ some of the OG cast has weighed in on it, and if they would want to be in a threequel. Notably, Omri Katz, who played Max, said he'd love to work with Bette Midler again, but they need to do it sooner than later. 

Due to the success of Hocus Pocus 2, I’d imagine it’s not a far-fetched idea to make a third, especially with that ending that leaves the door open for more stories. In an interview with EW, the actors behind Max, Allison and Thackery Binx talked about the movie. When asked about a potential thrid installment, they all said they’d be down, but Katz, the actor behind Max, said they can’t wait another 29 years for it to happen.

He makes a valid point, Midler is currently 76 years old, and if they waited 30 years she would be 106. While she’s still dancing like a queen, and I imagine she’ll be doing so for a long while, I doubt she’ll be able to sing, dance, cackle and ride her broom in 2052 while she's in her early 100s. 

Personally, I do hope if there were to be a threequel we’d get the original kids, but all grown up, the new gals from the sequel, along with the Sanderson sisters back in Salem for one big adventure. We learned that Thora Birch, who played Dani, was originally supposed to be in the sequel, however, she had some scheduling conflicts. 

However, based on Katz and the other OG actors positively reacting to the sequel, I feel like it’s likely they’d say yes to a threequel. Along with Katz, Jason Marsden, who voiced Binx, said “absolutely” when asked about the topic. Vinessa Shaw, who played Allison noted that all the attention around the movies has made her reminisce on the first movie and that her “fondness keeps growing” for the films. She also noted that Midler “has the best time,” and said even if she’s “98” the actress would be down to reprise her epic role as the leader of the sistahs. 

Based on the ending of Hocus Pocus 2, and its success, I think it’s possible we’ll see a threequel, and hopefully, it’ll involve some more of the OG cast. While we wait at least one year and as many as 30 years for a possible threequel, you can watch the 2022 movie schedule hit Hocus Pocus 2, as well as the original Hocus Pocus, with a Disney+ subscription. 

Since Hocus Pocus 2 hit Disney+ this past weekend, the return of the Sanderson sisters has been the talk of the Halloween season. The movie has become the streaming service’s most successful original ever. Also, fans of the original have been raving about it, saying it’s a “wicked good time” and “worth the wait” 29 years after Hocus Pocus. However, one mother of three who resides in Central Texas has recently gone viral for warning families off of viewing the new release. 

Jamie Gooch initially took to Facebook to share her thoughts about Hocus Pocus 2, but the post has since been removed. However, the Texas mom spoke to KWTX about her thoughts regarding the Disney+ original film. She warned viewers of “a worst-case scenario” that it could “unleash hell on your kids and in your home.” Here are more of her thoughts: 

Gooch and her family do not participate in Halloween and are a family of the Christian faith. The woman who resides in Troy, Texas said they have not participated in the October holiday for four or five years, sharing that the “thought of exposing our kids to darkness”  “grieves” her. Following the viral moment, another happened shortly after when a parody of the original video by Jimmy Kimmel Live! writer Blaire Erskine blew up, via Twitter:

The Texas woman initially had warnings to share about Hocus Pocus 2, but she also delved into a larger issue she believes is at play in regard to what people choose to bring to their homes through their TV screens. While Gooch is certainly receiving her share of laughs and side-eyes from fans of Hocus Pocus and Halloween, she shared that “a lot of people agreed” with her too. 

Overall, Gooch hopes her words will “make a difference” even to “one person’s life.” While she gets that many people won’t "understand" her views, the Texas mom said in her view, as a Christian “we are held to a higher standard.” Disney was reached out for comment on Gooch’s concerns, but has not issued any replies. 

Hocus Pocus 2 sees the return of Bette Midler, Kathy Najimy and Sarah Jessica Parker as the Sanderson sisters after the first movie became a staple for families during the Halloween season. (Unfortunately, Thora Birch is not among the returning cast). Though the movie certainly could have made money in theaters, it went straight to Disney+ subscribers and has become a massive hit. 

You can check out one of our writer's own thoughts about tuning into Hocus Pocus 2 here on CinemaBlend. You can also see what upcoming horror movies are heading to theaters and streaming this spooky season, for those who partake in the Halloween season. 

Minor spoilers ahead for Hocus Pocus 2.

Spooky season is officially upon us, with the festivities ushered in by the long-awaited release of Hocus Pocus 2 on Disney+. The streaming sequel brought back the trio of legends as the Sanderson Sisters, was full of awesome easter eggs, and also featured a bunch of fresh talent. That includes three alums from RuPaul’s Drag Race, who dress up as the witches during one scene: Season 14’s Kornbread Jeté, Season 13’s Kahmora Hall, and three-time competitor Ginger Minj. And Ginger recently shared a sweet Bette Midler story from the set of Hocus Pocus 2.

Ginger Minj is a fan favorite from RuPaul’s Drag Race, and she’s having a busy month this October. On top of appearing in Hocus Pocus 2, she’s also one of the hosts of Huluween Dragstravaganza, which is special coming to Hulu at the first of the month. 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 asked about her experience working with the legendary Bette Midler on the critically acclaimed sequel. She revealed a sweet story about Midler advocating for her on set, telling me:

What a class act. While Bette Midler was busy leading the cast of Hocus Pocus 2 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. After all, drag makeup requires the right lighting and cinematography to properly read on camera. Luckily the Emmy, Grammy, and Tony winner has known a drag queen or two during her years treading the boards.

Film sets are notoriously grueling, and it sounds like Hocus Pocus 2 was no exception in that regard. Night shoots are known to be exhausting, especially while one is also dealing with cold temperatures. But that didn’t stop Bette Midler from bringing it as Winnifred Sanderson (including in the emotional finale), or making sure that her co-stars get the appropriate lighting.

Later in our conversation, Ginger Minj further went on to explain this once-in-a-lifetime interaction with Bette Midler. 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 she put it,

Talk about a pinch me moment. Not only did Ginger Minj get to share the screen with Bette Midler, but she was clearly able to learn a great deal from the experience. And to top it all off, the First Wives Club star personally Ginger under her wing during their time together. It sounds like she’s going to take that lesson to future film sets.

As previously mentioned, Ginger Minj is also hosting the Huluween Dragstravaganza alongside RuPaul’s Drag Race’s Monét X Change. The special features musical numbers and sketches, with the cast including more drag legends like Lady Bunny, Manila Luzon, Jackie Beat, and Mo Heart.

Hocus Pocus 2 is streaming on Disney+ now, and Huluween Dragstravaganza will follow suit October 1st on Hulu. In the meantime, check out the 2022 movie release list to plan your next movie experience. 

Someone must have put some sort of time-warp spell on all of us because it is hard to believe that nearly three decades have passed since Hocus Pocus was first released in theaters. It is even harder to believe that a sequel to the spooky, funny cult classic is now available with a Disney+ subscription.

While it is great to see Bette Midler, Kathy Najimy, and Sarah Jessica Parker on the Hocus Pocus 2 cast reprising their roles as the Sanderson Sisters, as well as Doug Jones as Billy Butcherson, a part of us wishes that we could we see more stars from the original film make an appearance. Well, at least we can give you a glimpse at what the classic Hocus Pocus cast looks like now by swiping through the slideshow below.

Minor spoilers ahead for Hocus Pocus 2.

If there is one quintessential Halloween movie it’s probably 1993’s original Hocus Pocus. While it was originally a flop, it became a cult classic that’s been passed down across generations. And after three decades, a sequel was finally filmed and released on Disney+ (see our review here). There are plenty of delightful callbacks to the original throughout its runtime, Hocus Pocus 2 has one touching easter egg you might have missed.

The events of Hocus Pocus 2 once again see the Sanderson Sisters rise from the dead after the black flame candle was lit on Halloween night. Director Anne Fletcher and screenwriter Jen D’Angelo include lots of fun easter eggs throughout the movie, but there was one that really hit me in my feelings. Namely the footage of late icons and siblings Garry and Penny Marshall from the original movie. 

Around halfway through the runtime of Hocus Pocus 2, the three witches search Salem for the trio of young protagonists. During this sequence Bette Midler’s Winnifred Sanderson flies by a house, where a couple is laughing and watching TV. And the clip is actually from the first movie, as you can see below:

This scene, complete with Bette Midler knowing looking on, is a surprisingly heartfelt tribute to the late filmmaker and actors. Both Penny and Garry Marshall forever left their mark in the industry as a whole, which is why so many fans out there mourned when they passed away in 2018 and 2016 respectively. Luckily Hocus Pocus 2 featured the perfect tribute to that beloved sibling duo.

While Hocus Pocus 2 only featured a handful of returning characters, the spirit of the fist movie definitely flows throughout the streaming sequel. The myriad easter eggs help provide connective tissue, while the tribute to Penny and Garry Marshall also gives respect where respect is due.

Funny enough, this isn’t the only easter egg in Hocus Pocus 2 that’s all about Penny and Garry Marshall’s truly iconic scene from the original movie. Two Salem residents are actually dressed up as their characters on Halloween night, and are shown briefly waiting behind Tony Hale in line for candy apples. You can see an quick glimpse of them below,

Between these two moments, it truly is heartwarming to see how much love and respect was paid for the pair of late filmmaker/actors in Hocus Pocus 2. While director Anne Fletcher had some very big expectations to meet, the critical reception for the streaming sequel has been rather warm. We’ll just have to wait and see how the generations of fans take to the Sanderson Sisters’ latest adventures through Salem.

Both Hocus Pocus movies are currently streaming on Disney+. Be sure to check out the 2022 premiere list to plan your next movie experience. 

The Sanderson Sisters are back, and just in time for Halloween, albeit 29 years after the original movie became an annual fall tradition. Bette Midler, Kathy Najimy and Sarah Jessica Parker have reprised their roles, and are joined by some pretty great new cast additions, including Hannah Waddingham, Tony Hale, Sam Richardson, Whitney Peak and more. Anticipation is through the roof ahead of its September 30th release to those with a Disney+ subscription, and the reviews are in to give us a sense of what to expect and see how the sequel ties into the first movie.

First reactions to the Hocus Pocus sequel were overwhelmingly positive, as it seems Winnie, Mary and Sarah Sanderson are summoned back to Salem by three high school students via black flame candle. The witches are hungry for revenge and, presumably, children. So let’s see what the critics are saying, starting with the CinemaBlend review of Hocus Pocus 2. Our own Mike Reyes rates the film 3.5 stars out of 5, saying it doesn’t miss a beat bringing back the magic. While this movie isn’t as dark as the original, it’s just as funny, he says: 

Jude Dry of IndieWire grades the film a B-, saying the sequel is satisfying enough for those who rewatch the original Hocus Pocus each fall. The plot and the jokes are basically the same as the first time around, but you really can’t go wrong with the caliber of talent the three stars bring to the screen. The critic says:

Meagan Navarro of Bloody Disgusting rates the sequel 3.5 skulls out of 5, also noting that the Sanderson Sisters aren’t quite as menacing this time around, but they still have that magical touch, and the trio of professionals slip back into these iconic roles easily. More from the review: 

Lovia Gyarkye of THR says Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker and Kathy Najimy are electric, with their scenes being the most enjoyable in the movie, even though — as other critics have also noted — the characters have been softened. The film struggles a little in how to honor the OG movie while still progressing the story, but the end product is still satisfactory, the writer says: 

Maggie Lovitt of Collider gives Hocus Pocus 2 a B+, also noting that the lead trio is an absolute delight to see reunited. The sequel is full of nostalgia, relaying messages about friendship and sisterhood. The critic says: 

Brian Truitt of USA TODAY, however, calls the sequel “wretched,” rating it just 1.5 out of 4 stars. He says the Sanderson sisters are more filler than killer in this follow-up, but that the younger trio aren’t given the character development they need either: 

If you’ve been looking forward to adding Hocus Pocus 2 to your annual watch list, you don’t have to wait much longer! The sequel is set to hit Disney+ on Friday, September 30. And with October knocking on our doors, check out our list of upcoming horror movies. You can also see what else is coming soon to theaters with our 2022 Movie Release Schedule.

When I think of actresses who have truly shaped my childhood, one of the first that comes to mind is Bette Midler. While I didn’t see most of her iconic films as a kid, the one that stood out to me was the kid's horror comedy, Hocus Pocus – and eventually her character from that film ended up becoming one of my favorites. 

As I’ve gotten older, I’ve gotten the chance to really watch all of her best work from her time in the spotlight, and honestly, this actress has some amazing projects that you have to check out. From films to television specials, these are the best Bette Midler movies and TV shows and how you can watch them streaming. 

Hocus Pocus (1993)

I mean, we had to start off with Hocus Pocus. In this classic Disney film, a teenager moves to Salem with his sister and his parents and ends up lighting a black-flame candle on Halloween night. This awakens the spirits of the Sanderson sisters, who’s only wish is to gain power and look young again by stealing youth from children. 

I feel like with a lot of people of my generation, this is the first film you think of when you hear the name Bette Midler, and for good reason. The Hocus Pocus cast is amazing, but she is on another level with her character acting. The fact that she was able to perfectly deliver so many clever lines so effortlessly and still look amazing while doing it – with those horrible fake teeth in, as well – just shows how effortless she makes acting look. This is, hands down, one of my favorite Halloween movies, and I can’t wait for the sequel. I’m so excited for the Sanderson sisters to come back to life.

Stream Hocus Pocus on Disney+.
Rent/Buy Hocus Pocus on Amazon.

The Rose (1979)

Next up on the list, we have the drama, The Rose. This film, which is loosely based on the life of Janis Joplin, follows the story of a fictional rockstar and her time in the spotlight, as well as her struggle with drugs and trying to make it day by day. 

This was one of the few roles that Midler received an Academy Award nomination for, and for good reason. She is just so damn good and I could rewatch this movie a million times and not get sick of it. Watching her sing is like a whole different experience, and combining that with her acting skills makes for an excellent film. 

Buy The Rose on DVD/Blu-ray on Amazon.

The Politician (2019 - 2020)

We now take a look at the Netflix original series from creator Ryan Murphy, The Politician. With a star-studded cast, this series tells the story of Payton Hobart, a normal man from Santa Barbara who is very passionate about the world and is in a different political race every season, following his adventures and hijinks in politics and government. 

Midler wasn’t in the first season, but her main character in Season 2 of The Politician, Haddassah Gold, was comedy gold (pun intended). She was so funny and performed so well, and it’s shows like this where I remember just how funny she really is. It makes me want her in more satires/comedies like this, because she rocks it. 

Stream The Politician on Netflix.

Divine Madness (1980)

Next up, we have Divine Madness, which is a little bit different from the other films on here. It's a concert film that follows the singer and her backup singers, the Harlettes, during their concerts in 1979, performing many of her most popular songs and her beautiful voice. 

While it’s not a scripted film like many of the others here, I put the movie here because this is where we really get to see her true personality and how talented she is. Her voice is out of this world and something that I will listen to on a daily basis, and those who have never listened to her sing live before should watch this. You’ll have a whole new appreciation for her. 

Rent/Buy Divine Madness on YouTube.

For The Boys (1991)

Another film that earned her a nomination for an Academy Award was For The Boys, which was released in 1991. The musical dramedy is all about real-life performer Dixie Leonard and her partnership with Eddie Sparks as they travel across the country during the 1940s to put on shows for the troops. 

As the second role on this list that earned her an Oscar nomination, and won her a Golden Globe, Midler is stellar in For The Boys. Not only does it show her musical talent once again, but her comedic timing is just on fire and perfect. Definitely one of my favorite movies that I think more people need to see if they like musical dramedies. 

Rent/Buy For The Boys on YouTube.

Gypsy (1993)

The second television entry on this list isn’t a show or a miniseries, rather, it's a television film, and I need to talk about Gypsy. This 1993 made-for-television film, based on the stage musical of the same name, stars Midler as Rose Hovick, a stage mother who will stop at nothing in order to get her daughter noticed so she becomes a headliner. 

This film was just so damn good. Growing up, I’ve experienced some awesome made-for-television films, but Gypsy knocks all of them out of the park with it’s stellar cast, incredible music numbers, and of course, Bette Midler in the lead role. It’s not surprising to know that her voice was beautiful in every way possible. She was even nominated for a Primetime Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or Special for her part in the movie. 

Stream Gypsy on Pluto TV.

Outrageous Fortune (1987)

Starring Midler and Shelley Long, Outrageous Fortune is a comedy that tells the story of two women who unknowingly are sharing the same man. However, when he suddenly vanishes, both of them go on an adventure to find him, discovering that he’s not exactly what he seems. 

Again, Midler is just funny. I saw it in Hocus Pocus as a kid and I see it even more now as an adult when I watch her in older movies such as this one. Both leads have some amazing chemistry. She was even nominated for Best Actress – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy for the Golden Globe Awards for her performance. 

Rent/Buy Outrageous Fortune on YouTube.

Down And Out In Beverly Hills (1986)

If you want a film about a dysfunctional family, boy, do I have one for you. Down and Out in Beverly Hills is another comedy, which follows the story of a rich family that lives in the coveted location of Beverly Hills, California, but their lives are turned upside down when they save the life of a homeless man who was suicidal, making their already dysfunctional home a little bit more crazy. 

Four words – Bette Midler/Richard Dreyfuss. That’s it, that’s the sentence. 

On a real note, both share awesome chemistry and made me laugh more times than I’d like to admit while watching this film, and I’d really love to see them in another film together. It would be something fun, for sure. 

Rent/Buy Down and Out in Beverly Hills on Amazon.

The Addams Family (2019)

They’re creepy and they're kooky. You know who they are – The Addams Family. In this animated version of the classic creepy family, we follow as they move into a bland neighborhood, and create even more tension when Wednesday happens to make friends with the daughter of a radio host who is quite the opposite of the family themselves – a conformist, gasp. 

I have always adored this family. I grew up watching the movies from the 1990s with Anjelica Huston and the entire iconic cast. I am so excited for the Netflix series, Wednesday. And, this film was super enjoyable, too. But, Bette Midler as Grandma was just the perfect casting among everyone else here. She got everything about the character that we have seen before into her voice and was able to portray her perfectly. If Grandma appears in the live-action Wednesday, please bring her on to play her; she would be perfect. 

Stream The Addams Family on Amazon Prime.
Rent/Buy The Addams Family on Amazon.

The Glorias (2020)

Next up, we have a biographical drama called The Glorias. This film is all about Gloria Steinem, based on the book, My Life on the Road, and how she learned and changed as time went on, from her childhood all the way to her older years as a feminist journalist and activist.

The fun part of this film is that the role of Gloria Steinem is actually portrayed by four different actresses, which is something that’s always intriguing to see. Midler actually plays Bella Abzug, a real-life social activist and someone who worked closely with Steinem, and her portrayal is great. 

Stream The Glorias on Amazon Prime.
Rent/Buy The Glorias on Amazon.

Beaches (1988)

Next up is the dramedy, Beaches, and this film tells the story of two friends with completely different lives – one a rich debutante and the other an entertainer – and how their difference affected their relationship over the course of their lives.

The film didn’t do so well with the critics back then, but it was a commercial success thanks to the strong performances of Midler and Barbara Hershey. It was supposed to have a sequel, but it was never made, so we'll have to be satisfied with the popular original. 

Rent/Buy Beaches on YouTube.

The First Wives Club (1996)

Starring Midler, Goldie Hawn, and Diane Keaton, The First Wives Club is a comedy that is all about three women who want one thing – revenge. But, not that bloody kind. All they desire is justice for themselves after their cheating husbands left them for younger women. 

I could go on for hours about how fun this film is, but since I can’t do that, I’ll simply say this - the three core cast members have awesome chemistry. I want more movies with them together. 

Stream The First Wives Club on HBO Max.
Rent/Buy The First Wives Club on Amazon.

Ruthless People (1986)

Last but not least, we have Ruthless People. In this dark comedy, we follow a couple who are looking to get revenge on their former boss, so they kidnap his wife. But, as time goes on, they learn that there’s a lot more going on behind the scenes than they expected. 

I can’t function when actor Danny DeVito and Bette Midler are on the same screen together. And, I mean that in the best way, because I’m laughing so hard. As the stars of this film, they really do knock it out of the park and I’d give anything to see them on the same screen again. Hollywood, listen to me – we need more of these two together. 

Stream Ruthless People on Amazon Prime through AMC+.
Rent/Buy Ruthless People on Amazon.

So many films and TV, so little time. But, whatever you pick from Midler’s catalogue, you’ll surely be entertained. 

The time is finally upon us: Hocus Pocus 2 — the sequel fans have been wanting for nearly 30 years — is mere days away from making its release to those with a Disney+ subscription. The Sanderson Sisters are back, along with some additions to the Hocus Pocus universe, and while fans might be missing some of the original stars, it should also be exciting to see what actors like Hannah Waddingham, Tony Hale, Sam Richardson and more can add to the franchise. There are some who have the answer to that too, as the film has screened, and people are taking to Twitter to share their first reactions to the long-awaited sequel. 

Bette Midler, Kathy Najimy and Sarah Jessica Parker have reprised their iconic witchy roles, as the first trailer for Hocus Pocus 2 shows a new trio of protagonists lighting the black flame candle while trying to perform their own magic, thus summoning the dastardly sisters. Let’s take a look at the social media reactions, starting with CinemaBlend’s Mike Reyes. He tweets that this sequel is definitely worth the wait, as it is focused on providing fresh stories rather than simply replaying what worked the first time around: 

As well as feeling fresh, as noted above, the movie also appears to pay homage to those who have made Hocus Pocus rewatches an annual fall event. Tessa Smith of Mama’s Geeky tweets that fans will love the callbacks, and should expect some tugging of the heartstrings as well: 

For those looking forward to seeing Doug Jones’ return as Billy Butcherson, it sounds like Hocus Pocus 2 might delve more into his story. Check out what critic Ashley Saunders has to say:

How many fans are ready for the Sanderson Sisters to “put a spell on you” again? Josh Jones said the sequel includes more great musical numbers: 

Movie Gossip agrees that the soundtrack is “gorgeous,” and, like others who have screened the film, mentions they weren’t expecting the emotional notes: 

Maggie Lovitt of Collider has great things to say about the cast additions, and says this sequel is as good as the original: 

Josh Ryan of Fandom Wire says get ready for a new fall tradition, as the sequel finds the balance between keeping what endeared audiences to the first movie, while still evolving for viewers three decades later: 

It sounds like those who have been excited for this one can go ahead and keep their hopes up, because the reactions to the screening are overwhelmingly positive. Hocus Pocus 2 is not scheduled for a theatrical release, so call up all your friends to organize a watch party on Disney+, as the movie will be available for streaming on Friday, September 30. Also be sure to check out our full list of upcoming Disney movies, along with all the upcoming horror movies coming up to feed your spooky season appetites. 

When it was announced that Hocus Pocus 2 plans were in the works, it was time to brainstorm the perfect way to bring the Sanderson Sisters back to life. After all, it has been 30 years since we saw the rising of the sun — spoilers! — turn Winnie into stone and Sarah and Mary into dust. Bette Midler explained one idea that was tossed around for the Hocus Pocus sequel that would have tied in with the original movie.

The first at look of Hocus Pocus 2 shows the Sanderson Sisters are back together with the OG actors reprising their wicked roles. According to EW, the three leading ladies discussed with the film's director Anne Fletcher what to include in this Disney sequel when it was coming together. Midler shared one idea that would have tied in with the original.  

I can imagine a scene like this maybe at the beginning of the movie since the last film ended with the witches’ demise. Kathy Najimy, who played Mary Sanderson, said they had phone discussions about narratives and character arcs, that while they wanted the “delicious” flavor of the previous film, they also wanted to bring something new to it too.

While the original film’s opening sequence showed what led to the initial demise of the Sanderson Sisters back in the 1600s, Anne Fletcher explained the sequel’s first scene will tie back even further into history.

While we know the original actors playing the sisters will come back, and there will be a few more ties. However, the character of Allison will not be making an appearance as well as another popular Hocus Pocus character Binx played by Jason Marsden won't be returning either. The sibling duo of Max and Dani played by Thora Birch and Omri Katz will not be in the sequel either. Fletcher’s reasoning for why these OG stars are not returning is because she couldn't work them into the film. If it was up to me, I would have had the original characters somehow help the young leads of this long-awaited sequel take on the sinister sisters like they did 30 years ago. But on the bright side, Doug Jones will be back to play the lovable zombie Billy Butcherson. So, at least the '90s generation will have that to look forward to.

Like all nostalgic films that make a long-awaited return, I’m confident there will be a mix of old and new flavors that audiences today will enjoy. You can find Hocus Pocus 2 on your Disney+ subscription on September 30.

Hocus Pocus was the sequel that definitely wasn't originally expected. While the first movie was initially a box office bomb with mixed reviews, annual TV airings of this Disney fantasy flick made it a Halloween classic. Winifred Sanderson actress Bette Midler recently recalled pitching Hocus Pocus 2 for years, and the fun moment she realized it could really happen. 

The Disney classic that focuses on three witches from 300 years ago coming back to life has ended up being a part of the Halloween tradition, with its 25th anniversary on Freeform bringing in 8.2 million viewers. In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Bette Midler spoke about the fun way she discovered that the sequel to Hocus Pocus could actually become a reality.  

So that explains how she was able to revive her character when she sported her signature costume at the annual Halloween gala for the New York Restoration Project. It proves that not all actresses can leave the roles that helped them become iconic, even if it was over thirty years ago. There have been multiple attempts to revive the Sanderson Sisters for another movie. Midler has said for years how much she wanted a Hocus Pocus sequel. And she wasn’t happy when the studio was flirting with doing a remake instead. Can you blame her? No one can play the conniving yet zany leader of the Sanderson Sisters like Bette Midler can. 

As soon as it was confirmed that the original Hocus Pocus cast signed on for the sequel (and luckily not a remake), it was time for Hocus Pocus fans everywhere to plan a watch party. A first look revealed that clearly no time has passed as not only Midler but her co-stars Sarah Jessica Parker and Kathy Najimy still look like their magical selves from thirty years ago. The First Wive's Club actress prepared to bring her character back to life again by perfecting her Old English accent and contributing the suggestion for the Sanderson Sisters to sing two big musical numbers. We’ll just have to see for ourselves if any of these new covers can top the legendary show-stopper “I Put a Spell On You.”

If Hocus Pocus 2 becomes a success, it’s a pondering question if this means we’ll get more movies. The “Wind Beneath My Wings” singer says that of course she’d be willing to sign on, but feels she doesn’t know how there could be more films. But that doesn't mean she won't continue taking any opportunity she can to reunite with her on-screen sisters.

It’s a good thing that Bette Midler discovered all of the Hocus Pocus merchandise surrounding the beloved Halloween classic or fans may not have gotten a sequel without her persistence. Watch Bette Midler revisit one of her most memorable roles in Hocus Pocus 2 coming to your Disney+ subscription on September 30th. Check out all the upcoming horror movies coming up during spooky season. 

Many OG Hocus Pocus fans already know some OG stars aren’t returning for the sequel outside of the Sanderson Sisters, including Thackery Binx voice actor Jason Marsden. It makes sense given the witchy trio will be terrorizing a new set of Salem teenagers. But there was still a part of the fandom who was hoping some original castmates would make cameos in some way. Now, we know that’s not happening. I’m sad about some OG stars aren’t coming back for the sequel, but now, there’s an obvious reason that makes sense.

While Bette Midler, Kathy Najimy, and Sarah Jessica Parker have already wrapped the bewitching sequel, EW revealed that OG Hocus Pocus stars Omri Katz and Vinessa Shaw won’t be back as the production couldn’t figure out a way to fit Max Dennison and Allison Watts into the plot. Director Anne Fletcher admitted bringing the beloved characters back might’ve been a distraction to the new storyline even in cameo appearances. Fletcher tapped into her inner fan as she explained how hard she and the writers worked to bring the OG stars into Hocus Pocus 2.

I, for one, am incredibly grateful that Fletcher and the writers decided not to sour the original film by squeezing in Max and Allison just for nostalgia's sake. Having them in the background would’ve been insulting. Of course, reboots or sequels in the past have done so without considering the fans’ thoughts. So I’m thankful for that. It would’ve still been nice to see the lead characters as adults now.

Katz and Shaw weren’t the only OG Hocus Pocus stars who won’t be in the sequel. Disney did try to get another original star Thora Birch to reprise her role as Max’s sister Dani, but scheduling conflicts prevented her cameo from happening. Even Larry Bagby and Tobias Jelinek, Max’s bullies Ice and Jay, respectively, aren’t in the fold. But things aren’t all bad as Doug Jones will appear as Winfried’s zombified ex-lover Billy Butcherson in Hocus Pocus 2. Of course, the OG cast has been busy since the 1993 cult classic. 

Out of the HP alum who aren’t appearing in the sequel, I would’ve loved to see Dani Dennison comes back in some capacity. Given her experience with the Sanderson Sisters in the first film, she could’ve been a valuable resource to the new sources of the magical trio. It would’ve been great to see Dani and the new kids fight together to send the witchy sisters back to the afterlife. Fans could’ve seen how different or similar adult Dani would be three decades after the original Hocus Pocus. Seeing an adult Dani may have filled in some blanks about her brother, Allison, and other Salem residents. Unfortunately, we wouldn’t get the chance to catch up with her or some OG stars.

While Midler, Najimy, Parker, and Jones are the only original members to return, the new additions to the cast include Ted Lasso’s Sam Richardson and Hannah Waddingham and Veep alum Tony Hale. Belissa Escobedo, Lilia Buckingham, and Whitney Peak will play the teenagers chased down by the Sandersons in Hocus Pocus 2. The long-awaited sequel will drop on Disney+ on September 30. While you wait for the film, check out the best movies on the streamer.

After 29 years, the Sanderson sisters are finally coming back, and their return is anticipated with tremendous excitement (albeit perhaps not by the residents of Salem, Massachusetts that they plan to cast their dastardly spells on). Fans of the original Hocus Pocus have spent decades requesting a sequel starring Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Kathy Najimy, and at long last Hocus Pocus 2 will be premiering this fall. There are great expectation for wonderful and creepy on-screen magic in the movie – and executive producer Adam Shankman makes it sound like there was plenty of magic on the set of the sequel as well.

Shankman recently got the opportunity to hype audiences for Hocus Pocus 2 via an interview with People, and it seems his primary mode of doing so was celebrating the reunion of the movie's three biggest stars/antagonists. The filmmaker essentially likened Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Kathy Najimy being back together as a kind of time travel, and it sounds like it didn't take any effort whatsoever for them to recreate their characters' wonderful dynamic. Said Shankman,

Just looking at the image from Hocus Pocus 2 at the top of this article is somewhat surreal, as the brilliant costuming and make-up perfectly illustrate the idea that no time at all has passed for these characters. Hopefully someone was running a camera behind the scenes when all three of them first arrived on set in full wardrobe as Winifred, Sarah and Mary, and hopefully we'll get to enjoy that footage either before or after the sequel's arrival. (One would expect it to be just as wholesome as Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Kathy Najimy's trailer reaction video)

Directed by Anne Fletcher, Hocus Pocus 2 is a real-time sequel in the sense that the story will pick up 29 years after the heroes from the original lit the legendary Black Flame candle and then defeated the Sanderson sisters (stopping them from magically stealing the youth from the children of Salem). Whitney Peak, Lilia Buckingham, and Belissa Escobedo will play a new trio of teenagers who accidentally resurrect the terrible witches, and the responsibility falls to stop their nefarious plotting before it's too late. 

The debut teaser trailer for Hocus Pocus 2 landed online last month, and you can give it a watch below:

In addition to featuring Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Kathy Najimy, Doug Jones is back reprising his role as the undead Billy Butcherson, and new cast members include Tony Hale and Sam Richardson. You can learn more about the new Hocus Pocus movie with our Quick Things guide.

Hocus Pocus 2 will be premiere online on September 30, but don't wait until then to pick up a Disney+ subscription. You can not only watch the first movie to prepare for the sequel, but there are plenty of other great original and classic Disney films on the streaming service.

To discover all of the new movies heading to theaters and streaming between now and the end of December, head over to our 2022 Movie Release Calendar. 

The Sanderson Sisters are back with Hocus Pocus 2 and looking better than ever! Seriously, it feels like it hasn’t been 29 years since the last time these Salem witches rose from the ground. The spooky trailer for Hocus Pocus 2 has just come out with the most wholesome reactions from the original cast who are coming back as the Sanderson Sisters.

The plot of Hocus Pocus 2 is similar to the plot of the previous film where a group of kids attempts to revive the Sanderson Sisters on Halloween Night thinking it’s not going to work, only for them to be fooled when they come back to life. Walt Disney Pictures released a video where the original Hocus Pocus cast shared their reactions to the newly released trailer. Take a look:

Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Kathy Najimy had the most praiseworthy reactions watching the trailer of their new movie with a ton of laughs and thunderous applause at the end. The Beaches actress called the look of the black flame candle “fabulous” and all three of them loved the tagline “some legends never die.” You can tell that these three on-screen sisters took pride in their newest Halloween flick together.

So, here’s what we know so far about the long-awaited Hocus Pocus sequel. You can watch the Sanderson sisters flying to your TV screen on your Disney+ subscription this Fall. And apparently, we have the seal of approval from Bette Midler about the sequel’s “pretty great” plot. So even if it ends up being a rehash of the first movie, I assume we’ll still get some fresh new elements added to the story. Hocus Pocus 2 may not have Kenny Ortega coming back to direct, but Anne Fletcher will be filling in those shoes who’s directed Step Up, The Proposal, and Dumplin’. So I guarantee this choreographer/director will give the film the wholesome Disney tone that the original fantasy-comedy film had.

As for who you should expect to return for the spooktacular sequel, it’s a given that the original wicked trio who played the Sanderson Sisters is coming back. It doesn’t appear that Vinessa Shaw who played Allison in Hocus Pocus will be making an appearance as well as Omri Katz who played Max. Thora Birch was originally supposed to come back as an adult Dani, but she had to drop out due to scheduling conflicts. However, we will see the return of Doug Jones a.k.a. fan-favorite character Billy the zombie.

You, of course, can’t have a sequel without new additions. Veep star Sam Richardson joined the cast as well as Gossip Girls revival Whitney Peak, Brat TV’s Lilia Buckingham, and Blue Beetle’s Belissa Escobedo to play the high school students. Expect to see some Drag Race queens make an appearance as well as Arrested Development’s Tony Hale and Ted Lasso’s Hannah Waddingham to round up the updated cast list.

Now that you’ve seen the trailer reactions from the OGs, this should convince you enough to add Hocus Pocus 2 to your watchlist this Fall. See for yourself the movie in full as Halloween favorite Hocus Pocus 2 comes back to your screens on September 30th. 

While there are countless Christmas movies, there are far less surrounding the festival events of Halloween. But then there's Disney's 1993 fan favorite flick Hocus Pocus. Generations were brought up on the campy classic, and so the news of a sequel with the original cast broke the internet. The first Hocus Pocus 2 trailer has brought back the Sanderson Sisters, so guard your children and draw a circle of salt around you.

Not much is known about the contents of Hocus Pocus 2, but it's expected to hit Disney+ in time for the titular Holiday. As you can see above, the first trailer revealed the release date as September 30th, while also featuring some limited footage of the great Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Kathy Najimy. Bring on the musical numbers! Let's break down what we're being shown here. 

The first footage from Hocus Pocus 2 focuses on the new young protagonists who will seemingly be facing off agains the Sanderson Sisters throughout the streaming project's mysterious runtime. The trio is played by Whitney Peak, Lilia Buckingham and Belissa Escobedo. They attempt to use magic themselves, and end up lighting the infamous black flame candle in the process. And just like that (lol) the witches return.

That's when the three returning iconic actresses pop up for a brief but thrilling scene in Hocus Pocus 2's teaser. The pair are asked if they're looking for the stage, resulting in Winnie saying "always" as her sisters smile in response. It's limited footage, but that doesn't make it any less thrilling. After all, their performance of "I Put A Spell On You" is one oft he most iconic moments from the original 1993 movie. 

With Hocus Pocus 2 just a few months away from its streaming release, it makes sense that Disney+ might be kickstarting the movie's marketing campaign. In addition to the trailer, there was also a cool looking poster shared, as you can see below.

You know you've played an iconic role when just your silhouette is recognizable. That's certainly the case for Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Kathy Najimy who seemingly slipped right back into their characters as Winnie, Sarah, and Mary Sanderson respectively. While the footage is limited and the details of Hocus Pocus' sequel are still being kept under wraps, the project is one that's been decades in the making, as the original became more of a cult classic. 

Aside from the three witches, Hocus Pocus 2 will also feature the return of Doug Jones as Billy Butcherson. There are also some familiar faces in the form of Veep's Tony Hale and Sam Richardson (the latter of which appears in this teaser). Ted Lasso standout Hannah Waddingham also has a role in the project. 

Hocus Pocus 2 will hit Disney+ on September 30th. In the meantime, check out the 2022 movie release dates to plan your next movie experience. 

It has been nearly 30 years since the Sanderson sisters, played by Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Kathy Najimy, were resurrected and brought thrills and chills to the town of Salem, Massachusetts, in the beloved Disney Halloween classic Hocus Pocus. And even though the three witches met a rather unfortunate fate way back in the fall of 1993, the Sandersons will be back in the flesh in the upcoming Hocus Pocus 2. 

This Halloween season, the long-in-the-works sequel will bring back the iconic witches, who will return to their old haunting grounds once more to terrorize a new crop of curious schoolchildren, and there’s a lot we already know. Grab your broom and lace up your Nike cross-trainers because we’re going back to Salem to see what’s going on with what could possibly be one of the best Disney+ movies.

Hocus Pocus 2 Will Premiere In Fall 2022 As A Disney+ Exclusive

For what seems like forever (but not as long as the Sanderson Sisters’ 300-year exile), the Hocus Pocus 2 release date remained a mystery, with the only concrete information being that the movie would be a Disney+ exclusive and premiere at some point in Fall 2022. Well, EW confirmed that not only will the long-awaited sequel premiere this fall, it will make its big premiere September 30th on the popular streaming service. Talk about one heck of a way to kick off the Halloween season. I guess we can add this to the list of movies and shows to stream on Disney to get into the Halloween spirit.

Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, And Kathy Najimy Are Returning As The Sanderson Sisters

It would be difficult to make a Hocus Pocus sequel without the O.G. witches, but luckily that’s a problem we won’t have to face when the Sanderson sisters return later this year. Disney has announced that Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Kathy Najimy will be returning as Winifred, Sarah, and Mary Sanderson for Hocus Pocus 2, terrifying a new generation of kids in the process. Parker was quick to share her enthusiasm with her Instagram followers in November 2021 when the actress revealed rehearsals were underway on the upcoming Disney+ movie:

But, the bewitched triple threat won’t be the only members of the original cast to return for another tale, as The Shape of Water star Doug Jones will be reprising his undead character, Billy Butcherson, years after returning to his grave.

The Hocus Pocus 2 Cast Also Includes Tony Hale, Sam Richardson, And Hannah Waddingham

In addition to the returning characters, the Hocus Pocus 2 cast will also see some new faces, including three of the brightest stars in the comedy world right now. In November 2021, Disney announced that former Veep stars Tony Hale and Sam Richardson, as well as Ted Lasso standout and Primetime Emmy Award-winner Hannah Waddingham, would all be involved with the upcoming sequel, though only Hale’s character, Salem mayor Jeffrey Traske, has been revealed at this time. However, Hale revealed that he will also be playing an “evil reverend” when speaking with Variety at the Being the Ricardos premiere in December 2021.

The Hocus Pocus 2 cast also includes Whitney Peak, Lilia Buckingham, and Belissa Escobedo as three high school students who find themselves going head-to-head with the returning Sanderson sisters. Juju Brener, Froy Gutierrez, Taylor Paige Henderson, and Nina Kitchen are all set to appear in undisclosed roles.

The Movie Will Follow Three High School Students As They Attempt To Stop The Recently Returned Sanderson Sisters

Hocus Pocus 2 will see the return of the Sanderson sisters 29 years after they were vanquished before they could carry out their plans and become immortal. The circumstances surrounding the return of the trio of witches, and how they were able to come back after being turned to dust all those years ago, remains to be seen. This time around, three high school students will come together and find a way to defeat the Sandersons once and for all before they can put their latest plan into motion before the stroke of midnight on All Hallow’s Eve.

Bette Midler Was Floored After Reading An Outline Of The Story

There had been talk of a Hocus Pocus sequel for years following the first movie’s release, but nothing ever materialized. That all changed within the past few years, and the spooky witch train has officially left the station. When the project started to really gain momentum in late 2020, Bette Midler had a chat with People, in which she revealed how she and her co-stars reacted when they read an outline of Hocus Pocus 2, stating:

And, while not much has been revealed about the specifics of the Hocus Pocus 2 story, hopefully Bette Midler’s enthusiasm means we’ll get to see them on their trusty brooms once more.

Hocus Pocus 2 Is Being Helmed By Dumplin' Director Anne Fletcher

The first Hocus Pocus is one of the best Kenny Ortega movies, but the choreographer-turned-director won’t be back to helm the upcoming sequel. It’s not all bad news, though, because Deadline reported in May 2021 that Hocus Pocus 2 will be directed by Anne Fletcher, who followed a similar career path to her predecessor. Over the years, Fletcher has served as a choreographer on movies like Hairspray (2007), The 40-Year-Old Virgin, and Step Up 2: The Streets, while also directing Step Up, The Proposal, and Dumplin’, to name only a few.

The Disney+ Movie Started Filming In Rhode Island In October 2021

After years of buzz surrounding Hocus Pocus 2, production on the long-awaited sequel reportedly kicked off in Rhode Island in fall 2021, bringing us one step closer to seeing the Sandersons back in action. According to What’s Up Newp, a Newport, Rhode Island, publication, cameras started rolling in the smallest state in the union on October 18, 2021.

Initial principal photography wrapped in early 2022, according to tweets by Bette Midler and then later by Anne Fletcher. There have reportedly been re-shoots, but nothing has been confirmed by the production team, cast, or Disney, and the film appears to be on track for its September 30 premiere on Disney+.

There is still quite a bit we don’t yet know about Hocus Pocus 2 (like when we’ll get a trailer), but make sure to check back, because there will surely be more updates on the project and all the other upcoming Disney movies in the very near future. In the meantime, take a look at our guide to all the other 2022 new movie releases. 

The Sanderson sisters are coming back! It’s been nearly 30 years since Hocus Pocus entered our lives and became required viewing each Halloween. Now there will be a sequel to add to your annual holiday traditions, as Hocus Pocus 2 is set to hit Disney+ sometime this fall. Filming wrapped in January on the movie that will see three high school students joining forces to stop the soul-sucking trio in modern-day Salem.

The actresses who portrayed the three witches in the first movie will reprise their roles, and it appears we’ll see Winnie, Sarah and Mary in a couple of other iterations as well. The veteran actresses are joined by some fresh new talent that should make fans more excited, if that’s even possible. Let’s take a look at the updated cast list for the highly anticipated Hocus Pocus 2. 

Bette Midler (Winifred 'Winnie' Sanderson) 

The legend herself, Bette Midler, is back as Winnie, the oldest Sanderson sister. After nearly three decades, she’ll certainly be looking to have more children … on toast! A star of stage and screen for the past seven decades, Midler is known for movies such as The First Wives Club, 2019’s The Addams Family and its 2021 sequel, in which she voiced Grandmama. She most recently appeared on Broadway in 2017 in Hello, Dolly!.

Sarah Jessica Parker (Sarah Sanderson)

Sarah Jessica Parker plays the youngest sister, Sarah, and yes, she’s still beautiful and boys will still love her! This is the second iconic role that Parker has revisited lately, as she’s also currently starring in HBO Max’s And Just Like That…, the sequel series to the HBO hit Sex and the City. Since Hocus Pocus, Parker has starred in movies like The First Wives Club (with Bette Midler), Mars Attacks!, The Family Stone and two Sex and the City movies. She’s no stranger to Broadway herself, as she debuted at age 11 in The Innocents, and is currently starring opposite husband Matthew Broderick in Plaza Suite.

Kathy Najimy (Mary Sanderson)

Rounding out the starring trio is the middle Sanderson sister, Mary, and Kathy Najimy will return in the role of the witch known for sniffing out children. Outside of Hocus Pocus, Najimy is well-known as the uber-optimistic Sister Mary Patrick in Sister Act, and the voice of Peggy on King of the Hill. She’s been in a number of movies, including Hope Floats, Dumplin’ and Single All the Way, and she also held recurring roles in such TV series as Veronica’s Closet, Numb3rs, Younger and Veep (which means this sequel will reunite her with some familiar faces).

Doug Jones (William 'Billy' Butcherson)

The three leading witches aren’t the only familiar faces returning for the sequel. Doug Jones will also be seen again as Billy Butcherson, Winifred’s ex-boyfriend, whom she poisoned after she found out he cheated on her with her sister Sarah. Winnie brought him back as a zombie in Hocus Pocus, and apparently he’s still amongst the undead nearly three decades later. Jones is well known for his disguised roles, and he's a frequent collaborator with filmmaker Guillermo del Toro, appearing in the films Mimic, Hellboy, Pan's Labyrinth, Hellboy II: The Golden Army, Crimson Peak, and The Shape of Water. He also plays Saru on Star Trek: Discovery and has a recurring role as Baron Afanas on What We Do in the Shadows.

Taylor Paige Henderson (Young Winnie Sanderson)

In her first major movie role, Taylor Paige Henderson will play Young Winnie. Taylor previously voiced Earwig in the movie Earwig and the Witch. I wonder how this sequel will utilize the witches in their younger years.

Juju Brener (Young Sarah Sanderson)

Playing Young Sarah is Juju Brene, who has been acting in small roles since 2016. She played Lily in the 2021 Morgan Freeman film Vanquish and was in Miley Cyrus’ music video for “Younger Now.” In addition to joining the Hocus Pocus franchise, Juju is set to star in the book-to-movie adaptation of The Furry Fortune. 

Nina Kitchen (Young Mary Sanderson)

Newcomer Nina Kitchen will play Young Mary in Hocus Pocus 2. This will be Nina’s first acting credit. Fingers crossed this launches her to stardom!

Whitney Peak (Becca)

Whitney Peak will play Becca, one of the three high school students who will attempt to stop the Sanderson sisters in Hocus Pocus 2. Peak can currently be seen in the HBO Max revival of Gossip Girl as Zoya. Before she joined the ranks of Manhattan’s private school elite, Peak played Alpha Jessica in the Apple TV+ mystery drama Home Before Dark and recurred as Judith on Chilling Adventures of Sabrina. She also played Stella in Aaron Sorkin’s Molly’s Game.

Lilia Buckingham (Cassie)

The second teen who will be going up against the veteran witches is Lilia Buckingham, who will play Cassie. Buckingham, a former competitive dancer, got her first acting credit from a small role on an episode of Modern Family. She then began working with the Gen Z media network Brat TV, where she appeared in series including Chicken Girls, Total Eclipse and Zoe Valentine.

Belissa Escobedo (Izzy) 

Rounding out the high school trio is Belissa Escobedo as Izzy. Escobedo got her start on the 2020 ABC comedy The Baker and the Beauty, where she played little sister Natalie. Following that series’ cancellation, she had a small role on American Horror Story and played Bianca in the Hulu original movie Sex Appeal. She's also in the cast of the upcoming DC Comics movie Blue Beetle.

Tony Hale (Jefry Traske)

Tony Hale joins the Hocus Pocus 2 cast as Jefry Traske, the mayor of Salem. Hale is well-known for his comedic turns as Buster Bluth on Arrested Development and Gary Walsh on Veep, but also had notable roles in The Mysterious Benedict Society and Chuck. He’s also a notable voice actor, playing the voice as the inquisitive Forky from Toy Story 4 and Forky Asks a Question, and his other voice work includes HouseBroken, Crossing Swords, Rugrats, Harley Quinn and many more. Hale's movie roles include Being the Ricardos, Clifford the Big Red Dog and Love, Simon. 

Sam Richardson

Tony Hale’s Veep and HouseBroken co-star Sam Richardson will also appear in Hocus Pocus 2. Richardson stars in The Afterparty and also lends his voice to a number of movie and TV projects, including Ralph Breaks the Internet, M.O.D.O.K., Woke, BoJack Horseman and Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. He co-created and co-starred in Detroiters with Tim Robinson and has appeared on Robinson’s Netflix sketch comedy series I Think You Should Leave. Richardson has appeared in films including The Tomorrow War, Hooking Up, Promising Young Woman, 2016’s Ghostbusters, Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates and Horrible Bosses 2. 

Hannah Waddingham

Emmy winner Hannah Waddingham, or should we say Rebecca Welton from Ted Lasso, joins this witchy sequel in an unknown role. She appeared in Seasons 5 and 6 of Game of Thrones as Septa Unella. Waddingham is also a star of the stage, appearing on both London's West End and New York's Broadway. She’s been in productions including Spamalot, Into the Woods, The Wizard of Oz, and Kiss Me, Kate. 

Froy Gutierrez

Most recently, Froy Gutierrez played Jamie Henson on Freeform’s Cruel Summer, and he’s appeared in the Hulu series Light as a Feather, MTV’s Teen Wolf in Season 6, and the first season of One Day at a Time on Netflix. Hocus Pocus 2 will surely serve as a way to further boost his acting profile.

Ginger Minj (Drag Winnie)

Drag Race star Ginger Minj will reportedly play a drag queen version of Winifred in Hocus Pocus 2. She was the runner-up on Season 7 of RuPaul’s Drag Race and then competed on Seasons 2 and 6 of RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars. Minj has appeared in three Netflix productions — Dumplin’, AJ and the Queen and the animated series Super Drags. She has released three studio albums, and Kathy Najimy made a guest appearance on her music video for “Gummy Bear.”

Kornbread Jeté (Drag Mary)

Kornbread Jeté competed on Season 14 of RuPaul’s Drag Race early in 2022. She will portray a drag version of Mary, and I'm looking forward to seeing how that turns out.

Kahmora Hall (Drag Sarah)

Playing the drag queen version of Sarah is Kahmora Hall. She was the first contestant eliminated from Season 13 of RuPaul’s Drag Race, but she returned as a guest for an episode of Season 14.

With this great mix of old favorites and new characters in the Hocus Pocus universe, it’s no wonder fans are so excited for this fall. Unfortunately, it doesn't look like we’ll see Max, Allison or Dani in the new film, despite Vinessa Shaw expressing willingness to return. Stay tuned to CinemaBlend for more updates on the movie, which will be available for streaming with a Disney+ subscription. In the meantime, check out the other Disney+ movies available now.

Since Disney+ launched years ago, there’s been a steady stream of thrilling original content. One of the most highly anticipated Disney+ movies coming down the line is Hocus Pocus 2, which is a sequel to the 1993 cult classic. The original trio of stars will be back as the Sanderson Sisters, including the legendary Bette Midler. Now that Hocus Pocus 2 has wrapped, we can see the cute way the Tony, Grammy, and Golden Globe winning star celebrated.

The original Hocus Pocus wasn’t initially successful upon its release, but it’s since grown into a Halloween institution that’s constantly streamed and played on syndication during October. The House of Mouse is making a bold swing by producing a streaming sequel, but fans can’t wait to see Bette Midler reunited with the likes of Sarah Jessica Parker and Kathy Najimy. It turns out that the trio were made into cookies to celebrate the movie wrapping, as Midler shared on social media:

I mean, how cute is that? While the Sanderson Sisters are more hungry for souls than treats, perhaps the trio of witches would make an exception with this cookie. Because who doesn’t want to take a bite into the Hocus Pocus legends? Preferably with “I Put A Spell On You” playing in the background.

Bette Midler shared the news about wrapping on Hocus Pocus 2 over on her personal Twitter. She’s super active on social media, often using it to directly communicate with her generations of fans. And the highly anticipated Disney sequel has never felt more real after learning that Ms. Midler has wrapped her role as Winifred Sanderson Now the question is: what song will she be belting out this time around?

Production has been underway for Hocus Pocus 2 since back in October, which definitely seems like an appropriate time to jump back into the Halloween spirit. There have been some videos from the set circulating around the internet, as fans are eager to see what director Anne Fletcher is bringing to the table with the mysterious sequel. After all, this new installment is set nearly 3 decades after the events of the beloved original.

Luckily for Hocus Pocus fans, (and really who isn’t one?) the trio of Sanderson Sisters aren’t the only returning actors appearing in the Disney+ sequel. Legendary character actor Doug Jones will also return as William "Billy" Butcherson. Fans are still holding out hope for more cameos, like Vinessa Shaw’s Allison or Thora Birch’s Dani. We’ll just have to wait and see what Disney magic is coming.

Hocus Pocus 2 is currently expected to arrive on Disney+ sometime this year. In the meantime, check out the 2022 movie release dates to plan your next movie experience. 

The Sanderson Sisters are plotting their return to Salem nearly thirty years after the release of the original Hocus Pocus, and we couldn’t be more excited to see them run amuck, amuck, amuck again for the sequel! Yes, Bette Midler’s Winifred, Sarah Jessica Parker’s Sarah and Kathy Najimy’s Mary have been reunited,go and as one source spotted on the set of the film, the movie is staying practical with how the flying is filmed on set. 

These days, CGI has become the primary way action in movies are shot. Oftentimes it's less expensive and easier for a production to complete its vision on a computer screen than come up with creative ways to do it through building sets, mechanisms and such. The production for Hocus Pocus 2 has been underway in Rhode Island since last month, and ScreenRant’s Robert Peterpaul snapped a photo that reveals that the Sanderson sisters are filming their flying scenes in a cool and practical way. 

How Hocus Pocus 2 Is Filming Its Flying Scenes 

The set photo shows a large truck that has three mechanical poles lodged on the front with somewhat of a seat for the actors to stay put as they fly their brooms! The truck is completely blue screen except for the poles that will act as their brooms. While ScreenRant was on the set, a crew member confirmed that the three seats with poles are meant for the three Sanderson Sisters (played by Midler, Parker and Najimy), who will be able to “fly” through the air at a controlled speed on the top of the blue screen truck. 

This is exciting because these days, it’s not necessarily typical for practical elements to be involved in every production. Plus, the actors behind the Sanderson Sisters are massive stars and not as young as they used to be. We wouldn’t expect them to get on the top of a moving truck. But, 75-year-old Bette Midler, 56-year-old Sarah Jessica Parker and 64-year-old Kathy Najimy are capable actresses that look to be going all in on reprising their iconic roles. 

How The Original Hocus Pocus Filmed Its Flying Scenes 

As we look forward to Hocus Pocus 2, let’s check back on how the Sanderson Sisters filmed those flying scenes in the early ‘90s. Wires were used to suspend the actors in the air, which would sometimes leave them hanging in the air “for hours,” according to Kathy Najimy. Bette Midler and Najimy have spoken on it before, with Midler calling the experience on the wires “one of the greatest joys” she’d ever experienced as an actor. She described it as a dance, but also a bit of a struggle not to be “turned upside down.” 

We cannot wait to see how the finished Hocus Pocus 2 turns out! Of course, that’ll have to wait until Halloween season 2022, when it premieres on Disney+. 

Almost three decades have passed since Hocus Pocus saw the town of Salem, Massachusetts revisited by the infamous Sanderson Sisters. Through a mixture of evil and shenanigans, the trio ran amok in the then modern world of 1993, only to be vanquished by the forces of good. Then again, evil never dies when there’s a good excuse to return, and Bette Midler, Kathy Najimy, and Sarah Jessica Parker have indeed returned. Better still, we now have our first look at Hocus Pocus 2 has the Sanderson Sisters back together again, and it looks like no time has passed at all. 

Filming is currently underway on Disney+’s long awaited legacy-quel Hocus Pocus 2, and already it looks like there’s some magic afoot. The streaming service has put out its first look at director Anne Fletcher’s in progress, as part of today’s Disney+ Day celebrations. Bette Midler also shared the photo, courtesy of her Twitter post below, which shows that these broads are ready to go out trick or treating for the souls of children yet again: 

Obviously it’s a bit too early to hope for a trailer or sizzle reel for a movie that’s just getting underway. That being said, having a first look photo this early on in the process is a good sign that Disney+ understands how anticipated Hocus Pocus 2 actually is. With subscribers old and new looking forward to seeing the Sanderson Sisters terrorize a new cast of Salem’s citizens, today’s big celebration was the perfect occasion to drop such a photo.

Those of you hoping to catch a glimpse of newcomers like Veep’s Sam Richardson, or maybe a hint of the fiery stunts that are set to take place in Hocus Pocus 2, will unfortunately have to wait. The same wisdom goes for anyone hoping to have the plot details floating around the internet to be confirmed, as we haven’t really got that information either. Seriously though, seeing the Sanderson Sisters back together again feels right. 

We’re in that sweet spot where we’re still reminiscing about Halloween, but might not be ready to dive into the holiday frenzy of streaming originals like 8-Bit Christmas just yet. While Hocus Pocus 2 is just getting underway, the road to its frightfully funny debut seems to have gotten off to a great start. ‘Tis time to start getting hyped, dear readers, as there’s plenty of time to discover the next chapter of secrets in this seasonal favorite of families far and wide. 

Hocus Pocus 2 is currently in production, for a Disney+ debut at some point in the Fall 2022 release window. If you can’t wait that long to see the Black Flame Candle lit again, you can always revisit Hocus Pocus on Disney+ in the meantime! Or, if you’re ready to head out to the movies again, check out the 2021 release schedule and see what debuts are still waiting around the corner. 

Every October folks celebrate the Halloween season. And for many that includes a year watch of the classic Disney movie Hocus Pocus. A sequel is currently in development with the trio of original stars, to the delight of generations of fans. But will Hocus Pocus 2 feature Allison and her yabbos? Here’s the latest from the actress.

Actress Vinessa Shaw played Allison in the beloved 1993 original Hocus Pocus movie, rocking an A+ cardigan in the process. Not much is known about the upcoming Disney+ sequel, except that Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Kathy Najimy will return as the Sanderson Sisters. Shaw was recently asked if she’d also be reprising her role, responding with:

Say it ain’t so! Because while the Sanderson Sisters obviously make Hocus Pocus what it was, the trio of young protagonists are also iconic. Vinessa Shaw brought heart and strength to Allison, but it looks like she might not be involved in the sequel. At least, not yet.

Vinessa Shaw’s comments to ComicBook might disappoint Hocus Pocus fans out there who are eager for any information about the upcoming streaming sequel. The movie is currently expected to begin filming, as videos of the set have begun to pop up online. So if Disney is going to include Allison in the narrative, they’d presumably have to nail down Shaw sooner rather than later. Because who else could make a salt shaker look like a bonafide weapon against the witches?

Almost nothing about Hocus Pocus 2 has been revealed, but anticipation for the long-awaited sequel has been steadily building since it was first announced. The upcoming movie will be helmed by director Adam Shankman (Hairspray, The Wedding Planner) and written by Jen D'Angelo. And as previously mentioned, the trio iconic actresses will be back as the Sanderson Sisters.

Later in her same interview, Vinessa Shaw went on to speak about what it was like working on Hocus Pocus back in the early ‘90s. She also opened up more about the impending sequel, saying:

Same, though. Hocus Pocus 2 will have some big shoes to fill, but the inclusion of the original stars has helped to quel naysayers. Still, it would be even more exciting to see other original stars pop up like Vinessa Shaw’s Allison or Thora Birch’s Dani. We’ll keep our fingers (and dead man’s toes) crossed.

Hocus Pocus 2 is filming shortly, and the original is available to stream on Disney+. Be sure to check out the 2021 movie release dates to plan your next movie experience.

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Hocus Pocus didn’t make that big of a splash when it hit theaters in 1993, but thanks to its numerous airings each Halloween season on Disney Channel and Freeform, it’s been cemented as a cult classic for a while now. Well, almost 30 years after Hocus Pocus’ release, it’s official: Hocus Pocus 2 is indeed on the way. Not only that, but Bette Middler is confirmed to be returning alongside a few other familiar faces.

While it already been confirmed back in December 2020 that Hocus Pocus 2 was in development for Disney+, the Mouse House announced today that the long-awaited sequel will exclusively premiere on its streaming platform sometime in 2022. For those of you who enjoyed the sorcerous shenanigans of the Sanderson sisters the first time around, you can take comfort that Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker and Kathy Najimy will return as Winifred, Sarah and Mary, respectively. The actresses commemorated their role reprisals with the following social media messages:

There’s also been a few behind-the-scenes changes on Hocus Pocus 2. Previously Hairspray’s Adam Shankman was set to direct the sequel, but because he’s now busy working on Disenchanted, he’s set the helming reins down. That said, he’s still attached as an executive producer alongside Ralph Winter and David Kirschner, while Steven Haft will serve as co-producer. The Proposal’s Anne Fletcher will now take over directorial duties from Shankman. The two of them met in 1990 when they were dancers for that year’s Academy Awards broadcast, and Shankman went on to hire Fletcher as his assistant choreographer for numerous projects. Fletcher made her directorial debut with 2006’s Step Up, which Shankman produced.

So now that all the talent officially announced so far for Hocus Pocus 2 has been laid out, what can we actually expect from the sequel? Well, the Disney+ movie will follow three young women who accidentally bring the Sanderson sisters back to Salem, Massachusetts, and must work fast to prevent the child-hungry witches from “wreaking a new kind of havoc on the world.” Considering how much time has passed since the first Hocus Pocus movie came out, it’ll be interesting to see how Hocus Pocus 2 walks that fine line of appealing to fans of the original, while still being appealing enough to hook in newcomers who’ve never seen the Sanderson sisters’ previous outing.

Now obviously having Winifred, Sarah and Mary Sanderson around is key to delivering a Hocus Pocus sequel, but will any other familiar faces from the first movie return? Officially speaking, no other actors for Hocus Pocus 2 have been announced yet. That being said, Thora Birch, who played Dani Dennison in Hocus Pocus, tweeted this after today’s Hocus Pocus 2 news broke.

While it’s possible that Thora Birch was simply sharing her excitement that Hocus Pocus 2 will come out next year, one can’t help but wonder if she’s teasing a role reprisal. After all, if you want to appeal to as many Hocus Pocus fans as possible, it definitely wouldn’t hurt to bring back more of the original cast, and Birch is still acting nowadays, most recently recurring on The Walking Dead. On the other hand, Omri Katz, who played Deni’s sister Max, retired from acting, but if Birch does indeed return for Hocus Pocus 2, maybe there’s a chance he could step back on screen one more time, even if it’s just for a cameo.

Regardless, as more updates concerning Hocus Pocus 2 roll in, we’ll be sure to let you know. In the meantime, learn what Disney+ (which you can subscribe to with this link) has released this month, and what’s still to come for the remainder of May, with our detailed guide.

While many would agree that (most) Christmas movies are best when reserved for the Christmas season, if you ask me, of all the films set on holidays, Halloween movies are the one kind that can be enjoyed all year long. Just ask any Disney+ subscriber you know how many times they have streamed Hocus Pocus since it launched in November 2019. Include yourself in that pool, too, and make sure to be honest.

But, hey, no need to worry because there is no shame in repeat viewings of one of the most celebrated movies in the realm of both Disney nostalgia and cinematic celebrations of All Hallow’s Eve in history. In fact, it appears that a sequel to Hocus Pocus is in development almost three decades since the original - in which three children accidentally resurrect a trio of legendary witches in Salem - was first released. Can you picture Max Dennison, his sister Dani, and love interest Allison battling the Sanderson Sisters now as adults?

You might be not be able to, come to think of it, if you have not been keeping up with the main Hocus Pocus cast and their subsequent career efforts. Well, since Hocus Pocus 2 seems to really be more than just a bunch of “hocus pocus” after all, let us prepare take a look at the biggest stars of the 1993 family classic and what magic they have been conjuring onscreen or even offscreen, starting with the most wicked witch of them all… in the Disney catalog, that is.

Bette Midler (Winifred Sanderson)

She plays one vile, treacherous villain, but Bette Midler is truly one of the most talented and celebrated stars of the stage and screen with multiple nominations and wins from every major award you could think of. She followed up Hocus Pocus by playing herself on sitcoms like Seinfeld and The Nanny, made enemies with one of her Sanderson Sisters in The First Wives Club, had her own short-lived, self-titled sitcom in the early 2000s, and more recently played real-life activist Bella Abzug in The Glorias. In addition to reprising Grandma in the upcoming The Addams Family 2, Bette Midler also seems ready to bring Winifred Sanderson back from the dead for a new installment.

Sarah Jessica Parker (Sarah Sanderson)

The Sanderson Sister antagonized by Bette Midler in 1995’s The First Wives Club was Sarah - played by a then 27-year-old Sarah Jessica Parker in Hocus Pocus. Her defining role, which won her two Emmys and four Golden Globes, was Carrie Bradshaw on the HBO hit Sex and the City 1998-2004, which she reprised in two feature-length spin-offs, and later found a way to return to her dancing roots by producing the series City.Ballet for AOL. The now 55-year-old actress, and wife of Matthew Broderick, more recently received praise for the another HBO dramedy, Divorce, with Thomas Haden Church as her onscreen ex.

Kathy Najimy (Mary Sanderson)

One of the more underrated performers from Hocus Pocus and comedy in general, I believe, is Kathy Najimy, who reprised her role as Sister Mary Patrick in Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit the same year she played the brighter than Sarah, but still quite dim, Mary Sanderson. Perhaps her best known role is the voice of Peggy on King of the Hill, which she starred on at the same time as shorter-lived fashion industry-based sitcom Veronica’s Closet, but most of her appearances since have been recurring TV roles, like on HBO’s political satire Veep, or additional voice work, like in Wall-E or her reprisal of Mary Sanderson on Robot Chicken.

Omri Katz (Max Dennison)

The peak of Omri Katz’s popularity as an actor is, undoubtedly, playing Max Dennison - the virgin who lit the Black Flame candle - but he is still remembered by some for his earlier role on primetime soap opera Dallas in the late ‘80s and early ‘90s and as the lead of Twin Peaks-esque kids show and cult classic Eerie, Indiana. Following guest spots on Freaks and Geeks and General Hospital, Katz would retire from acting in the early 2000s, but has been sure to acknowledge the fanbase he acquired from Hocus Pocus by participating in recent cast reunions. These days, he makes a living running the cannabis culture business, The Mary Danksters.

Thora Birch (Dani Dennison)

You might not have realized Thora Birch is still acting decades after playing Max’s spunky sister at 11 years old, which led to more mature films like Now & Then, the Academy Award-winning American Beauty, and her Golden Globe-nominated performance in Ghost World opposite Scarlett Johansson. She would also take on spookier circumstances than Hocus Pocus, most notably her recurring role as a leading member of the Whisperers on Season 10 of The Walking Dead. That same year, in 2019, Birch appeared in the critically acclaimed The Last Black Man in San Francisco, so do not be so quick to wonder what happened to Dani Dennison when she has been right under your nose this whole time.

Vinessa Shaw (Allison)

The same goes for Vinessa Shaw, who is now 44, but has barely aged a day since she played Max’s classmate and crush Allison. Like her Hocus Pocus co-star Thora Birch, Shaw would quickly go take on more adult-oriented content, including playing a sex worker in Stanely Kubrick’s Eyes Wide Shut, as well as roles of a scarier variety, like 2006’s The Hills Have Eyes remake or the 2017 Netflix original psychological thriller Clinical. Also, be sure to look out for her next time you watch 2010 western 3:10 to Yuma, Steven Soderbergh’s Side Effects, or Season 2 of the hit Showtime drama Ray Donovan with Liev Schreiber.

Sean Murray (Thackery Binx)

You know, there was a moment during my recent rewatch of Hocus Pocus when I thought that Thackery Binx was played by Devon Sawa of Casper and Final Destination fame until I discovered it was Sean Murray. Though, to be fair, the 43-year-old actor, who first broke into cinema opposite Robert DeNiro and a young Leonardo DiCaprio in This Boy’s Life, looks almost nothing like he did in 1993. The older brother of One Tree Hill star Chad Michael Murray has since found steady work in television, in a recurring role on JAG before becoming a series regular on NCIS as cybersecurity specialist Timothy McGee.

Jason Marsden (Thackery Binx - Cat Voice)

Sean Murray was actually not the only one in Hocus Pocus to play Thackery Binx, whose immortal cat form is actually one of many notable voice acting roles of Jason Marsden (no relation to James, in case you were wondering). While you may have seen his face on ‘90s sitcoms like Boy Meets World, Full House, and Step By Step, his voice is probably a bigger part of your childhood than you realize, having played Max Goof in A Goofy Movie and its sequel, Haku in the English-language version of Spirited Away, and countless animated movies and TV shows based on both DC and Marvel comics. In 2020, he began hosting The Mars Variety Show - a tribute to live performance series of the ’60s and ‘70s he created and streams through YouTube.

Amanda Shepherd (Emily Binx)

There is only one actress, however, who played Thackery Binx’s ill-fated sister Emily in Hocus Pocus’ dark opening and bitter sweet finale, but not the one some previously assumed. While the role was credited online for years to Jodie-Amy Rivera (who was merely an extra), the role was actually the first and last for Amanda Shepherd, who is more recently a Malibu realtor who moonlights as a musician, according to an interview with Cosmopolitan in 2015. Shepherd does take pride in still getting recognized for the Disney role, which she proved by appearing in Freeform’s 2018 TV special celebrating the film’s 25th anniversary.

Doug Jones (Billy Butcherson)

If you failed to recognize Doug Jones in a crowd, he would probably understand since the distinctly limber and chameleonic actor has rarely played a role allowed him to show his face - a reputation that essentially began by playing friendly zombie Billy Butcherson in Hocus Pocus. It is his many, many collaborations with Guillermo del Toro (including Abe Sapien in the Hellboy movies, two roles in Pan’s Labyrinth, and the Amphibian Man in the Oscar-winning The Shape of Water) that made him an influential icon in the craft of hiding in plain sight. Jones currently has a starring role as Saru on the CBS All Access exclusive Star Trek: Discovery and will play Count Orlok in a remake of Nosferatu, which is now in post-production.

Garry Marshall (Devil)

One of the funniest bits in Hocus Pocus is when the Sanderson Sisters mistake a middle-age man dressed in a devilish Halloween costume as their “master.” This was a cameo by actor and filmmaker Garry Marshall, who had previously directed Better Midler’s 1988 film Beaches, Julia Roberts in 1990’s Pretty Woman and, later, Anne Hathaway’s The Princess Diaries movies. In 2016, the final year of his life, Marshall produced and guest starred on a series reboot of The Odd Couple and directed Mother’s Day, the last of his holiday-themed rom-coms, before passing away from pneumonia at 81.

Penny Marshall (The Master’s Wife)

Playing Garry Marshall’s wife in Hocus Pocus (for reasons the world may never understand) was Penny Marshall, his real life sister. The former, Golden Globe-nominated star of Happy Days spin-off Laverne & Shirley would later follow in her older brother’s footsteps with a very successful, if not relatively brief, filmmaking career that ranged from fantasy comedies like Big to historical dramas like A League of Their Own - both of which starred Tom Hanks. Even after giving up directing, Marshall would continue to act every once in a while until her death in 2018, due to complications with diabetes, at the age of 75.

What do you think? Was it a little too weird to you seeing the Marshall siblings play a couple in Hocus Pocus, or is that actually far from your own personal problems with the film? Let us know in the comments and be sure to check back for additional information and updates on the legacy of Disney’s beloved Halloween tradition, as well as even more inside looks into the careers of your favorite movie and TV show cast members, here on CinemaBlend.

Hocus Pocus has become one of those movies that you simply can't escape come Halloween. While the movie wasn't exactly a massive hit in its day, it's well loved by the generation that grew up with it, and by many who have discovered it since. And with any cult classic, a sequel has been one of those things fans have wanted for a long time. And after nearly three decades, that sequel is finally happening, At this point the only thing we know about it is that the original cast of witches, Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Kathy Najimy, will reprise their roles, but as it turns out, those actresses know a bit more.

Bette Midler recently told People that when the three actresses from the original movie were approached to discuss reprising their roles, an outline of the story was given to them, and at least part of the reason they all signed on to the project was that they liked what they saw. According to Midler...

While Bette Midler certainly doesn't reveal any details about what was in that outline, and certainly, a lot may have changed since that original meeting, fans of Hocus Pocus will probably be excited if Bette Midler herself was excited by the ideas that were going into this new sequel.

Seeing the Sanderson sisters together again in a new movie will be a lot of fun, but it sounds like, if the production has its way, they won't be the only ones coming back for part two. Bette Midler says that the project is looking to bring back a lot of people who worked on the first film, especially those behind the camera, in order to do the best possible job recapturing what made the first film so popular. Midler goes on...

At this point, all we know about Hocus Pocus 2, beyond three major casting decisions, is that the movie is slated for release on Disney+, although, with the recent restructuring at Disney, it's possible we could even see the movie go the theatrical route.

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Cult classic movies have a unique life with audiences, often starting with box office disappointment before eventually becoming a beloved part of film history. That was exactly the case with 1993's Hocus Pocus directed by Kenny Ortega. The movie became an iconic piece of the Halloween festivities now, and fans are hoping the Sanderson Sisters will return for a big screen sequel. Bette Midler recently announced a cast reunion, but what does that mean for the possible follow up movie?

Hocus Pocus is an annual viewing experience for both families and '90s kids, who grew up watching the fantasy comedy movie. There's been talks about a sequel over the years, with talent like Sarah Jessica Parker revealing the trio of actresses signed on and waiting for the movie to come together. This year Bette Midler has cooked up a reunion called In "Search of the Sanderson Sisters", which will reunite the trio of actresses for charity. But that leaves even more questions about the possible sequel. You can check out Midler's announcement post below.

Bette Midler put a spell on us decades ago, and we're still hers. The above image shows Midler back in costume alongside Sarah Jessica Parker and Kathy Najimy as the three Sanderson Sisters. But this reunion isn't actually for the impending sequel, and I have to wonder if/how it might affect that developing Disney project.

The above image comes to us from Bette Midler's personal Instagram page, and shows the three Hocus Pocus stars back in costume filming new material. The upcoming virtual "Search of the Sanderson Sisters" is a fundraiser for the New York Restoration Project. Midler regularly uses social media to directly communicate with the public, and this reunion tease essentially broke the internet. But the future of Hocus Pocus 2 remains to be seen.

Hocus Pocus is currently available on Disney+. You can use this link to sign up for the streaming service.

The last we heard about Hocus Pocus' developing sequel, it was being written by Workaholics' Jen D’Angelo and produced by The Notebook's Lynn Harris. Nothing is known about the movie's story, aside from the fact that all three of the Sandersons will be back. There's no telling if the story will include the return of other actors, although Thora Birch has expressed her interest in playing Dani again.

If the Hocus Pocus reunion "Search of the Sanderson Sisters" ends up breaking the internet, I'm eager to see how this affects the sequel's ongoing development. Perhaps this is a chance to test interest in a return to the franchise, and see how audiences respond to the cast's return. But clearly the original movie has a special place in many moviegoers' hearts.

In fact, the original Hocus Pocus recently returned to theaters and drive-ins around the country, especially as major releases are pushed back. The 1993 classic made a ton of money in the process, so it certainly feels like the Sanderson Sisters have put a spell on all of us. We'll just have to wait and see as plans for Hocus Pocus 2 come together moving forward.

CinemaBlend will keep you updated on all things Hocus Pocus 2 are more details become public. In the meantime, check out our 2020 release list to plan your next movie experience.

There haven’t been many big box office numbers this year. COVID-19 has caused some theater chains to shutter until 2021 and created countless delays for tentpole premieres because most of us just aren’t going to the movies. So it’s always surprising to hear about a movie crushing it at the box office -- especially when that movie is Hocus Pocus.

The beloved Disney Halloween classic starring Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker and Kathy Najimy was re-released in 2,570 theaters around the United States this weekend. According to Deadline, it’s estimated to rake in between $1.6 and $1.8 million dollars, enough to make it the second highest grossing film in the country, behind Tenet.

If those numbers hold up, Hocus Pocus will earn the distinction of being the highest-grossing re-release of the COVID-19 era. Prior to that, Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back held the record for 2020. Movies like Jaws and Jurassic Park have also seen limited returns to theaters this year.

Hocus Pocus’ unexpected success is impressive for a few different reasons. The film was first released in 1993, so it doesn’t exactly have a lot of buzz around it. It’s also widely available for fans to rent or buy and stream on various digital platforms. Plus, on October 1, the film aired on Freeform as recently as October 1st, and the Hocus Pocus event included Bette Midler live-tweeting.

According to Deadline, drive-in theaters accounted for most of the tickets sold. Still, the fact that fans are still willing to leave their homes to see a movie they’ve had plenty of access to is noteworthy.

It’s not clear what exactly drove the higher-than-expected turnout. To be fair, the nostalgia factor is in play. Plenty of people who were kids when Hocus Pocus first hit theaters are now at an age when they could be ready to introduce their own children to it. There’s also the fact that it’s a seasonal slam dunk. Hocus Pocus is the perfect movie to set the tone as we head into spooky season.

Whatever the reason, it’s fair to celebrate this as a small victory for theaters around the country, which have taken a huge hit due to COVID-19. There have been very few premieres this year as well as disappointing revenue for many that did make it to the big screen. As studios continue to turn to digital platforms to get movies to patrons around the country, it’s cool to see at least one movie perform better than expected.

Perhaps it’s time for studios to dust off some other classics -- Disney has The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, and The Nightmare Before Christmas is always a crowd-pleaser. Plus, there are plenty of creepy classics that could pique an older audience’s interest, the most obvious of which is Halloween.

What spooky movie would you like to see come back to the big screen? Let us know in the comments!

Although Hocus Pocus bombed when it theaters in the summer of 1993 during the original Jurassic Park’s reign over the box office, Kenny Ortega’s family-friendly spookfest is now one of the most watched movies during Halloween season. And a sequel starring Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker and Kathy Najimy as the Sanderson Sisters is finally in the works. But what’s the latest amuck for Hocus Pocus 2?

Bette Midler confirmed that her long-awaited reunion with Winifred is still coming, they are just in the “talking logistics” phase of development. The actress/singer shared what she’s most excited for to ET with these words:

Bette Midler’s got her broomstick ready and we cannot wait! Early this year, it was announced that Hairspray director Adam Shankman would be helming Hocus Pocus 2 from a script by Workaholics writer Jen D'Angelo. In contrast with previous reports of a sequel for the franchise featuring a new cast, the version currently in the works will bring back Midler, Parker and Najimy after over 25 years.

The last update was from Sarah Jessica Parker over summer who cemented her interest but left it a bit open ended saying “we'll see what the future holds” in her comments. It should be noted that Adam Shankman is currently also signed as director for the Enchanted sequel, Disenchanted. His long-awaited musical may take priority before jumping on to Hocus Pocus 2.

The Sanderson Sisters will get to test out playing their iconic witches earlier than you think for the virtual fundraising event, In Search of the Sanderson Sisters: A Hocus Pocus Hulaween Takeover. The reunion benefitting the New York Restoration Project is set to be happening on October 30 after other nostalgic events of its kind such as one for Father of the Bride last week.

Funny enough, Bette Midler urged Disney to greenlight a Hocus Pocus project before she becomes a “corpse” because she wanted to fly again then too with her fellow actresses. Midler has always been fond of Winifred and has coined her one of her favorite roles of all time. We’ll have to see if other actors from the original Hocus Pocus join in to the movie as well.

Thora Birch, who played Dani in the 1993 movie, has been in the loop with Disney’s plans to revitalize the franchise for years and got together with a bunch of the cast in 2018 for a Freeform event. It would be fun to see Doug Jones play Billy Butcherson too, along with more of the main cast. But that remains to be seen.

In the meantime, Bette Midler is playing the late women's rights activist Bella Abzug in the Gloria Steinem biopic, The Glorias, currently available to buy. Disney+ subscribers can watch Hocus Pocus on repeat this Halloween season of course while we wait to see them fly again.

The Best Original Song nominees at this year's Oscars ceremony was a major topic of conversation leading into the awards. Initially, it appeared the plan was that the song. "The Place Where Lost Things Go" from Mary Poppins Returns wouldn't even be performed at the ceremony. In the end, it was decided the song would be performed, but not by Emily Blunt, who played the title role in the film. Instead Bette Midler stepped in and performed the song, and if I'm being honest. it just didn't live up to the original. Give the performance a listen for yourself.

Don't get me wrong. Bette Midler is amazing. She's an incredible performer capable of great things. We've seen her tear arenas down with her singing, but this time the deck was simply stacked against her. The performance is fine, it's good even, but Emily Blunt's performance of the song in Mary Poppins Returns was simply on another level. In the movie, it was an incredibly emotional moment. That emotion was simply missing here.

Bette Midler performed the song exactly as you'd expect her to, like she was performing in concert. She's got an incredibly powerful voice and that was on display on the Oscar stage. The problem is that "The Place Where Lost Things Go" is a lullaby. It's a song to be sung softly, and quietly. It's being sung to heartbroken children. It's an emotional moment. Give the song a listen as it was heard in the film.

It's not entirely clear why Bette Midler was brought in to pinch hit as the singer for "The Place Where Lost Things Go." Whether Emily Blunt was asked to perform the song and turned it down, or was never actually asked, has not been reported. It wouldn't be the first time the Academy skipped over the performer from the nominated song for a bigger star. It also wouldn't be the first time that said performer declined to perform the song. The song was not performed in its entirety, and maybe Blunt, and a number of other singers from the Oscar nominated songs, decided not to waste their time if they wren't going to be respected with the time to sing the entire song.

I'm assuming that since the show has no host this year, the feeling that the broadcast needed as many big stars as possible was probably driving most of the decisions. Emily Blunt is a big star as an actress, though apparently not big enough to warrant a Best Actress nomination for herself (seriously, what the hell?) and while Mary Poppins Returns certainly isn't her first musical performance, it seems it was decided that Emily Blunt singing the song that brought tears to the audience in the theater wouldn't be enough to increase the Oscar telecast's struggling ratings. Perhaps they're right. Hopefully the ratings were helped because the song was missing something.

Grab some tissues and prepare to cry (again) through "The Place Where Lost Things Go" from Mary Poppins Returns. The nominated song will be performed at the 2019 Oscars, but not by Emily Blunt. We already knew that, and we knew the Academy teased that "a surprise special guest" would be singing the beautiful tune instead.

Many fans guessed it would be Julie Andrews, the original Mary Poppins, despite Andrews not having any connection to Mary Poppins Returns (and instead having a cameo in competitor Aquaman). Also, Andrews, who is now 83, had complications after vocal cord surgery and hasn't done as much singing since then.

Instead, the surprise special guest revealed the news herself last night:

"Wind Beneath My Wings" singer Bette Midler has won three Grammy Awards, four Golden Globes, three Emmy Awards, and two Tony Awards. She was also nominated for the Best Actress Oscar twice -- for The Rose in 1980 and in 1992 for For the Boys. She should be able to do the Mary Poppins Returns song justice.

The Oscars has seen many controversies this year, including for the Best Original Song category. Initially, to shorten the ceremony, The Academy planned to only have two of the five nominated songs performed live -- "Shallow" from A Star is Born, and "All the Stars" from Black Panther. That was met with plenty of backlash, and the Academy reversed the decision. Now all of the five nominees will be heard -- those three, plus "I'll Fight" from RBG, and "When a Cowboy Trades His Spurs for Wings" from The Ballad of Buster Scruggs.

"The Place Where Lost Things Go" from Mary Poppins Returns has nominations for Marc Shaiman's music, and the lyrics by Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman. According to Variety, Bette Midler is a longtime friend of composer-lyricist Marc Shaiman, and he's expected to accompany her on piano at the Oscars.

In CinemaBlend's ranking of Mary Poppins Returns songs, "The Place Where Lost Things Go" was picked as #1 -- for the way Emily Blunt's Mary subtly and beautifully sings of the children's loss in a lullaby.

It's a shame Emily Blunt wasn't nominated for an Oscar for her performance, and also sad that she won't be performing this song herself. There has been no explanation for why Blunt isn't performing the song -- did she say she'd prefer not to? -- but now we know the song is in the capable hands of Bette Midler.

The 91st Academy Awards will all be awarded live, and songs will be sung, on Sunday, February 24 at 8 p.m. on ABC. Here's the full list of 2019 Oscar nominations. Mary Poppins Returns is expected to release on DVD/Blu-ray/Digital in March.

The Addams Family is finally returning to theaters, only instead of being live action again, the creepy and kooky characters will star in an animated movie, harkening back to their New Yorker roots. Late last year, it was reported that Oscar Isaac was being eyed to voice Gomez in the new Addams Family movie. Now the full cast has been unveiled, and not only is Isaac confirmed to be voicing Gomez, we've learned his co-stars will include Charlize Theron, Allison Janney, Bette Midler, Chloë Grace Moretz, Finn Wolfhard and Nick Kroll.

Charlize Theron will be voicing the love of Gomez's life, Morticia. This will be Theron's third time starring in an animated movie, previously lending her vocal talents to Astro Boy and Kubo and the Two Strings. Taking on the role of Grandmama will be Broadway star and Oscar nominee Bette Midler, who voiced Georgette in 1988's Oliver & Company.

Bringing life to Wednesday and Puglsey, Gomez and Morticia's children, in The Addams Family will be Chloë Grace Moretz and Finn Wolfhard, respectively. Moretz has plenty of voice credits on her acting resume, including Bolt and My Friends Tigger & Pooh. While The Addams Family will mark Wolfhard's first major movie voice role, he's currently best known for starring in Stranger Things and IT, and he'll also voice one of the main characters in Netflix's upcoming Carmen Sandiego animated series.

That leaves Nick Kroll, a man who has starred in animated projects like Sausage Party, Captain Underpants: The First Epic Movie and Big Mouth, to play Uncle Fester. There's no word yet on who will voice Lurch, although since he's a butler of few words, it's not like you need a major actor to play him (although it would be funny if an A-lister was brought in to recite what little dialogue he has). As for Allison Janney, she will be voicing the movie's main villain, Margaux Needler, a crafty reality TV show host. Janney's voice credits include Finding Nemo, Over the Hedge, Mr. Peabody & Sherman and Minions.

Along with revealing the full Addams Family cast, MGM also released the first image of how these characters will appear in animated form, and sure enough, they're delightfully mysterious and spooky.

While this movie won't be the first time that The Addams Family has been translated for animation, it can be argued that the public knows this property best from its live action offerings, be it on the big screen, on TV or as a stage show. Earlier in the decade, there were plans to make a stop-motion Addams Family movie, but those plans fell through, and now they're going the CGI route. Aside from the Family facing off against Margaux Needler, the only plot-related information that's been revealed is that the main characters will be preparing for their extended family to arrive for a major celebration.

Directed by Conrad Vernon and Greg Tiernan, The Addams Family animated movie will scare its way into theaters on October 11, 2019, so stay tuned to CinemaBlend for more updates. In the meantime, you find out what non-altogether ooky movies are hitting the silver screen later this year by scanning through our 2018 release schedule.

Hocus Pocus is one of the most beloved Halloween movies of all time, and the actresses who brought the Sanderson sisters are absolutely iconic to the roles. It therefore came as a surprise to many when news broke that a TV remake of the movie with a brand new cast is in the works at Disney Channel. Bette Midler played Winifred Sanderson in the original, and she had this to say about the TV remake:

A Disney Channel movie is obviously going to have some key differences from a feature film that had a budget of nearly $30 million back when production started in 1992, so the remake likely will look somewhat cheaper than the original. Then again, special effects have come a very long way since the early 90s, and a remake may be able to pull off some visual effects magic that simply wasn't possible when the original was made. Still, the almost certainly lower budget for the TV movie may be one of the most noticeable ways that the remake quite starkly differs from the original Hocus Pocus.

I'm guessing there are a lot of Hocus Pocus fans who can agree with Bette Midler's comments that it's difficult to image the remake finding somebody else to play the character of Winifred Sanderson. Midler is Winifred Sanderson, and whoever lands the role in the remake will face inevitable comparisons to Midler. Unfortunately for any who have been holding out hope that maybe Midler might reprise her role for the remake despite earlier reports that the cast would be entirely new, Midler shot down the possibility in her chat with People. Winifred Sanderson may be back for Hocus Pocus 2.0; Bette Midler will not.

Given Bette Midler's earlier enthusiasm for starring in a Hocus Pocus sequel, her lack of faith in the remake is really kind of sad. If things had worked out differently, we might have gotten another Hocus Pocus with the original Sanderson sisters. We already know that Midler can still pull off the Winifred look, and both Sarah Jessica Parker and Kathy Najimy were on board with a sequel. All three scary Sanderson sisters could have come back for a sequel. Hopefully the TV remake finds a way to stand on its own next to the beloved original.

The Hocus Pocus remake is being written by Scarlett Lacey of The Royals fame, and original film producer David Kirschner will executive produce. No director or casting has yet been announced. Stay tuned to CinemaBlend for the latest in TV news, and take a peek at our fall TV guide for what you can watch nowadays.

Your favorite celebrities went ALL OUT with their Halloween costumes this year. Get a look at everything that the stars dressed as this year.

Kylie Jenner - Christina Aguilera in her "Dirrty" video

It's about time for her arrival! Kylie Jenner took us all the way back to 2002 with a pitch-perfect portrayal of Christina Aguilera's look in the music video for "Dirrty." Aguilera herself gave the costume her stamp of approval, tweeting "Get it girrrl!!!"

Scott Eastwood - Clint Eastwood in The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

Scott Eastwood kept it all in the family this year. The up-and-coming young star paid tribute to his famous father Clint Eastwood by dressing up as one of his most famous characters: the bounty hunter "Blondie" from 1966's The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly.

Amy Schumer - Dustin from Stranger Things

Amy Schumer cashed in on the trendiest Halloween costume concept of the year by bringing the kids from Stranger Things to life. But rather than going as the superpowered girl Eleven, the comedian instead opted to channel the lovable little boy Dustin.

Colton Haynes - Miss Piggy

Arrow and Teen Wolf star Colton Haynes continued his dominance over all of Halloween this year by applying mounds of prosthetics and going out as Miss Piggy. In the past, he'd been known to go similarly all-out as Ursula from The Little Mermaid and Shrek's Princess Fiona.

Katy Perry - Hillary Clinton

Colton Haynes wasn't the only celeb to use prosthetics to create a perfect costume. Katy Perry looked unrecognizable after transforming herself into presidential candidate Hillary Clinton this year.

Bette Midler - Winifred Sanderson

Bette Midler definitely gave the people what they wanted this Halloween! The star of stage and screen resurrected her famous 1993 Hocus Pocus witch Winifred Sanderson to properly celebrate the night.

Demi Lovato and Nick Jonas - Dorothy and the Scarecrow

Besties and tourmates Demi Lovato and Nick Jonas got cute in a couples costume. Of course, they kept the theme musical, with both singers dressing up as main characters from The Wizard of Oz.

Beyoncé - Salt-N-Pepa

Beyoncé took it back to the '90s to pay homage to hip hop pioneers Salt-N-Pepa with her costume. And the whole Knowles-Carter family got in on the throwback fun, including mom Tina Knowles, daughter Blue Ivy, and husband Jay-Z.

Mindy Kaling - Tom Hanks in Sully

Leave it to Mindy Kaling to come up with the most creative, hilarious, and pop culture-relevant Halloween costume of all. The Mindy Project star donned a white mustache, wig, and a pilot's outfit to portray not famed pilot Sully Sullenberger, but Tom Hanks playing the pilot in his new film Sully. Talk about layers.

Paris Hilton - Supergirl

Paris Hilton is known to go all out on Halloween, and this year was no different. The socialite changed her costume each day of the weekend, dressing up as Supergirl, Alice from Alice in Wonderland, and Little Red Riding Hood.

Miranda Cosgrove - Daphne from Scooby-Doo

Jinkies! Miranda Cosgrove had a mini iCarly reunion with former costar Jennette McCurdy to channel the groovy, mystery-solving team from Scooby-Doo. Cosgrove sported a long red wig as Daphne, and McCurdy put some glasses on to be the group's Velma.

Ariel Winter - Emma Stone from Easy A

Like Paris Hilton, Modern Family star Ariel Winter also switched up her costume various times over the Halloween weekend. Along with dressing up as a nurse and a bunny, the young star paid homage to Olive Penderghast --- better known as the slut-shamed high schooler that Emma Stone portrayed in 2010's Easy A.

Kourtney Kardashian - Corpse Bride

The oldest Kardashian sister added some gore to a wedding gown when she went out for a viewing of Tim Burton's classic film A Nightmare Before Christmas (though, Corpse Bride may have been more fitting). She also had a more kid-friendly costume for hanging out with her children, dressing up as the Red Ranger from Power Rangers.

Jenna Dewan Tatum - Unicorn

Jenna Dewan Tatum lived out a truly magical fantasy for her Halloween girls' night out. The actress covered herself in sparkles and placed a horn on her head to embody a unicorn.

Taylor Lautner and Nina Dobrev - Ryan Lochte

Another trendy costume this year is to go as disgraced Olympic swimmer Ryan Lochte, and apparently more than one celebrity had this idea. Both Taylor Lautner and Nina Dobrev showed up at a party with the same silver hair and gold medal.

Martha Stewart - Marilyn Monroe

Martha Stewart didn't just celebrate Halloween by baking some cookies --- the lifestyle guru also get all dolled up as Marilyn Monroe for the holiday. Stewart also shared a much less glamorous costume earlier as a bloodied nurse.

Khloe Kardashian - Storm

Ryan Lochte wasn't the only silver-haired costume in Hollywood. Khloe Kardashian powered up as the X-Men hero Storm.

Zoë Kravitz - Princess Peach

Zoë Kravitz turned the Halloween party she popped up at into the Mushroom Kingdom, and claimed the thrown as Princess Peach. There's no Mario in sight, but Luigi made an appearance!

While I certainly don't recall Disney's Hocus Pocus being a huge hit in its day, the nostalgia level for the film has gone through the roof in recent years. While no sequel has yet been announced, Bette Midler may have just made the single best argument for one we can think of. She attended the annual Halloween Gala for her charitable organization in full Winifred Sanderson regalia, and if there's any question she's ready for a sequel, they've now been answered.

Bette Midler founded the New York Restoration Project as a way to help conserve public spaces within New York City and Hulaween is their annual fundraising costume party. Midler decided it was time to dust off an old costume, rather than come up with a new one, and she looks absolutely perfect as her character Winnie from Hocus Pocus.

While Bette Midler doesn't overtly state on Twitter that she's lobbying for a sequel to Hocus Pocus on Twitter, she has said in the past that she, along with the rest of the cast, Kathy Najimy, and Sarah Jessica Parker, are all on board to make one if and when Disney are ready to move forward. One has to assume that this was at least part of the calculation when Midler decided to don the costume for the high profile event.

It may have been nearly 25 years since the original Hocus Pocus, but Bette Midler looks as good here as she did in the original film, there's certainly no question that she's ready to start filming based on this image.

Hocus Pocus was far from a fan favorite when it opened back in 1993. It opened in fourth place, behind three films that had already been open for a few weeks. However, over the years the film has become one of those that was discovered later on home video or on cable television. The fan base has built it into a cult classic of sorts, leading to a desire by many to see a sequel made. While Disney hasn't forgotten about the property entirely, using it in recent years for theme park events around Halloween, the studio has yet to show any indication that they're interested in revisiting it on the big screen.

It would appear that until a sequel comes, Bette Midler will keep Hocus Pocus alive all by herself. Are you excited for a potential sequel? Let us know in the comments below.

Taylor Swift had a good year in 2015, but that's probably stating the obvious. The country-turned-pop singer has been riding a wave of success for quite a while now, and that apparently includes besting her fellow musicians in the earnings department by a sizable margin. Between album sales and her other musical earnings, the artist raked in more than $70 million, which is tens of millions more than the talented and popular dude who came in second on Billboard's list (said dude being Kenny Chesney.)

Billboard posted their list of highest-paid musicians of the past 12 months, and Taylor Swift topped it with a whopping $73.5 million. That's $7.2 million for album sales, $564,000 for streaming, $4.1 million for publishing and a massive $61.7 million for her concert tour. As mentioned, she beat out #2 on the list, country singer Kenny Chesney, whose total revenue for 2015 topped out at $39.8 million.

Here's the top 10 breakdown:

1) Taylor Swift - $73.5 million

2) Kenny Chesney - $39.8 million

3) The Rolling Stones - $39.6 million

4) Billy Joel - $31.7 million

5) One Direction - 24.2 million

6) Grateful Dead & Company - $23.8 million

7) Luke Bryan - $23.1 million

8) U2 - $21.8 million

9) Adele - $20.5 million

10) Maroon 5 - $19.2 million

I need to pause on the Swift conversation for a moment here, because it seems well worth noting that Adele managed to land a spot in the Top 10 despite no reported earnings for touring, which is ultimately the big money-maker for musicians. It helps that Adele earned $16.3 million in album sales alone. Had she gone on tour, it's a safe bet that she would've had a much higher spot on this list, if not the top spot, considering her album sales are more than double Swift's. Adele is the only artist in the Top 10 with no touring income.

Getting back to Taylor Swift, Billboard's list only cites income related to their musical endeavors. There's no mention of money made on endorsements, of which Swift has had numerous in recent years, including Keds, Diet Coke, and more recently, those Apple Music ads that have been cracking us up. So theres a good chance she reported a bit more on her 2015 taxes than the figure mentioned above.

Taylor Swift has been inching further and further away from country music with each album, and 1989 took her into full-on pop territory, with much success. As Billboard points, her publishing royalties had some help, thanks to Ryan Adams' releasing a cover of her 1989 album. The singer-songwriter capped off her album release with a massive tour, which included drop-ins by various celebrities and musical acts. Based on the numbers, it's evident that Swift's hard work and talent have paid off.

We’ve already started dream casting Amy Schumer’s mom in her upcoming mother-daughter comedy, but we didn’t even consider who should play the maternal figure in her film with Jennifer Lawrence. Who could possibly mesh with these soul sisters’ kooky, outrageously over the top, and infectious personality? How about Bette Midler?

The singer-actress threw her name into the ring on social media when she Tweeted her suggestion for who to play the mom of Schumer and Lawrence. Spoiler alert: it’s her. She wrote,

"Divine" refers to both Midler’s stage presence, The Divine Ms. M, and her recent tour. She wrapped up the American leg of her "Divine Intervention" tour with an 18-song set at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.

Jennifer Lawrence recently let slip that she and Amy Schumer were working on a screenplay together for an upcoming comedy during an interview with The New York Times. After discussing The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 2, which will hit theaters in a couple months on November 20th, she revealed tidbits on the film, which is about a pair of sisters. Both funny gals are co-starring in the film, and Schumer’s sister Kim, who worked on Trainwreck, is helping to finalize the screenplay. The two had been making headlines for their adventures in jet skiing, making human pyramids, and dancing on stage at a Billy Joel concert. This film is just the icing on top of it all.

While an actress has yet to be announced in a motherly role for this untitled film, Midler would be perfect for the part. She’s not like a regular mom; she’s a cool mom! And the fact that she recently resurrected her performance of "I Put A Spell On You" from Hocus Pocus is mind-blowing. All we want is to see this woman sashaying into the living room dressed as Winifred while Schumer and J-Law are trying to have sister time or something. I don’t know. I’m not on scripting duties.

Nevertheless, the supporting characters in this movie will likely be hotly contested, and there’s no harm in starting the campaign now. Schumer is the most buzzed about comedienne in the industry at this moment, thanks to her success with her Comedy Central series Inside Amy Schumer, her stand-up specials, and her journey to the big screen. As mentioned earlier, another post-Trainwreck project is a mother-daughter comedy with 50/50 director Jonathan Levine. Lawrence, meanwhile, is the biggest actress in Hollywood. Period. Aside from the Hunger Games films, which are coming to end this year, she has another David O. Russell film coming this December and a sci-fi film in which she co-stars with another major A-lister, Chris Pratt. And we also can’t forget her superpowered role in the X-Men movies, her next coming in the form of Bryan Singer’s X-Men: Apocalypse.

Needless to say, whomever lands the role of their on-screen mom will indeed be divine, regardless of whether or not it's Bette Midler.

We live in a world where, no matter how long it’s been, the possibility of getting a sequel to a beloved motion picture is never entirely beyond the realm of possibility, no matter how unlikely it seems. Hell, Tron: Legacy hit 28 years after Tron, and it took 30 to get Mad Max: Fury Road. Well, if Bette Midler has anything to say about it, we could still see Hocus Pocus 2.

Just last year, Midler, along with Hocus Pocus costars Sarah Jessica Parker and Kathy Najimy expressed interest in revisiting their roles as the Sanderson sisters, a trio of witches in the original 1993 film. There has been no movement since then, but that’s not getting the Divine Miss M down. According to Broadway World, during a recent concert in Phoenix, Arizona, she performed "I Put a Spell on You" dressed as here character Winifred, and at one point she yelled:

Granted, it’s been 23 years at this point, and you might think that the time to make Hocus Pocus 2 has come and come. It wasn’t even close to a hit when it was released, earning $39.5 million against a $29 million budget, but, as with movies like Tron, it has steadily amassed a passionate cult following ever since as new generations continue to discover it on home video. It also does well whenever it shows up on TV, at one point back in 2011 it garnered 2.8 million viewers for a single broadcast. And then there’s Halloween, where it also does quite well every year—it definitely fits the holiday specific vibe, but is also a film you can watch with the whole family and not worry too much about traumatizing any small children in the viewing audience.

If you’re unfamiliar, Hocus Pocus revolves around a cynical teenager (Omri Katz), who accidentally resurrects three witch sisters—Winifred (Midler), Sarah (Parker), and Mary Sanderson (Najimy)—who were hung in Salem, Massachusetts in the 1690s. With his little sister (Thora Birch) the hot girl he has a crush on (Vinessa Shaw), and an immortal cat in tow, he has to figure out how to defeat the coven of witches once and for all. It’s a hoot.

It doesn’t seem likely that Hocus Pocus 2 is going to happen anytime soon, however, as there is nothing else concrete besides this to indicate that it’s even possible. However, with Bette Midler throwing her weight and considerable star power behind it, stranger things have happened. And especially if Sarah Jessica Parker and Kathy Najimy are on board, would it really be that surprising?

Bette Midler has revealed that she would jump at the opportunity to star in a sequel to the 1993 Disney hit Hocus Pocus. However, she has declared that it is now up to the millions of fans of the film to make it happen.

The legendary singer and actress made her comments during a Reddit AMA, which had been orchestrated to help promote her upcoming new album. During her chat with her legion of fans, the topic of Hocus Pocus 2 was raised on numerous occasions. The top comment on the thread actually sees user CooperCam ask Bette Midler, "Hi, Bette. Can you just do a Hocus Pocus II so my girlfriend can make me stop watching the original every Halloween?" This then provoked the Beaches actress to respond:

After her time on Reddit had concluded, Bette Midler then returned to the website to update the introduction section of the AMA to plead with users to inundate Disney with requests for Hocus Pocus 2. She wrote,

It’s easy to forget just how much Hocus Pocus was crushed when it was originally released 21 years ago. Critics tore apart the horror comedy, but it then went on to establish a cult audience thanks to its release on home video. For the uninitiated, Hocus Pocus revolves around the Sanderson Sisters, a trio of witches, played by Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker and Kathy Najimy, who are resurrected inadvertently on the eve of Halloween in 1993. They then go on to wreak havoc across Salem, with only a teen (Omri Katz), his crush (Vinessa Shaw), his little sister (Thora Birch) and a talking cat (Sean Murray) able to stop them.

But what are the chances that Hocus Pocus 2 will actually come to fruition? Well, now that Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Kathy Najimy are all allegedly keen on appearing in the film, it really just depends on the public’s desire to see them on-screen as the witches again. Disney won’t go out of their way to get the film made, especially since the original only made $39 million from a $28 million budget back in 1993. So it’s up to all you Hocus Pocus maniacs to get Disney interested. But even if it doesn’t happen, it was still nice to see just how much power Bette Midler has over her peers. I doubt that she had to convince either of her former co-stars to declare their interest in Hocus Pocus 2. Instead, she simply seduced them in her own imitable fashion. What a woman. If America ever needs a Queen, she’d be my choice.