There has been chatter about a sequel – or even a reboot – for 1993 cult pic Hocus Pocus for a while now, a typical witch's brew of rumours, supposition and false starts. But Disney is pushing ahead officially, albeit for its Disney+ service and not necessarily cinemas, with What Men Want's Adam Shankman in line to direct.
Listed as a sequel by Variety's story on the new director, the film would continue the story that began in the original, which saw three witch sisters in 1693 Salem who are brought down by villagers after stealing children's' life force, and accidentally resurrected in 1993. Cue magical mania and the fight to stop them once again.
Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker and Kathy Najimy played the witch trio in the original and while their names have been linked to follow-ups in the past, they are not officially attached to the new movie yet. Disney, though, is hoping to secure their services so the story can properly continue without the need to recast. Jen D'Angelo, who wrote on Workaholics, has contributed the most recent script draft.
When the project will actually get moving is a mystery for now, as Shankman is concurrently developing the sequel to Enchanted, known as Disenchanted.