After years of anticipation, “Hocus Pocus 3” is finally in early development with stars Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker and Kathy Najimy on board.
WASHINGTON — “Hocus Pocus 3” is officially happening, and familiar faces are part of the project.
Deadline reported the movie is in early development through Walt Disney Pictures three years after being announced and getting stuck in limbo.
No details about the plot have been revealed, but Variety and Deadline confirmed stars Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker and Kathy Najimy will star.
So what was the holdup?
Sean Bailey, the longtime and now former president of Walt Disney Studios Motion Picture Production, told the New York Times a third movie was “happening” in 2023.
But Bailey stepped down from his position in 2024 amid a change in leadership at Disney. He predominantly made the live-action versions of animated projects like “Aladdin,” “The Lion King,” “Beauty and the Beast,” “The Little Mermaid” and others.
Since the 2023 announcement of “Hocus Pocus 3,” fans have eagerly awaited further updates but have not seen much development with the movie.
Parker, who played Sarah Sanderson in both “Hocus Pocus” movies, gave an update in July 2025 while on an episode of Andy Cohen’s “Watch What Happens Live!”
“(There are) no more developments other than we would like to do it,” she said. “We’ve been having some conversations.”
Midler, who played Winifred Sanderson in the “Hocus Pocus” movies, confirmed a “brilliant” script was complete in October 2025, but some things needed to be ironed out. Deadline reported said things were salary negotiations and they have since been settled.
It’s unclear who will be directing or part of the movie, but IMDb created a page for the movie in 2025. On the page it says “Rock of Ages,” “The Proposal” and “Hocus Pocus 2” director Anne Fletcher will return for the third film.
It also credits Jen D’Angelo, Mick Garris and David Kirschner as writers. All three worked in some capacity on “Hocus Pocus 2.”