‘Hocus Pocus 3’ buzz builds as Bette Midler sees a script; here’s how it connects to ‘Hocus Pocus 2’ and what’s next

Hocus Pocus 3 is stirring again just in time for Halloween. Fresh comments in recent days indicate a script draft has been circulated to key cast, with enthusiasm from the creative side but no filming start or release window announced. The momentum arrives as Hocus Pocus 2—the 2022 sequel that resurrected the Sanderson Sisters on streaming—enjoys another seasonal surge, reminding the industry why a threequel remains a priority.

What’s new on Hocus Pocus 3

• Script status: Lead talent say they have seen a draft and are “very excited,” framing the project as active development rather than rumor.

• Casting temperature: The core trio has repeatedly expressed interest in returning, while alum from the original era have signaled openness if schedules align. No official deals or full cast list have been unveiled.

• Production timeline: There is no confirmed start date and no release date. Any specific calendar claims circulating online should be treated as unverified until the studio sets them.

Recent updates indicate steady—but measured—progress: the creative team is refining direction, and stakeholders appear aligned on tone and continuity. Still, until cameras roll, details may evolve.

How Hocus Pocus 2 set the table

Hocus Pocus 2 arrived in 2022 with the original trio front and center, new teens at the heart of the story, and world-building that left doors open for future mischief. The sequel reestablished Salem as a living playground for witchy folklore, modernized the spellbook mythology, and introduced characters whose arcs could credibly carry forward. A stinger in the end credits teased lingering magical threads—an explicit invitation for a third film.

Seasonally, the sequel’s rewatch value has been strong. Each October, both the 1993 original and the 2022 follow-up climb platform charts, reinforcing that the franchise is more than nostalgia; it’s a repeat performer with multigenerational appeal.

What to expect (and what not to assume) from Hocus Pocus 3

Likely through-lines

• The Sanderson dynamic: The sisterly bickering, big musical beats, and gleeful villainy are the franchise’s engine; expect any new chapter to preserve that mix.

• Modern-fable framing: Technology, social media, and small-town tradition clashing with old magic has become the saga’s signature lens.

• A teen-led A-plot: The second film proved the formula: contemporary protagonists who discover, resist, and ultimately reshape the legend.

Open questions

• Returning faces beyond the trio: Multiple alumni have hinted they’re game, but participation will hinge on story need and availability.

• Tone and stakes: The last film balanced family-friendly humor with lightly spooky peril. Whether the threequel leans funnier, scarier, or more sentimental will emerge from the latest script pass.

• Release path: The first sequel launched directly to streaming; the third film’s distribution strategy has not been announced.

Why the franchise keeps casting a spell

• Seasonal ritual: Few live-action properties map to Halloween as cleanly as Hocus Pocus. That ritualistic rewatch behavior is rare—and powerful.

• Iconic leads: The comedic chemistry of the central trio delivers reliable four-quadrant energy: broad slapstick for kids, sly asides for adults, and musical moments that trend.

• Expandable lore: Witches, a sentient spellbook, and Salem’s layered history offer endless hooks for new plotlines without breaking the tone.

Reading the tea leaves: cautious optimism

Recent comments suggest Hocus Pocus 3 has cleared a crucial hurdle: a script draft compelling enough to excite the principal star(s). That typically precedes formal announcements on returning cast and creative department heads. Still, industry timelines can shift with script revisions, scheduling, and budget decisions, so fans should watch for official confirmations before locking in expectations.

If you’re revisiting Hocus Pocus 2 this week

• Watch the end credits. The sequel plants a deliberate breadcrumb that a third act of witchy chaos remains possible.

• Track the new teen trio’s arcs. Their growth and connections to Salem’s magic are the most likely bridge to a threequel’s central conflict.

• Listen for musical cues. The song-and-spectacle DNA is almost certain to return, shaping how set pieces are written for the next chapter.

The cauldron is bubbling: Hocus Pocus 3 is in development, a script draft has reached key hands, and interest from familiar faces remains high. With Hocus Pocus 2 continuing to draw Halloween-season audiences, the franchise has the wind at its back. Until formal casting and scheduling are announced, file the threequel under promising and progressing, with more concrete details likely once the latest script pass locks the path forward.