Hocus Pocus 3: Is Disney Finally Brewing a New Potion or Just Blowing Smoke (Again)?
AI Gaming News Author · IGN South Africa ·
Sarah Jessica Parker's hint at 'conversations' for *Hocus Pocus 3* keeps the dream alive for fans of the cult classic, but with Hollywood's notorious development delays and Bette Midler's urgent pleas, Jeff wonders if Disney will brew a worthy sequel or just blow more corporate smoke.
Right, so you know that feeling when you're trying to cast a super complicated spell – maybe a summoning ritual for a legendary loot drop, or perhaps just trying to make a decent cup of tea on a Monday morning – and it just… sits there, bubbling menacingly but never quite resolving? Yeah, that’s pretty much the vibe coming off the 'will-they-won't-they' saga of *Hocus Pocus 3*.
It’s a tale as old as time, or at least as old as the 90s cult classic itself, but recent whispers from none other than Sarah Jessica Parker suggest that Disney might finally be stirring the cauldron for the Sanderson Sisters’ next grand (mis)adventure. 'We’ve been having some conversations,' she casually dropped on *Watch What Happens Live*, sending a ripple of nostalgic shivers down the spines of us elder millennials who grew up quoting Bette Midler's 'I Put A Spell On You' on repeat. And mate, that’s about as concrete as news gets in Hollywood's development purgatory these days, isn't it?
Now, why are we talking about a movie sequel on a gaming news channel, you might ask? Well, aside from the fact that cultural touchstones often bleed into our digital worlds – how many games have you seen with cheeky *Hocus Pocus* Easter eggs, eh? – this whole scenario is a fascinating mirror to the gaming industry's own obsession with resurrecting beloved IPs. Think about it: the remasters, the remakes, the 'legacy sequels' that pick up decades later. It's the same magic trick, really. Tap into that warm, fuzzy feeling of yesteryear, sprinkle a bit of modern polish (or, you know, microtransactions), and hope lightning strikes twice. *Hocus Pocus* (1993) wasn't even a box office smash originally; it was a slow-burn cult classic, finding its true power through VHS tapes and annual Halloween TV airings. It built its legend, its community, much like a niche indie game that gradually gains a following through word-of-mouth and sheer charm.
Sarah Jessica Parker's 'some conversations' line is the digital equivalent of a developer tweeting 'we're exploring options' when asked about a highly anticipated sequel. It’s enough to get the rumour mill spinning faster than a necromancer on an energy drink, but it offers precisely zero guarantees. This isn't just about *Hocus Pocus*; it’s about the broader, often frustrating dance of intellectual property management in massive entertainment conglomerates like Disney. We heard similar vague tidings when the 2022 sequel, *Hocus Pocus 2*, was first mooted. And let's be honest, getting the original trio of Bette Midler, Kathy Najimy, and SJP back together felt like achieving a rare triple-kill combo – damn near impossible, but oh so satisfying when it landed. The sequel itself, directed by Anne Fletcher with a script by Jen D’Angelo (both apparently slated for *Hocus Pocus 3*), was… well, it was *Hocus Pocus*, wasn't it? It gave us more Sanderson Sisters, more camp, more musical numbers. It scratched that nostalgic itch, even if it didn't reinvent the cauldron.
But here's where the plot thickens, or perhaps, where the magical reagents are starting to degrade. Bette Midler, bless her magnificent soul, has been far less diplomatic about the glacial pace of development. Last year, she told QVC+ (yes, QVC+, because why not?) that she'd 'heard rumblings,' but then dropped a truth bomb that frankly, all of Hollywood should heed: 'I think if they’re gonna [do it], they oughtta because time is not just marching. Time is barrel-assing to the finish line. Get us while we’re still breathing, I mean, God!'
Bloody hell, she's got a point, hasn't she? This isn't just about making a movie; it's about making a movie with *these specific, iconic people*. In gaming, we sometimes see this with voice actors for beloved characters, or original creators who move on. The magic, the *essence*, often lies with the original talent. And when that talent is saying 'mate, get a wriggle on before we're all playing bingo in the great beyond,' you'd think the suits at Disney would listen. It highlights a cynical truth about IP management: often, studios want to leverage the *idea* of something beloved, but they drag their feet on the *execution*, sometimes losing the very magic that made it special in the first place. It’s like announcing a spiritual successor to a classic RPG, then taking fifteen years to release it, by which point the original team has disbanded and the engine is obsolete. You end up with something that *looks* like the thing, but lacks its soul.
Sean Bailey, the big cheese at Walt Disney Studios motion picture production, did technically confirm *Hocus Pocus 3* back in 2023 to *The New York Times*. So, it’s not exactly a secret. But a confirmation without a timeline, a director, or even a script that's gone beyond a vague outline, is just… well, it's a corporate placeholder, isn't it? It’s them saying, 'Yeah, we know you want it, we're thinking about it, don't worry, we own the IP!' while probably being too busy figuring out how to squeeze another season out of a forgotten Marvel character. This whole dance is familiar to anyone watching the wider entertainment industry, gaming included. There's a massive drive to consolidate, to leverage existing brands, to lean into nostalgia rather than innovate. And look, sometimes it works! Sometimes you get a *Hades 2* that pushes boundaries, or a brilliant *Baldur's Gate 3* that reignites a genre. But for every one of those, there are a dozen projects that languish, or worse, get rushed out the door as a hollow shell of their former glory. The tension between creative vision and corporate timelines is a constant boss battle.
So, where does this leave us, the curious gamers and media enthusiasts? Still waiting, mate. SJP's comments are a tiny spark, a faint glimmer in the crystal ball. It confirms that the 'conversations' are still happening, which is better than silence, I suppose. But until we hear a proper release window, or see those three legendary actresses actually on set, it feels like we’re stuck in a holding pattern, much like that unskippable cutscene before the final boss. Will *Hocus Pocus 3* ever materialise before the Sanderson Sisters are literally flying on broomsticks in their retirement home? Bette Midler's urgency suggests not much time is left. It’s a compelling reminder that even in the magical realms of Hollywood, time and creative momentum are finite resources. Here’s hoping Disney finds its spellbook and actually gets to brewing a potion worthy of the original, rather than just blowing more smoke. A gamer can dream, eh?
Tags: Hollywood, IP Management, Sequels, Nostalgia, Development Hell
Original article: IGN South Africa