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Hocus Pocus 2″ is the long awaited sequel to the 1993 original. A financial failure when it was first released, the film has since become a much beloved cult classic, celebrated, quoted and imitated in costume by faithful fans including this writer.

Sigourney Weaver and Morena Baccarin are stepping out to promote their new movie!

Anna Tingley If you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, Variety may receive an affiliate commission. The Salem witch sisters are back for a straight-to-streamer reunion this week with the release of “Hocus Pocus 2,” the highly anticipated sequel to the 1993 cult classic. The reboot arrives on Disney+ on Friday, Sept. 30. Bette Middler, Sarah Jessica Parker and Kathy Najimy reprise their roles as the Sanderson sisters in the reboot, nearly three decades after their fabulously flamboyant performances turned what was expected to be a typical comedy with fleeting success into a campy cult favorite that has become a Halloween staple for millions across the country. Read More: The ‘Hocus Pocus’ Sequel Has Created Some Truly Insane (And Inspired) Merch

“Hocus Pocus 2.” And among critics, the sequel is faring better than its predecessor originally did — but only just.For the most part, reviews seem to be split between enjoying the nostalgia of “Hocus Pocus 2,” and wanting it to build more upon the original. Where The Hollywood Reporter’s Lovia Gyarkye argues that the sequel “honors its history without knowing quite how to move beyond it,” and IndieWire’s Jude Dry says it “hews closely to the original, perhaps a little too much,” others disagree.The AV Club’s Phil Pirrello wrote that “Using ‘Hocus Pocus’ more like a modular foundation than sacrosanct canon, director Anne Fletcher (Netflix’s “Dumplin’”) and screenwriter Jen D’Angelo find an inventive way of expanding upon the OG movie by reaching into the main characters’ past and softening the trio of witches’ more sinister edges as they once again wreak their unique, PG-brand of havoc on the town of Salem.”IGN’s Amelia Emberwing noted that it’s odd the movie doesn’t film in Salem, but nonetheless, “It’s wonderfully nostalgic that ‘Hocus Pocus 2’ feels like the Disney Channel Original Movies of yore.”Really, critics are just happy to see Bette Midler, Kathy Najimy and Sarah Jessica Parker back together again as the beloved witchy trio.

Hocus Pocus 2, the sequel to Disney’s upcoming sequel to the 1993 Halloween classic, is debuting tomorrow on Disney+ and fans could not be more excited!

out on Disney+ 29 years later, is much, much worse.Running time: 104 minutes. Rated PG (action, macabre/suggestive humor and some language).

A “Hocus Pocus” Broadway musical is in the works.

Peter Debruge Chief Film Critic What strange sorcery is this that “Hocus Pocus” — a so-so comedy turned campy cult favorite starring Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker and Kathy Najimy as absolutely fabulous Salem witch sisters — should be getting a sequel nearly three decades after its 1993 release? At the time, Variety speculated that, were it not for the film’s three stars, “‘Hocus Pocus’ wouldn’t seem out of place on the Disney Channel, and perhaps belongs there.” (Its director, Kenny Ortega, would go on to helm the “High School Musical” franchise for the cabler.) In a sense, that’s what’s happened with this follow-up, aimed to breathe some life into the graveyard that is Disney+. The sequel’s existence owes less to popular demand (the original earned a respectable $39.3 million stateside and went on to become a Halloween season staple) than the realization that the film had tapped into preteens’ fascination with witchcraft before Harry Potter came along. It can be no coincidence that the new feature lifts so much of its look and feel from that franchise — with eye of newt, a dead man’s head and some aspects of “The Craft” tossed in for good measure. In “Hocus Pocus 2,” the three teens called upon to save Salem from the Sanderson sisters’ return are themselves budding witches, which means the movie is less about scaring kids away from magic than indulging their post-Potter junior wizarding fantasies.

wrote on its website.True to witchy form, the humble and homey hovel is located in the woods of Salem, Massachusetts.“We all know that the Sanderson Sisters’ story might not have ended when we turned to dust, nor did our shenanigans,” said Kathy Najimy, who plays Mary Sanderson in both films. “What better way to celebrate the season than to host guests at the trio’s historic haunt for a night they’ll remember for years to come?”Airbnb further described the eerie experience as one complete with details from the “Hocus Pocus” world.“Wooden boards that groan under the weight of curious cats and cupboards filled with blood of owl and herb that’s red (and even a hair from Winifred’s head) await those who dare to explore the cottage’s dark corners,” the site advertisement said.Prior to their stay, visitors can explore Salem in all its gruesome glory, watch the spooky sequel, out Sept.

Antonio Ferme editor Slow and steady wins the race — and in the case of “Hocus Pocus 2,” the Sanderson sisters are returning to seek revenge on Salem after 29 years. While Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Kathy Najimy all reprise their roles as the three villainous witches in the sequel, there were some notable absences. For one, the main protagonists of the original film — Omri Katz’s Max Dennison and Vinessa Shaw’s Allison Watts — don’t appear in the movie. During the “Hocus Pocus 2” worldwide premiere on Tuesday in New York City, screenwriter Jen D’Angelo shed a light of hope that Max and Allison could return for a potential third installment.

It was a family affair for Sarah Jessica Parker at the “Hocus Pocus 2” premiere Tuesday night. Parker hit the red carpet for the first look at the long-anticipated sequel with her husband, Matthew Broderick, and their twin daughters Tabitha and Marion, 13.

This might come as a surprise to you, but you’ve been saying a line from Hocus Pocus all wrong for years.

Naman Ramachandran Cinedigm has acquired all North American rights to horror film “The Outwaters,” a throwback to the early days of the found footage genre. Written and directed by Robbie Banfitch, “The Outwaters” plays out over three memory cards found in a sun-drenched section of the Mojave Desert. The footage within is that of a foursome, who set out to make a music video while camping, led by a charismatic filmmaker. Their trip starts out uneventful, though their peace is occasionally disrupted by unexplained sounds, vibrations, and unnatural animal behavior. Then one night everything changes, sending the foursome on a mind-bending trip through terror.

Elsa Keslassy International Correspondent A trio of French films, the melodrama “A Family for 1640 Days,” political thriller “Goliath” and comedy “Adieu Paris,” are set to be released in the U.S. by the New York-based company Distrib Films. Both Fabien Gorgeart’s “A Family for 1640 Days” (“Une vraie famille”) and Edouard Baer’s “Adieu Paris” are represented in international markets by Le Pacte. “A Family for 1640 Days,” winner of the top prize at last year’s American French Film Festival, revolves around Simon, a six-year old adopted boy who is about to reunite with his biological father. The movie stars Melanie Thierry (“En therapie”) and Lyes Salem. Distrib Films is planning to release the film in early 2023 and have it play at festivals.

“Hocus Pocus 2.” The Sanderson sisters will return in this long awaited sequel alongside some new faces.The film is directed by Anne Fletcher (“Dumplin,’” “The Proposal”) and produced by Lynn Harris (“King Richard,” “The Shallows”), with Ralph Winter (“Hocus Pocus,” the “X-Men” franchise), David Kirschner (“Hocus Pocus,” “Chucky”) and Adam Shankman (“Disenchanted,” “Hairspray”) serving as executive producers. With the end of September and the start of October just around the corner, it’s time to get into gear for a magical movie 30 years in the making. Below we have compiled everything we know about “Hocus Pocus 2.”Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker and Kathy Najimy will reprise their original roles of Winifred, Sarah and Mary Sanderson, the trio of witchy sisters summoned back to Salem for a second time after Max Dennison (Omri Katz) lit the Black Flame Candle all those years ago.In contrast to the theatrical release of the first film, “Hocus Pocus 2” will be released exclusively on Disney+ for streaming on Sept.

, Bette Midler, Kathy Najimy, and Sarah Jessica Parker felt like no time had passed at all!«As soon as we walked on the set, the dynamic between the three of us was exactly the same as it was 30 years ago,» Midler says in ET's exclusive look at a featurette for the upcoming film. «It was like these characters lived with us for the last 30 years… It was a real thrill.»«It was not a difficult transition to step back into those boots,» Najimy agrees. Set 29 years after the events of the first film,  will give fans a look at the backstory of the trio's Sanderson sisters -- which includes an ominous birthday present from an elder witch, played by Emmy winner Hannah Waddingham.«It's very special to be a part of something that has become so meaningful in people's lives,» Parker notes of returning to the cinematic universe.The sequel also sees the 17th-century sisters resurrected in the present day after high school friends in Salem — played by Whitney Peak, Lilia Buckingham and Belissa Escobedo — relight the Black Flame Candle and spark a whole new adventure. The cast also includes Sam Richardson, Tony Hale, Juju Brener, Froy Gutierrez, Taylor Paige Henderson and Nina Kitchen.ET spoke to Richardson at the Independent Spirit Awards in March, where he gushed over the «surreal experience» of joining some of the original cast for the film's second installment.«It was incredible.

Jem Aswad Senior Music Editor Universal Music Publishing Group has named Jennifer Knoepfle executive vice president and co-head of US A&R, effective immediately, the company announced on Wednesday. Based in Los Angeles, Knoepfle will report to UMPG chairman-CEO Jody Gerson. According to the announcement, Knoepfle — who joins after 13 years at Sony Music Publishing, where she worked with Gerson — will work closely with David Gray, her fellow co-head of U.S. A&R, and the company’s team. Knoepfle was most recently senior VP of creative at Sony Music Publishing, where she had worked since 2009. During her tenure, she signed and/or developed such major writers as Jack Antonoff, Aaron Dessner, Dan Nigro, Ariel Rechtshaid, Bloodpop, Joel Little and artists including Willow, Tate McRae, King Princess, Remi Wolf, Maggie Rogers, Leon Bridges, Wallows, Salem Ilese, Noah Kahan and Lord Huron. She also has worked extensively with

SATURDAY AM UPDATE: With the exit of New Line’s adaptation of Stephen King’s Salem’s Lot in what has been a lucrative post Labor Day weekend pre-pandemic, Disney swooped in and booked its 20th Century Studios horror title Barbarian. That pic, directed and written by Zach Cregger, follows a woman staying at an Airbnb, who discovers that the house she has rented is not what it seems. The movie grossed $3.8M on Friday (including $850K Thursday night previews) and is poised to make around $9M, possibly double digits.

Disney has revealed the first trailer for Hocus Pocus 2 at the D23 Expo in Anaheim tonight (September 9).The new movie, which will see original stars Bette Midler, Kathy Najimy and Sarah Jessica Parker return, will arrive on Disney Plus on September 30.The sequel will also introduce new characters, including one played by Ted Lasso’s Hannah Waddingham, as the trailer reveals.The trailer begins with a priest banishing the three young witches, who grow up to be Midler, Najimy and Parker’s characters, from Salem and meeting Waddingham in the woods. “They were right to fear thee,” she tells them.Happily never after.#Disenchanted, an Original movie, starts streaming November 24 on @DisneyPlus.

Winnie, Sarah and Mary find their way into an unlikely place – a grocery store – in the brand new trailer for Hocus Pocus 2!

! Disney unveiled the first official trailer from the long-anticipated sequel, starring Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker and Kathy Najimy, during their D23 Expo event on Friday.In addition to Midler, Parker and Najimy, Doug Jones, who plays Billy Butcherson, also reprises his role in the upcoming sequel.Set 29 years after the events of the first film,  sees the 17th-century sisters resurrected after high school friends relight the Black Flame Candle and spark a whole new adventure. Now, it’s up to these students to put a stop to the witches once again.ET previously reported that the film will «see three young women accidentally bringing the Sanderson Sisters back to modern-day Salem and must figure out how to stop the child-hungry witches from wreaking a new kind of havoc on the world.»Whitney Peak, Lilia Buckingham and Belissa Escobedo play the present-day Salem students who incite the wrath of the three witches.

Michaela Zee editorDisney has released the official trailer for “Hocus Pocus 2,” in which the Sanderson sisters will once again put a spell on you. The new trailer debuted at the D23 Expo with an introduction from Disney Chairman Alan Bergman. Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, Kathy Najimy and Doug Jones are reprising their roles from the original 1993 film. Hannah Waddingham, Tony Hale, Sam Richardson, Lilia Buckingham, Belissa Escobedo and Whitney Peak also star in the sequel, along with “Drag Race” queens Ginger Minj, Kahmora Hall and Kornbread “The Snack” Jeté. 

EXCLUSIVE: Kiernan Shipka (Chilling Adventures of Sabrina) has signed on to star alongside Dwayne Johnson and Chris Evans in Prime Video’s holiday event film currently titled Red One, from director Jake Kasdan (Jumanji franchise).

We can’t believe Hocus Pocus 2 is really happening after all these years! We’re finally going to see the Sanderson Sisters (Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Kathy Najimy) again as they return to wreak more havoc on Salem.

Hocus Pocus 2, the sequel to Disney’s upcoming sequel to the 1993 Halloween classic, is debuting one month from today on Disney+!

The iconic Disney film Hocus Pocus in concert is coming to Manchester this Halloween, as part of spooky UK tour. Featuring live orchestral music from Emmy winning composer John Debney, Hocus Pocus in Concert will play at Bridgewater Hall on Monday October 24.

More details are emerging about the upcoming Hocus Pocus 2.

fans won’t see two of the film’s most iconic faces in the upcoming Disney+ sequel. The film’s director, Anne Fletcher, revealed that Omri Katz and Vinessa Shaw, who played Max Dennison and Allison, won’t appear in the upcoming film.  «We wanted to weave in all of the people that the fans loved, and when you sat back with all the ingredients and story, you're like, how do we make this work?» Fletcher tells in a new interview. «It was very difficult to try to have them be a part of it, because we did talk about it — painstakingly.

EXCLUSIVE: Bill Camp (The Queen’s Gambit) will reunite once again with his American Rust and The Looming Tower co-star Jeff Daniels in A Man in Full, Netflix’s six-episode limited series from David E. Kelley and Regina King based on Tom Wolfe’s 1998 novel.

Rebecca Rubin Film and Media Reporter “Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom” and Shazam: Fury of the Gods” will land in theaters later than planned. Warner Bros. on Wednesday announced a slew of release date changes, pushing the “Aquaman” follow-up from March 17, 2023 to Dec. 25, 2023. The “Shazam” sequel will open on the date previously occupied by Jason Momoa’s hulking King of Atlantis. The story about Zachary Levi’s Billy Batson was originally set for Dec. 21, 2022. On its new date, “Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom” will debut a few days after Disney’s “Star Wars” spinoff “Rogue Squadron,” while “Shazam: Fury of the Gods” has free rein over its new opening weekend.

EXCLUSIVE: Deadline has learned that Warner Bros. is making a slew of release date changes next year. First of all, James Wan’s Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom needs more time in post, so it’s moving from March 17, 2023 to Dec. 25, 2023.

The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power,” Amazon Studios’ ambitious fantasy series based on the works of author J.R.R. Tolkien and reportedly the most expensive television series ever made, premieres Sept. 2 on Amazon Prime Video. But as the social embargo lifts, critics and fans who have seen the first two episodes ahead of time are flocking to Twitter to share their opinions on the highly anticipated series. Eric Francisco, senior film/TV writer at Inverse, hailed “Rings of Power” as “big, bold and beautiful” but indicated uncertainty as to whether the prequel series will “sit alongside” Peter Jackson’s film trilogy or “deserve Tolkien’s name.”

EXCLUSIVE: The Writers Guild Foundation has revealed the participants for the 2022 session of the Writers’ Access Support Staff Training Program.

Inanna Sarkis Scripted Podcast Series ‘Zaya’ Lands Deal At Realm Podcast Network (EXCLUSIVE) The Realm Podcast Network has picked up Zaya, a scripted podcast penned and directed by actress Inanna Sarkis. Sarkis also stars in the pod, which tells the story of a Middle Eastern student living in Brooklyn who finds her world shattered when her older brother is violently kidnapped before her eyes. In her quest to bring him home, she discovers there was much more to him than she ever knew. The 6-episode series also stars Suki Waterhouse, Hayley Law, Evan Ross, Samer Salem, Jacob Batalon, Matthew Noszka, Lamorne Morris, Melvyn Gregg, and Dylan Arnold. In a statement, Realm’s Vice President, Mary Assadullahi, said: “Inanna is such a talent. We are thrilled to partner with her for her podcast debut and can’t wait to share it with listeners—this one will have you on the edge of your seat!” The pod will air weekly from Aug 15 on all platforms including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Stitcher. UTA helped broker the deal.

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorVeteran Russian musical collective and  activists Pussy Riot will be joined by some high-profile guests for their forthcoming concert at Los Angeles’ El Rey Theater on Wednesday: comic Sarah Silverman will be performing a full set, while Big Freedia — fresh from her prominent guest spot on Beyonce’s “Break My Soul” —  Salem Ilese, Josiah, Boyfriend, Slayyyter and Eva Elfie will be making special guest appearances, along with previously announced artist Rei Ami.The appearance is a rare high-profile slot for Silverman, who has been keeping a relatively low profile in recent months. Big Freedia and Salem Ilese both appear on Pussy Riot’s “Matriarchy” mixtape, which dropped on Friday. Ilese also released the viral hit “Crypto Boy,” and for which the group’s Nadya Tolokonnikova created the single artwork.

MONSTA X members have renewed their contracts with longtime agency Starship Entertainment.Today (August 8), Starship Entertainment announced via the group’s official fan cafe site that all MONSTA X members apart from rapper I.M have renewed their contracts with the agency. However, I.M will continue remain a part of the group.“As all six members share the same thoughts and affection towards the group and MONBEBE (MONSTA X’s official fanbase), I.M has agreed to continue and participate in the group’s future plans,” assured the agency in its statement.“Our sincere appreciation goes out to I.M for the hard work and dedication he has shown over the years,” it said, adding: “We will support him wholeheartedly for both his participation as a member of MONSTA X and an individual artist.”News of members Shownu, Minhyuk, Kihyun and Hyungwon’s contract renewals was first announced by Starship in May, during which the agency revealed that it was still carrying out discussions with rappers Joohoney and I.M.Last month, MONSTA X teamed up with Dutch DJ and producer Sam Feldt on his latest single ‘Late Night Feels’, marking the boyband’s second group release of 2022.