Disney's Hocus Pocus is a Halloween cult classic.
The 1993 film has been a huge financial success despite a dismal box office showing.
While rumors have swirled about a sequel, nothing legitimate has materialized.
But why not?
Here are all the reasons the sequel spell just isn't working.
If Hocus Pocus 2 ever happened, it would arguably need to include the original Sanderson sisters,
right?
Well, good news: They're all in.
As Sarah Jessica Parker told Andy Cohen in 2016,
"I would love that."
"You would?"
"I think we've all been fairly vocal about being very keen."
"Yes."
"But that hasn't created any groundswell of movement."
Both Kathy Najimy and Bette Midler also agreed they would return, but both said Disney held
the keys to getting a sequel going.
Najimy told Buzzfeed,
"The outpouring of love from Hocus-ites has been astounding… we hear y'all loud and
clear!
A sequel is totally in The Disney company's hands, and it will be exciting to see what
transpires!"
In 2014, Midler echoed Najimy in a Reddit Ask Me Anything, telling hopeful Hocus-ites,
"You have to go to send in your cards to the Walt Disney company.
The ball's in their court."
Hocus Pocus debuted at a time when Halloween had not yet become the all-consuming celebration
it is today.
Sure, the holiday was popular in 1993, but not so popular that it had spawned the countless
movies, TV shows, and entertainment products it does today.
According to The Huffington Post, Midler told Katie Couric,
"We made it before the tidal wave of Halloween happened.
Now it's like huge.
It's huge.
Kids, grown-ups, everyone takes part in it.
This movie was kind of like the beginning of the wave."
"Bless you."
"AHHHHHHHH!"
Hocus Pocus entered the market as something original that stood apart from the rest of
the cinema fare.
This gave the film the opportunity to develop the cult following it maintains to this day
and paved the way for future Disney Halloween classics.
Hocus Pocus 2 could have a hard time standing out within today's jam-packed Halloween movie
market.
There have been some cult classics over the years that spawned worthy sequels or reboots,
but only a rare few have lived up to the original.
Many have been ripped to shreds by critics, like Caddyshack II, which the Los Angeles
Times described as, quote, "no laughing matter," and every subsequent installment in the American
Pie franchise, which some of the cast even felt failed to recapture the comedic gold
of the first film.
With bigger budgets, more star power, and more pressure, it's nearly impossible to preserve
the campy goodness that made the originals so endearing.
Disney might not want to risk destroying one of its most popular properties if it can't
get the potion right.
With the original cast of big stars on board, and fandom at its arguable peak, Disney seemingly
has every reason to make Hocus Pocus 2.
However, in order for the film to succeed without taking away the magic of the original,
it has to be perfect.
What better way to test that than by releasing a new storyline in a side market and gauging
fans' reactions?
That seems to be precisely what Disney did with the release of the book Hocus Pocus and
the All-New Sequel, which hit shelves in July 2018.
A seemingly direct follow-up to the events of the film, the book focuses on the daughter
of Max and Allison, who, quote, "finds herself face-to-face with the Sanderson sisters in
all their sinister glory."
According to Bustle, the book quickly landed on The New York Times Bestsellers List in
the young adult category.
It's entirely possible that Disney is trying to figure out a way to update the story to
keep up with current norms, while also creating a whole new built-in audience from readers
of the popular book.
For as cagey as Disney has been about a possible Hocus Pocus 2, they pulled out all the stops
for the 25th anniversary screening of the original film in October 2018.
Held at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery, the star-studded bash included cast appearances,
musical performances, and fans who were so enthusiastic they allegedly had to be forced
out of the venue when the event was over.
Hocus Pocus director Kenny Ortega apparently wants to do it again, telling Entertainment
Weekly,
"We're talking about maybe doing it every year now, Hocus Pocus Halloween party every
year.
It was a grand success."
That kind of event sounds like the perfect opportunity to announce plans for a sequel,
right?
And yet, no such announcement was made.
Disney's ability to keep cranking out profit from a decades-old project without shelling
out millions on a risky sequel makes it hard to imagine the studio trying to make lightning
strike twice.
"You, there!
I haven't lost my touch, sisters, see?"