Along with Bette Midler and Sarah Jessica Parker, it also features Sam Richardson, Whitney Peak, Belissa Escobedo, Tony Hale, and Hannah Waddingham as a sequel to the 1993 film Hocus Pocus., Kathy Najimy, and Doug Jones in characters they previously played.
In lieu of Salem, Massachusetts, filming took place in Rhode Island from October 2021 to January 2022. The date of release was September 30, 2022, on Disney+. Unlike the previous film, the sequel was met with mixed to good reviews from critics who praised the actors performances and humor but faulted the story. The movie is viewed as being better than its predecessor by several reviews.
Casting
Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Kathy Najimy have indicated interest in playing the Sanderson Sisters again in the follow-up on November 1, 2019. Midler first disclosed that she had begun negotiations to reprise her role as Winifred in the movie in September 2020. In October 2020, she confirmed that she would be returning with Parker and Najimy, though their reappearances weren’t formally announced until May 2021. Taylor Paige Henderson was said to have been chosen for one of the three roles in October 2021. Sam Richardson was reportedly in final discussions to join the cast in an unspecified role shortly after that.
In the same month, Tony Hale, who plays Jefry Traske, the mayor of Salem, joined the cast. On October 31, 2021, the whole supporting cast was officially announced, including Hannah Waddingham and Doug Jones, who reprised his role as William “Billy” Butcherson from the first movie. It was revealed in March 2022 that Thora Birch wouldn’t be playing Dani Dennison from the last movie. Later, Birch admitted she would have been in the movie but couldn’t because of a schedule issue. The announcement that Larry Bagby, Tobias Jelinek, Omri Katz, and Vinessa Shaw would not be repeating their roles as Ice, Jay, Max, and Allison, respectively, came in the summer of that year.
Pre-production
Along with Najimy and Jessica Parker, Midler said on October 29, 2020 that a plot concept for the follow-up has been finished and complimented it as “quite excellent.” ] On November 3, Midler disclosed that the producers are attempting to re-hire a number of the original movie’s production team members who are still alive and haven’t retired since they believe the success of the first movie was much influenced by the efforts of the team who worked behind the scenes. Due to Shankman’s directorial responsibilities for Disenchanted in April 2021, Anne Fletcher took over as the film’s director; however, Shankman will continue to serve as an executive producer.
Filming
Beginning in Salem, Massachusetts, in the middle of 2021, production was slated to get underway. Sets for Hocus Pocus 2 were confirmed to be being constructed at Washington Square in Newport, Rhode Island, and Chase Farms in Lincoln, Rhode Island, in September 2021.
On October 18, 2021, in Providence, Rhode Island, filming on the untitled project Black Flame began.
A video leak occurred on November 2, 2021.On November 8, 2021, Newport’s Washington Square was used for filming in a contemporary Salem, Massachusetts.
Filming at Federal Hill, which had been converted with a setting inspired by Halloween, started on December 10, 2021. Midler announced on social media on January 26, 2022, that filming was over.
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