How can I watch Hocus Pocus 2? Is movie on Disney+, when is it out UK, will it be in cinemas, and age rating

Hocus Pocus is one of the most beloved and iconic Halloween movies of all time - and, after years of speculation and rumours and potential “what if’s”, a sequel finally became reality in an announcement that was made back in December 2020.

Well it’s good news for Hocus Pocus fans as you won’t have to wait too much longer before you can get your hands on the highly anticipated Hocus Pocus 2.

This is everything you need to know about the upcoming film, including its release date.

What will the sequel be about?

Picking up almost 30 years after the events of the first Hocus Pocus film, three teenage girls accidentally bring the Sanderson Sisters back to modern-day Salem - and it’s up to them to figure out how to stop the child-hungry witches before it’s too late.

The official synopsis of the film reads: “It’s been 29 years since someone lit the Black Flame Candle and resurrected the 17th century sisters, and they are looking for revenge.

“Now it is up to three high school students to stop the ravenous witches from wreaking a new kind of havoc on Salem before dawn on All Hallow’s Eve.”

Hocus Pocus 2 star Sarah Jessica Parker has also confirmed that the sequel will also be a musical, the same as the original film.

Chatting on Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen, she said: “There will be a number, of course there will be a number! A number or two.”

Is there a trailer?

A teaser trailer for the upcoming sequel was dropped on back in June which showed three high school girls unwittingly summoning the Sanderson Sisters as part of a birthday ritual gone wrong.

Who is in the cast?

Fans of the original Hocus Pocus film will be glad to hear that the sequel will see the return of Bette Midler (The First Wives Club, The Politician), Sarah Jessica Parker (Sex and the City, And Just Like That) and Kathy Najimy (Duncanville, Younger) as the Sanderson Sisters Winifred, Sarah and Mary.

Another returning cast member includes Doug Jones (Shape of Water, Star Trek Discovery) as Billy Butcherson.

Unfortunately, despite best efforts, Thora Birch (The Walking Dead, American Beauty) will not be returning as Dani Dennison due to scheduling conflicts.

Back in May, Birch said in an interview with Comic Book: “Everybody tried so hard to make that happen and it just didn’t, but everybody tried so hard.”

As it stands, it appears that Omri Katz (The John Larroquette Show, Eerie, Indiana), Vinessa Shaw (Ray Donovan, 12 Mighty Orphans) and Jason Marsden (Young Justice, A Goofy Movie) won’t be reprising their roles as Max, Allison and Thackery Binx.

However Katz teased a possible appearance during an interview at 90s Con in March.

Katz said: “You know, talking to a lot of fans today, people obviously really disappointed that we’re not involved.

“But, I could be lying. We’re all in it! No, maybe we’re not. Maybe we are!”

Marsden added: “Maybe we’re not…” and Shaw wrapped things up by commenting: “You’ll just have to see it to know.”

New cast members rounding out the rest of the film include:

• Whitney Peak (Gossip Girl, Home Before Dark)
• Lilia Buckingham (Crown Lake, Zoe Valentine)
• Belissa Escobedo (Don’t Look Deeper, The Baker and the Beauty)
• Hannah Waddingham (Ted Lasso, Sex Education)
• Tony Hale (Being the Ricardos, The Legend of Vox Machina)
• Sam Richardson (The Afterparty, Veep)
• Juju Brener (Vanquish, Rift)
• Froy Gutierrez (Cruel Summer, Teen Wolf)
• Taylor Henderson (Evil Lives Here, Earwig and the Witch)

Three RuPaul’s Drag Race stars have also been confirmed to be in the new film as well, with Kahmora Hall, Kornbread and Ginger Minj appearing as the drag versions of the Sanderson sisters.

When will it be released - will it be in cinemas?

Hocus Pocus 2 will be exclusively released on Disney+ later this month, on 30 September, meaning it won’t have a theatrical release.

A Disney+ subscription is available for £7.99 per month, or you can sign up for an annual subscription, which costs £79.90, which allows you to get 12 months of the streaming platform for the price of 10.

Disney+ is the streaming home for entertainment from Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars, National Geographic and more.

Up to four screens can stream simultaneously and you can also host virtual viewing parties with up to five friends with Groupwatch.

It has a PG age rating.