A third "Hocus Pocus" film is officially in development, Walt Disney Pictures president Sean Bailey has confirmed.

In a profile with The New York Times, Bailey stated that "Yes, 'Hocus Pocus 3' is happening" when discussing additional upcoming live-action projects in development at the company.

The third film would follow Kenny Ortega’s 1993 original and last year’s Anne Fletcher-directed sequel, both of which starred Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker and Kathy Najimy as the Sanderson sisters — Winifred, Sarah and Mary, respectively — a trio of witches who suck the life force out of children in an effort to stay young.

It’s unclear if there have been any discussions with Midler, Parker and Najimy. For her part, Midler told Entertainment Weekly last year that she’d be game to revisit her role.

"I'd love to have a franchise - especially a character I love playing," she said. "If there was a third one, of course I'd sign on, but I don’t know how. I can’t imagine what the story would be, but I love Winifred, Sarah, Mary and our relationship. It’s good for women. We stick together through hell and high water, but we do cause mayhem, and not many women cause that much mayhem."

Midler added that, while the prospect of a third Hocus Pocus remained unclear, she was grateful to return for the sequel after 30 years away. "After 30 years with no sequel to Hocus Pocus, I've always been envious of people who get to do their favorite character more than once. The fact that we got to do this finally, after 30 years of promoting the idea, I'm glad we got to do it."

"Hocus Pocus 2" certainly succeeded in capturing new and old fans alike, with the Sept. 30, 2022, release securing its spot as the most watched original Disney+ movie in the first three since its launch and logging 2.7 billion minutes viewed.

Source: Press Release