Here's Who Will and Won't Be Returning to Star in “Hocus Pocus 2”

Bette Midler, who played the lead-witch Winifred Sanderson in the original “Hocus Pocus,” was one of the first of the original cast members to confirm her involvement in the sequel in a Nov. 12, 2021, Instagram. “Sistaaaaahs! ‘Tis time! #HocusPocus2 is now in production, coming Fall 2022 to @disneyplus,” the veteran actress wrote at the time.

Like Midler, Kathy Najimy will also be returning for “Hocus Pocus 2” to play Mary Sanderson, the middle sister among the Sanderson witches who has the magical ability to sniff out children in her midst.

Sarah Jessica Parker will return as Sarah Sanderson for “Hocus Pocus 2,” the youngest Sanderson sister and the one who can lure children into the sisters’ clutches with her beautiful singing voice. Parker also teased her involvement in a Nov. 14, 2021, Instagram photo showing her own foot beside Midler and Najimi’s in their Sanderson sister shoes. “Dance rehearsal. No rest for the wicked. Sabbath ha,” the “Sex and the City” star wrote.

For Winifred Sanderson, it was hard to resist not bringing back her old flame in “Hocus Pocus,” so it’s only natural actor Doug Jones (in full-zombie makeup) rises from the dead once again as Billy Butcherson for “Hocus Pocus 2.” Jones confirmed his participation in the project in an Oct. 21 Instagram, writing, “Before Billy falls asleep again, I have two things to say today: 1) Happy Halloween! 2) Tune in next October 2022 to see if I wake up again!”

Omri Katz was 17 years old in 1993 when he played Max Dennison, the boy who gets swept into Halloween trouble with his little sister Dani and the evil Sanderson sisters. Katz is now 46 and will not be returning to “Hocus Pocus 2” as Max, but he has shown his support for the movie and even kept fans guessing about his involvement. In an interview with the Hocus Pocus Collector on Instagram during ’90s Con in March 2022, Katz said, “People [are] 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!”

Thora Birch played Dani Dennison, Max’s little sister, in the original “Hocus Pocus.” According to Entertainment Weekly, Birch was originally “circling a good supporting role” as an adult-version of Dani to aide the new cast members in their adventure against the Sanderson sisters, but the plans reportedly fell through due to scheduling conflicts.

Max’s love interest was played by a 17-year-old Vinessa Shaw in “Hocus Pocus.” Like Katz’s Max, there is no indication Shaw will be returning for “Hocus Pocus 2,” though she has continued her acting career in multiple movies like “Eyes Wide Shut” and “3:10 to Yuma.”

Throughout “Hocus Pocus,” the children are guided and protected by their furry new friend Binx the cat, or Thatchery Binx, who was once a human, but was cursed and turned into a cat by the Sanderson sisters a century ago on Halloween night. The talking cat was voiced by Jason Marsden in 1993, but Marsden confirmed to Entertainment Weekly that he won’t be returning for “Hocus Pocus 2.” It’s unclear whether any similar talking animal will return for the sequel, but Marsden’s went on to voice act in other iconic Disney roles, like Goofy’s son Max Goof in “A Goofy Movie.”