Original Hocus Pocus Star Teases Hocus Pocus 3 Return — And Wants Answers About Dani’s Fate
The sisters are back—and the bill for past sins is due. Retribution looms, alliances will crack, and the fallout could scorch everyone in their path.
Hocus Pocus 3 is brewing over at Disney, and one of the original heroes says she wants in. Yes, Dani herself is raising her hand.
Thora Birch is game to return as Dani Dennison
Thora Birch, who played Dani in the 1993 original, told Entertainment Tonight she would happily revisit Salem to see where her character ended up after that infamous Halloween with a talking cat and the black flame candle.
'Yeah, I’d like to know what they land on for how Dani wound up. I’m super open to the idea... They love talking about this stuff, so we’ll see.'
Short version: if Disney calls, she’s picking up.
Where Hocus Pocus 2 left things
Disney+ brought back the Sanderson Sisters in 2022, with Bette Midler, Kathy Najimy, and Sarah Jessica Parker again playing Winifred, Mary, and Sarah. Doug Jones returned too, still delightfully decomposed as Billy Butcherson, the not-quite-resting ex of Winifred. The new teen trio caught in the chaos was played by Lilia Buckingham, Belissa Escobedo, and Whitney Peak. As of now, none of that younger crew has been confirmed for the third movie.
So what is Hocus Pocus 3 actually about?
Details are basically fog and broomsticks right now, but Hocus Pocus 2 teed up a possible bigger threat: the sequel strongly hinted we haven’t seen the last of Mother Witch, played by Ted Lasso standout Hannah Waddingham. If Birch does come back, you could imagine Dani teaming up on the right side of the spellbook again—maybe even alongside the Sandersons if something worse shows up. And if you caught that 'salt' motif over the years: in this universe, salt keeps you safe from magic. No salt, no safety.
What’s official
- 1993: Hocus Pocus introduces the Sanderson Sisters in Salem, with Thora Birch as Dani Dennison.
- 2022: Hocus Pocus 2 lands on Disney+, reuniting Midler, Najimy, Parker, and Doug Jones, and launching a new trio of heroes (Buckingham, Escobedo, Peak).
- 2023: Disney gives a third film the go-ahead. Casting for returning characters beyond the original trio hasn’t been announced.
That’s the state of play. Birch is open, the coven’s cauldron is warm, and Disney has the green light. Now we wait to see who gets swept up for another ride over Salem.