While Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker and Kathy Najimy are returning as the Sanderson Sisters in the Disney+ sequel Hocus Pocus 2, one of its original stars will not be returning. Entertainment Weekly reported Thora Birch, who played the young Dani Dennison, will not appear due to scheduling conflicts.
Birch was asked to star in Hocus Pocus 2, but had to decline because of her series regular role in Netflix’s Addams Family series Wednesday. Birch would have played “a good supporting role” as an adult Dani would help the new trio of young teens in defeating the Sanderson’s quest for vengeance.
However, Birch had to back out of Wednesday in December due to a family emergency and her role was taken over by Christina Ricci. Given that Hocus Pocus 2 wrapped filming in January as well as the nature of Birch’s departure from Wednesday, it is very unlikely Birch had an opportunity to film any scenes or a cameo for Hocus Pocus 2.
Directed by Anne Fletcher (The Proposal), the Disney+ movie will see the original Sanderson sisters back alongside Doug Jones as Billy Butcherson, while Whitney Peak (Gossip Girl), Lilia Buckingham (Dirt) and Belissa Escobedo (American Horror Stories) play Becca, Cassie and Izzy, three young women in present-day Salem who incite the wrath of the three witches.
SEE ALSO: Looking at Hocus Pocus as a Camp Masterclass
Also starring in the sequel are Tony Hale (Arrested Development), Sam Richardson (Veep), Hannah Waddingham (Ted Lasso), Doug Jones (Star Trek: Discovery), Juju Brenner (Vanquish), Froy Gutierrez (Cruel Summer), Taylor Henderson (Earwig and the Witch) and Nina Kitchen.
It’s been 29 years since someone lit the Black Flame Candle and resurrected the 17th-century sisters who were executed for practicing witchcraft, and they are looking for revenge. Now it is up to three high-school students to figure out how to stop the ravenous witches from wreaking a new kind of havoc on Salem before midnight on All Hallow’s Eve.
Hocus Pocus 2 will be released in Fall 2022.
Ricky Church – Follow me on Twitter for more movie news and nerd talk.
