Bette Midler Reveals ‘Hocus Pocus 3’ Is in Talks

“I have to tell you, it was a real surprise to all of us when [‘Hocus Pocus’] took off,” Bette Midler told Radio Andy hosts Jess Cagle and Julia Cunningham in an exclusive interview.

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Bette — who played Winifred Sanderson in the original Walt Disney Pictures 1993 movie based in Salem, MA — explained that “Hocus Pocus” really exploded in popularity when it transitioned from the big screen to TV.

“It took off because of television,” she continued. “And we really didn’t catch up to it for years. It was years before we learned that this had become this massive cult success.”

Describing Winifred as “the least like me of any character I’ve ever played,” Bette said, “She has all the great things you love in a great villain. She’s vicious, she’s hilarious, she’s ridiculous looking, and she doesn’t know any of that.”

Bette reprised her role as Winifred in the 2022 sequel “Hocus Pocus 2” and revealed to Jess and Julia that there are plans in the works to make another movie.

“We didn’t know that it was going to be a hit, and no one was as surprised as we were. And now they’re kind of talking about a third, very gingerly and very gently,” Bette said. “They are, they’re talking about a third. And the second one was a huge success.”