Fact Check - Is Hocus Pocus: The Rise of the Sandersons releasing in 2024? Viral prequel series poster debunked

A supposed poster for the upcoming series, Hocus Pocus: The Rise of the Sandersons, is making its rounds online, leaving fans wondering if a prequel series is in the works. The rumors began on Monday, May 20, 2024, when Facebook user @YODA BBY ABY shared a poster for the movie with the caption:

"HOCUS POCUS PREQUEL SERIES!!! DISNEY+!!! Get ready for six spellbinding episodes with Hocus Pocus: The Rise of the Sandersons, premiering on Disney+ this October 2024!"

The alleged artwork features a younger version of the three wicked witches, a.k.a., the Sanderson sisters, staring at their spell book. It adds that the series is set for a Halloween release and stars Taylor Paige Henderson, Nina Kitchen, and Juju Journey Brener as the villainous trio. The post teased:

"Join young Winifred (Taylor Paige Henderson), Mary (Nina Kitchen), and Sarah (Juju Journey Brener) as they navigate the eerie and enchanting world of 17th-century Salem, discovering their powers while facing trials, mischief, and danger. With a perfect mix of fun, thrills, and spookiness, this dramatic and funny new series will captivate viewers of all ages!"

However, the poster is fan-made, and there is no prequel series coming out any time this year.

Hocus Pocus is a 1993 fantasy-comedy film centered around the Sanderson sisters (played by Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Kathy Najimy), who are accidentally resurrected by a teenager, Max, on Halloween night.

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"We're still in the story phase, we're still working on it"—Hocus Pocus 2 writer on a third movie in the franchise

When it was first released, Hocus Pocus was a box office bomb, losing Disney money on the movie. However, after several annual airings on the Disney Channel throughout the month of October, the film has become a cult classic.

A sequel was released in 2022 on Disney+, with the three actresses reprising their roles and Taylor Paige Henderson, Nina Kitchen, and Juju Journey playing the younger versions of the trio. This is one of the reasons the poster by Facebook user @YODA BBY ABY seemed plausible.

While the sequel received mixed reviews, nostalgia and performances made it one of the most-watched movies on the streaming platform. The film introduced a new character, Mother Witch, played by Hannah Waddingham, who gave the Sanderson sisters their spell book and taught them magic.

Owing to the success of Hocus Pocus 2, a third film was announced. It was confirmed by the President of Walt Disney Studios Motion Picture Production, Sean Bailey, in June 2023, who stated the film was in development but did not share any further details.

Hocus Pocus 2 writer Jen D'Angelo revealed in her October 2023 interview with EW that the sequel was in the "story phase," stating:

"We're still in the story phase, we're still working on it. We've been working on some ideas, and it's been fun to dive back into that world and we have so many directions in which to go and so many new characters to explore."

Talking about possible plotlines, D'Angelo revealed that the previous movie "only scratched the surface of Hannah Waddingham's mother witch," hinting at a possible story set in the past. However, there was no official confirmation about the film's plot.

Since Jen's October 2023 interview, there has been no other word on the film.

Additionally, Facebook user @YODA BBY ABY has previously shared a fan poster for The Iron Giant Reforged, a sequel to the 1999 animated film, which sparked similar false rumors.

Both Hocus Pocus movies are available to stream on Disney+.