Hocus Pocus 2 director Anne Fletcher reveals the sequel will explore the Sanderson sisters’ origins

Nearly 30 years after the Sanderson Sisters wreaked havoc on Salem, Massachusetts, the beloved witches will return in Hocus Pocus 2.

Bette Midler (Winifred), Sarah Jessica Parker (Sarah) and Kathy Najimy (Mary) reprise their roles in the sequel, which will debut September 30 on Disney Plus.

Director Anne Fletcher revealed in a new interview with Entertainment Weekly that the sequel’s opening sequence will explore the sisters’ origins in the 1600s.

Sequel: Nearly 30 years after the Sanderson Sisters wreaked havoc on Salem, Massachusetts, the beloved witches will return in Hocus Pocus 2

Director: Director Anne Fletcher revealed in a new interview with Entertainment Weekly that the sequel's opening sequence will explore the sisters' origins in the 1600s

Director: Director Anne Fletcher revealed in a new interview with Entertainment Weekly that the sequel’s opening sequence will explore the sisters’ origins in the 1600s

The opening sequence will feature child actors Taylor Henderson, Juju Journey Brener, and Nina Kitchen as younger versions of Winifred, Sarah and Mary.

The sequence will also feature a young Billy Butcherson (Doug Jones), years before he became Winifred’s lover.

‘The opening sequence of the movie, we get some history of our witches and Billy. We get a little kiss — pardon the pun — of the Billy aspect of it and the world that they lived in and what happened to the witches,’ Fletcher began. 

Opening: The opening sequence will feature child actors Taylor Henderson, Juju Journey Brener, and Nina Kitchen as younger versions of Winifred, Sarah and Mary

Opening: The opening sequence will feature child actors Taylor Henderson, Juju Journey Brener, and Nina Kitchen as younger versions of Winifred, Sarah and Mary

‘I always missed that in the first one. Like, what are the witches the way they are? I did have that question, and the script came, and I loved the opening 1600s,’ she said. 

She added that she ‘pushed’ the opening ‘a little bit more,’ so she could introduce the notion that, ‘the 1600s and the now are the same. There’s no difference.’

‘I just want to poke at the irony of it. But, in the joy of the film you get to see the young version of them and have a great time and understand the what and why of what happened to them,’ Fletcher added.

Same: She added that she 'pushed' the opening 'a little bit more,' so she could introduce the notion that, 'the 1600s and the now are the same. There's no difference'

Same: She added that she ‘pushed’ the opening ‘a little bit more,’ so she could introduce the notion that, ‘the 1600s and the now are the same. There’s no difference’

Fletcher also added there will be, ‘some wonderful surprises in the mythology’ of the sisters, while confirming, ‘they’re not witches in the beginning.’

The opening sequence showcasing their origins will also mirror three modern-day teenagers in Salem, played by Whitney Peak, Belissa Escobedo, and Lilia Buckingham, who ultimately bring the sisters back to life.

‘We give each girl not only the same color in the vein of our witches — Becca (Peak) being Winnie, Izzy (Escobedo) being Mary, and Cassie (Buckinham) being Sarah — but their hairstyles in a way are similar,’ Fletcher added. 

Teens: The opening sequence showcasing their origins will also mirror three modern-day teenagers in Salem, played by Whitney Peak, Belissa Escobedo, and Lilia Buckingham, who ultimately bring the sisters back to life

Teens: The opening sequence showcasing their origins will also mirror three modern-day teenagers in Salem, played by Whitney Peak, Belissa Escobedo, and Lilia Buckingham, who ultimately bring the sisters back to life

‘It’s a modern-day twist on it. It’s the intention of playing into that. At the end of the day, the movie is about sisterhood, it’s about sticking together through thick and thin, and being there for one another,’ Fletcher added.

It was also confirmed that the then-younger actors from the original film – Omri Katz, Vinessa Shaw, Thora Birch, Larry Bagby, Tobias Jelinek and Jason Marsden – will not return for the sequel.

New casting additions include Sam Richardson, Tony Hale, Hannah Waddingham, and RuPaul’s Drag Race alums Kahmora Hall, Ginger Minj and Kornbread Jete.

Twist: 'It's a modern-day twist on it. It's the intention of playing into that. At the end of the day, the movie is about sisterhood, it's about sticking together through thick and thin, and being there for one another,' Fletcher added

Twist: ‘It’s a modern-day twist on it. It’s the intention of playing into that. At the end of the day, the movie is about sisterhood, it’s about sticking together through thick and thin, and being there for one another,’ Fletcher added