Cast This! "Hocus Pocus" Sequel
Sunday, July 8, 2012 at 11:29AM A new rumor swirling round the internet this weekend is that Disney is considered a sequel to Hocus Pocus (1993) that mildly amusing witchy family comedy starring Bette Midler, Kathy Najimy and Sarah Jessica Parker which was a much bigger success on video than it was in theaters. I remember liking it -- I love funny women trios as I just mentioned -- but wishing it was as funny as we all know all those actresses to be.
Moviehole reports that Disney may fast track this new film for release next year and is calling it Hocus Pocus: Rise of the Elderwitch. /Film reports that Disney is denying it entirely. The title sounds, to me, like an unecessarily complicated title when modern trends suggest that they'll probably just remake it (excuse me "reboot" it) and attempt a new franchise.
If you were making a magical comedy about three naughty witches, who would you cast? You need really funny girls to live up to Midler, Najimy & Parker and as is the tradition with female comedy trios from 9 to 5 to Witches of Eastwick and Hocus Pocus and on through the Charlie's Angels movies, you need distinctly different personalities / hair colors.
If you don't include Ari Graynor in your triple wish list, I will never hire you to cast my own debut feature. Go!
Ari Graynor, Bette Midler, Cast This!, Hocus Pocus, Kathy Najimy, SJP, remakes, sequels
Reader Comments (25)
Ari Gaynor would be perfect! Thanks for brining her up... I would've unfortunately overlooked her.
There's so many young talented female actresses but few (in my opinion) can pull off the necessary comedic chops for a female ensemble like this... My picks would be:
Emma Stone
Ari Gaynor
Anna Kendrick or Alison Brie or Gabourey Sidibe for the third slot...
Phillip -- ooh, i'm totally seeing the movie you cast. And I think I'm going with Brie for the last slot because I'm in love with her lately.
Phillip nailed it: Emma Stone, Ari Graynor, and Alison Brie were my picks, too.
NAILED IT! =P
Nathaniel - I as well! She's always been one of my favorites on Community/Mad Men and she's been a highlight in her recent films (Scream, Five Year Engagement...)
Also, way off topic: changing my Author tag since I realized there is another Philip. Less confusion!
I'd go with Judy Greer, Minnie Driver, and Elizabeth Banks.
Yup, Philip nailed it. One could argue that Isla Fisher, Anna Kendrick, Judy Greer, Lizzy Caplan, Krysten Ritter, Christina Ricci, among others, could be good options.
My picks:
Anna Faris or Ari Graynor, Amy Adams and Christina Ricci.
But if we're going for crazy (and not being ageist at all here), what about a combo of Juliette Lewis, Anne Heche and Helena Bonham-Carter?
But people you know, it's Disney so this is probably going to people like Katherine Heigl if they want the glossy treatment or people like Helena Bonham-Carter if they want it more gothic-like (and I guess Tim Burton signs to do it).
I love the idea of Helena Bonham-Carter being in the film (is that too obvious though?)! If we're shooting for an "older" cast I'd say add Amy Adams and Scotts pick of Judy Greer or Elizabeth Banks and you have a recipe for comedic success
Without much thought I say: Cher, Barbra, Gaga.
With more thought...thinking... :
Toni Collette, Michael Fassb..sorry I meant Miriam Margolyes (or Julia Louis-Dreyfus), Lisa Kudrow (or Tina Fey)
Jorge -- you know i love your crazy trio. I wish Anne Heche were in so many more movies.
Scott C -- interesting combo
James T -- Fassbender/Margolyes . so interchangeable!
They're probably all too similar (read: blonde), but what about Ari Graynor, Anna Faris, and Rebel Wilson?
If we're going the more famous route, Whoopi, Kristen Wiig, and Tina Fey.
Could we go all-British, with some against-type? Like Winslet, Mulligan and Knightley? They really need go the comedy route for a change.
Cal - but what if they aren't funny?
maya rudolph, melissa mccarthy and ari graynor
Winifred Sanderson - Ari Graynor
Mary Sanderson - Rebel Wilson
Sarah Sanderson - Heather Morris
If they brought the original cast back with a Halloween release, I think it could be a huge hit. The film has done bananas with video sales and replaying on TV throughout the fall season.
my picks:
Amber Nash - leader/comedic force of nature
Isla Fisher - airhead/"sexy" one
Eden Sher - the screw-up/funny one/also the young one
If you've never seen The Middle, do yourself a favor and look up some of Sher's scenes. She is the funniest kid on tv by a very very large margin.
Amanda Seyfried seems like too easy a replacement for SJP, but she would do a good job. I also considered Emma Stone (duh), her clone from Suburgatory (who is actually quite funny on the show), or even the So tempted to say Selma Blair or Amanda Peet, but I think they might be juuuust out of age range. Hell, Amber Nash could be too, but I must have her as the domineering one. It may just be Archer that makes me love her, but I think a juicy leading comedic role would prove how amazing she is. Plus, we need some Actresses of Color in the mix.
*or even the kids from Glee could have a couple of candidates. So tempted...
I like Graynor, Stone and all those girls but they are too young, IMO. Maybe Graynor could be the good guy's girlfriend.
My picks:
Anna Faris as the new Sarah Jessica Parker
Rebel Wilson as the new Kathy Najimi (imagine her in a curly dark wig lol)
Maya Rudolph as the new Bette Midler (she's hilarious and can sing)
Sad Man -- ooh. I think Maya would totally work. good call.
So glad someone said Maya Rudolph. I was scratching my head trying to thing of someone who could really big, but not so big that it's just not funny in the Bette Midler role. I thought of Whoopi, but no, Rudolph would be perfect.If not they could just cast, as always, Meryl for this role.
Amy Adams in the SJP role.
Drew Barrymore in the Kathy Najimy role (I actually would love to see her pull something off).
Omg, I love this movie! Most people my age do since it was so big every year at Halloween... Bette Midler actually said on Inside the Actors Studio that she thought that was her finest acting moment because she created that character and never let go of it. I thought she was great.
People I'd love to see...
-Maya Rudolph
-Rebel Wilson
-Anna Farris
-Drew Barrymore
-Kristen Wiig
-Whoopi Goldberg
and obviously Bette should make a cameo somewhere in it.
For the record, I didn't mean that Fassy and Margolyes have anything in common. I just meant that I'd like to see the former in everything and his everything all the time ;)
Oh I meant to say Gabourey Sidibe too...I thought the mention of her was really interesting.
Ooh, a musical version would be fun.
If Maya Rudolph was in Bette's part, I wouldn't mind a reunion with Kristen Wiig in SJP role (and maybe Melanie Lynskey in the Najimy role?)
I also love the suggestion of the original cast returning. Maybe they magic up teenage dopplegangers who are impossible to control. Say Saoirise Ronan as a "this look will kill you" SJP that makes a baffled older SJP cry, no I am not like that!
I'd also love to see Ellen Wong (Knives Chou in Scott Pilgrim) as one of the young witches.
Hocus Pocus was one of my favorite movies when I was growing up, and I’d always watch it in October. In my opinion, it wouldn’t be as good without Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Kathy Najimy. For now while Disney makes that decision, I’m going to just watch the movie I know and love. One of my DISH coworkers suggested it would be a good way to start the Halloween month so I added it to my Blockbuster @Home queue. While I’m out shopping for candy and my kid’s costumes, it will be waiting for me at home. Though I’m not for a sequel, I wouldn’t completely leave it out of consideration.