{"id":22943,"date":"2022-09-30T11:50:57","date_gmt":"2022-09-30T09:50:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.radiotimes.com\/?p=1714066"},"modified":"2022-09-30T12:25:18","modified_gmt":"2022-09-30T10:25:18","slug":"hocus-pocus-2-cast-meet-the-new-and-returning-stars","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/radiotimes\/rss_feed\/hocus-pocus-2-cast-meet-the-new-and-returning-stars\/","title":{"rendered":"Hocus Pocus 2 cast: Meet the new and returning stars"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/p>

By Patrick Cremona\n \t\t<\/p>

Published: Friday, 30 September 2022 at 12:00 am<\/p>

\n\n

It\u2019s almost 30 years since Hocus Pocus was first released back in 1993, and in the intervening time the Halloween film has become something of a phenomenon \u2013 so much so that a sequel is now upon us.<\/p>\n

Bette Midler, Kathy Najimy and Sarah Jessica Parker are all reprising their roles as the Sanderson stars from the original, while Doug Jones is also back as lovable zombie Billy Butcherson.<\/p>\n

However, some other characters \u2013 such as Max and Allison \u2013 will not be back this tim<\/a>e<\/a>, replaced instead by a new crop of young stars.<\/p>\n

Read on for everything you need to know about the cast, including who they\u2019re playing and where you might have seen them before.<\/p>

Bette Midler plays Winifred \u201cWinnie\u201d Sanderson<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\"""\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
Bette Midler plays Winifred Sanderson<\/span><\/figcaption> Disney<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

Who is Winifred<\/strong>? The oldest of the three Sanderson Sisters, Winnie\u2019s signature magical ability is electrokinesis, but she has extensive knowledge of dark magic thanks to her prized sentient spell book. As the leader of the trio, Winifred is often frustrated by her younger sisters\u2019 incompetence.<\/p>\n

What else has Bette Midler been in? <\/strong>Midler has had a hugely successful career on stage and screen, with highlights from her film career including roles in The Rose (for which she won a Golden Globe and was nominated for an Oscar), Down and Out in Beverly Hills, Beaches, For the Boys, Gypsy and of course the original Hocus Pocus. She has also released 14 albums as a solo artist and appeared extensively on Broadway \u2013 including winning a Tony Award for her performance in the 2017 revival of Hello, Dolly!<\/p>\n

Taylor Paige Henderson plays young Winifred Sanderson<\/em><\/p>\n

Kathy Najimy plays Mary Sanderson<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\"""\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
Kathy Najimy plays Mary Sanderson<\/span><\/figcaption> Disney<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

Who is Mary?<\/strong> The middle sister, Mary has the magical ability to track children with an enhanced sense of smell. She looks up to her elder sister, Winifred, and constantly seeks her approval.<\/p>\n

What else has Kathy Najimy been in? <\/strong>Besides the original Hocus Pocus, Najimy\u2019s other major film roles have included Soapdish,\u00a0Sister Act,\u00a0Hope Floats,\u00a0The Wedding Planner, Rat Race, Step Up 3D, The Guilt Trip, Dumplin\u2019, and a voice role in Wall-E. On TV she had long-running roles as Olive Massery in Veronica\u2019s Closet and the voice of Peggy Hill on King of the Hill.<\/p>\n

Nina Kitchen plays young Mary Sanderson<\/em><\/p>\n

Sarah Jessica Parker plays Sarah Sanderson<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\"""\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
Sarah Jessica Parker plays Sarah Sanderson<\/span><\/figcaption> Disney<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

Who is Sarah?<\/strong> The youngest of the three Sanderson Sisters. Sarah\u2019s magical gift is a hypnotic siren call, which she uses through her song Come Little Children. Her immature, lusty, and often air-headed nature exasperates Winifred.<\/p>\n

What else has Sarah Jessica Parker been in? <\/strong>Parker is of course best known for her role as Carrie Bradshaw in Sex and the City (and its spin-off And Just Like That\u2026), while previous film roles have included LA Story, Honeymoon in Vegas, Ed Wood, The First Wives Club, The Family Stone, Failure to Launch, Did You Hear About the Morgans?, and New Year\u2019s Eve.<\/p>\n

Juju Journey Brener plays young Sarah Sanderson<\/em><\/p>\n

Doug Jones plays Billy Butcherson<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\"""\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
Doug Jones plays Billy Butcherson<\/span><\/figcaption> Disney<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

Who is Billy?<\/strong> A former lover of Winifred, she poisoned him on 1st May, 1693, when she caught him cheating with her sister Sarah. He is raised from the dead as a zombie.<\/p>\n

What else has Doug Jones been in? <\/strong>Jones is known for playing non-human creatures in a variety of films, perhaps most notably in his collaborations with Guillermo Del Toro \u2013 including Mimic, Hellboy,\u00a0Pan\u2019s Labyrinth,\u00a0Hellboy II: The Golden Army, Crimson Peak, and\u00a0The Shape of Water. Other film roles have included Ouija: Origin of Evil and\u00a0The Bye Bye Man, while he plays Captain Saru in Star Trek: Discovery.<\/p>\n

Whitney Peak plays Becca<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\"""\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
Whitney Peak plays Becca<\/span><\/figcaption> Disney<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

Who is Becca?<\/strong> A high school student and aspiring witch who accidentally conjures the Sanderson Sisters.<\/span><\/p>\n

What else has Whitney Peak been in?<\/strong> Peak has a lead role in the 2021 Gossip Girl reboot \u2013 playing Zoya Lott \u2013 and has also had recurring roles as Judith Blackwood in Chilling Adventures of Sabrina and as Alpha Jessica in Home Before Dark. Her only previous film credit was a brief role in Molly\u2019s Game.<\/p>\n

Lilia Buckingham plays Cassie Traske<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\"""\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
Lilia Buckingham plays Cassie Traske<\/span><\/figcaption> Disney<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

Who is Cassie?<\/strong> A popular classmate and former friend of Becca and Izzy. She is the mayor\u2019s daughter and joins the effort to stop the Sanderson Sisters.<\/p>\n

What else has Lilia Buckingham been in? <\/strong>This is Buckingham\u2019s film debut, but she has achieved success by appearing in a host of web series for Brat TV \u2013 playing the character of Autumn Miller in a variety of series including Chicken Girls, Total Eclipse, and Zoe Valentine. She had a very brief role in one episode of Modern Family in 2012.<\/p>\n

Belissa Escobedo plays Izzy<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\"""\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
Belissa Escobedo plays Izzy<\/span><\/figcaption> Disney<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

Who is Izzy?<\/strong> Becca\u2019s quirky best friend, who is with her when she accidentally conjures the Sanderson Sisters.<\/p>\n

What else has Belissa Escobedo been in? <\/strong>Escobedo has had roles in TV shows such as The Baker and the Beauty and American Horror Stories, but this will be her most major film role to date.<\/p>\n

Tony Hale plays Jefry Traske<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\"""\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
Tony Hale plays Jefry Traske<\/span><\/figcaption> Disney<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

Who is Jefry?<\/strong> The Mayor of Salem and Cassie\u2019s father, Jefry is a descendant of the Sandersons\u2019 number one enemy.<\/p>\n

What else has Tony Hale been in? <\/strong>Hale is best known for his roles as Buster Bluth in Arrested Development and Gary Walsh in Veep, while film credits include The Informant!, In My Sleep, The Heat, Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Road Chip, Clifford the Big Red Dog, and Toy Story 4 \u2013 where he voiced Forky. In 2021, he played a dual lead role in the Disney Plus series The Mysterious Benedict Society.<\/p>\n

Sam Richardson plays Gilbert<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\"""\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
Sam Richardson as Gilbert<\/span><\/figcaption> Disney<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

Who is Gilbert?<\/strong> The owner of the Olde Salem Magic Shoppe, the former home of the Sanderson Sisters \u2013 which is commonly frequented by Becca and her friends.<\/p>\n

What else has Sam Richardson been in? <\/strong>Richardson also had a major role in Veep \u2013 playing Richard Splett \u2013 while more recently he has had various roles in the hit sketch comedy series I Think You Should Leave with Tim Robinson, a lead role in the Apple TV+ show The Afterparty, and an Emmy-nominated guest role in Ted Lasso. Film credits include Spy, the 2016 Ghostbusters reboot, Promising Young Woman, and The Tomorrow War.<\/p>\n

Hannah Waddingham plays Mother Witch<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\"""\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
Hannah Waddingham plays Mother Witch<\/span><\/figcaption> Disney<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

Who is Mother Witch?<\/strong> A mysterious and sinister witch who originally gives the young Sanderson Sisters the spell book.<\/p>\n

What else has Hannah Waddingham been in? <\/strong>Waddingham is known for her starring role as Rebecca Welton in Ted Lasso while she\u2019s also had notable roles in Sex Education, Benidorm, and Game of Thrones. She has appeared extensively in the West End, with credits including Spamalot, Into the Woods, and The Wizard of Oz.<\/p>\n

Froy Gutierrez plays Mike<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Who is Mike?<\/strong> Cassie\u2019s boyfriend, with whom she has recently been spending all her time \u2013 neglecting her old friends Becca and Izzy.<\/p>\n

What else has Froy Gutierrez been in? <\/strong>Gutierrez is known for playing Nolan Holloway in\u00a0Teen Wolf\u00a0and Jamie Henson in\u00a0Cruel Summer, while film credits include A Cowgirl\u2019s Story and Initiation.<\/p>\n

The cast also includes appearances from RuPaul\u2019s Drag Race stars Ginger Minj, Kornbread Jet\u00e9, and Kahmora Hall as drag queens dressed as the Sanderson Sisters.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

Hocus Pocus 2 is streaming now on Disney Plus<\/a>. You can\u00a0sign up to Disney Plus for \u00a37.99 a month or \u00a379.90 a year<\/a>\u00a0now.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Check out more of our\u00a0Film<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0Fantasy<\/a>\u00a0coverage or visit our\u00a0TV Guide<\/a>\u00a0to see what\u2019s on tonight.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The latest issue of Radio Times magazine is on sale now \u2013\u00a0subscribe now<\/a>\u00a0and get the next 12 issues for only \u00a31. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to the\u00a0Radio Times podcast<\/a>\u00a0with Jane Garvey.<\/strong><\/p><\/body><\/html>\n

","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By Patrick Cremona Published: Friday, 30 September 2022 at 12:00 am It\u2019s almost 30 years since Hocus Pocus was first released back in 1993, and in the intervening time the Halloween film has become something of a phenomenon \u2013 so much so that a sequel is now upon us. Bette Midler, Kathy Najimy and Sarah […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":24,"featured_media":22944,"template":"","categories":[6],"acf":[],"uagb_featured_image_src":{"full":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/56\/2022\/09\/hocus-pocus-2-cast-meet-the-new-and-returning-stars-scaled.jpg",2560,1707,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/56\/2022\/09\/hocus-pocus-2-cast-meet-the-new-and-returning-stars-150x150.jpg",150,150,true],"medium":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/56\/2022\/09\/hocus-pocus-2-cast-meet-the-new-and-returning-stars-300x200.jpg",300,200,true],"medium_large":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/56\/2022\/09\/hocus-pocus-2-cast-meet-the-new-and-returning-stars-768x512.jpg",768,512,true],"large":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/56\/2022\/09\/hocus-pocus-2-cast-meet-the-new-and-returning-stars-1024x683.jpg",800,534,true],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/56\/2022\/09\/hocus-pocus-2-cast-meet-the-new-and-returning-stars-1536x1024.jpg",1536,1024,true],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/56\/2022\/09\/hocus-pocus-2-cast-meet-the-new-and-returning-stars-2048x1365.jpg",2048,1365,true]},"uagb_author_info":{"display_name":"importmanagerhub@sprylab.com","author_link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/radiotimes\/author\/importmanagerhubsprylab-com\/"},"uagb_comment_info":0,"uagb_excerpt":"By Patrick Cremona Published: Friday, 30 September 2022 at 12:00 am It\u2019s almost 30 years since Hocus Pocus was first released back in 1993, and in the intervening time the Halloween film has become something of a phenomenon \u2013 so much so that a sequel is now upon us. Bette Midler, Kathy Najimy and Sarah…","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/radiotimes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/rss_feed\/22943"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/radiotimes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/rss_feed"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/radiotimes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/rss_feed"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/radiotimes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/24"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/radiotimes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/22944"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/radiotimes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=22943"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/radiotimes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=22943"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}