Halloween favourite Hocus Pocus once got fans buzzing when Disney confirmed a sequel was in the works — Hocus Pocus 2. The same announcement brought news of a long-awaited Sister Act 3, plus a whole wave of live-action and animated family movies, including fresh takes on some much-loved classics.
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At its annual Disney Investor Day, held in December 2020, Disney’s bosses unveiled a huge slate of new movies, series and shows across Nat Geo, Pixar, Star Wars, Marvel and Disney+.
The streaming service had an ambitious line-up planned for 2021 and beyond, including Hocus Pocus 2, Sister Act 3 and a long list of other family favourites.
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Hocus Pocus 2 Was Confirmed
In a tweet from the official Disney account, Disney shared the news that got fans of the Sanderson sisters excited all over again.
Disney shared: “Coming exclusively to @DisneyPlus is Hocus Pocus 2, the spooky sequel to the 1993 Halloween classic! @AdamMShankman is set to direct.”
Coming exclusively to @DisneyPlus is Hocus Pocus 2, the spooky sequel to the 1993 Halloween classic! @AdamMShankman is set to direct.
— Disney (@Disney) December 10, 2020
At the time, no further details on cast or storyline had been confirmed — but the announcement alone was enough to spark plenty of excitement among Halloween-loving families.
Sister Act 3 Was in Development
Everyone’s favourite showgirl was set to be back in the habit, with Sister Act 3 confirmed as a follow-on to the much-loved movies from 1992 and 1993.
Whoopi Goldberg was confirmed to return to star, producing alongside Tyler Perry.
Disney announced: “Sister Act 3 is in development! @WhoopiGoldberg returns to star and produce, with @TylerPerry as producer as well. Sister Act 3 will premiere on @DisneyPlus.”
Sister Act 3 is in development! 🎤 @WhoopiGoldberg returns to star and produce, with @TylerPerry as producer as well. Sister Act 3 will premiere on @DisneyPlus.
— Disney (@Disney) December 11, 2020
More Family Movies Were Announced
Three Men and a Baby
A remake of the ’80s favourite Three Men and a Baby — which originally starred Tom Selleck, Steve Guttenberg and Ted Danson — was confirmed, with Zac Efron set to star.
Cheaper by the Dozen
A reimagining of the hilarious Cheaper by the Dozen, from Black-ish producer Kenya Barris, was announced for Disney+. It was set to tell the story of a blended family of 12, starring Gabrielle Union.
The Lion King Prequel
A prequel to the live-action The Lion King was confirmed, from Barry Jenkins, the director of Oscar-winning film Moonlight, with music from Hans Zimmer and Pharrell Williams.
Disenchanted
Disenchanted, a sequel to the hit film Enchanted, was confirmed for Disney+, with Amy Adams returning as Giselle.
The Little Mermaid
The cast of Disney’s live-action remake of The Little Mermaid was announced, including Halle Bailey, Jonah Hauer-King, Melissa McCarthy, Javier Bardem, Daveed Diggs and Awkwafina. The film was set to feature music from the animated original alongside new songs from Lin-Manuel Miranda and Alan Menken.
Pinocchio
One of Disney’s all-time classics was confirmed for a new live-action retelling, starring Tom Hanks and directed by Robert Zemeckis.
Peter Pan
Peter Pan & Wendy was confirmed for Disney+, starring Yara Shahidi as Tinker Bell and Jude Law as Captain Hook.
The Ice Age Adventures of Buck Wild
The Ice Age Adventures of Buck Wild, the next instalment in 20th Century Studios’ Ice Age franchise, was confirmed for Disney+, bringing back prankster possum brothers Crash and Eddie, alongside swashbuckling weasel Buck, voiced by Simon Pegg.
Flora and Ulysses
Flora and Ulysses, an Original Movie about a cynical young comic book fan and her superpowered squirrel sidekick, was confirmed for Disney+.
Chip ‘n’ Dale: Rescue Rangers
Chip and Dale were confirmed to return in a hybrid live-action and animated feature for Disney+, directed by Akiva Schaffer and starring John Mulaney and Andy Samberg.
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This single Disney Investor Day event set the stage for years’ worth of family movie releases — from spooky sequels to big-screen classics reimagined for a new generation.
Frequently Asked Questions
What was announced at Disney Investor Day in December 2020?
Disney used its annual Investor Day event to reveal a huge slate of upcoming movies and shows, including a sequel to Hocus Pocus, a third Sister Act film, and remakes or sequels of several family classics across Disney+, Pixar and 20th Century Studios.
Is Hocus Pocus 2 a real sequel?
Yes — Disney confirmed Hocus Pocus 2 as an official sequel to the 1993 Halloween classic, with Adam Shankman set to direct.
Who stars in Sister Act 3?
Whoopi Goldberg was confirmed to return to star in and produce Sister Act 3, alongside producer Tyler Perry.
Are these movies available to watch now?
Many of the titles announced at this event have since made their way to screens, but release dates and streaming availability can change over time. Check Disney+ or your usual streaming service for the latest listings.
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