It’s been 30 years since the premiere of the spooky season classic Hocus Pocus but the movie is still just as beloved as ever. In celebration of the movie’s milestone anniversary, Omri Katz and Jason Marsden, the once child stars all grown up, appeared on Boston 25 News to discuss the Halloween flick’s enduring legacy.
In the film, Omri Katz plays the naive but well-meaning Max, who lights the black flame candle during a full moon, bringing the Sanderson Sisters back from the dead. Meanwhile, Jason Marsden appears as Thackery Binx, a young boy who lost a sibling to the Sisters 300 years prior to the events of the film (right down to the day) and was turned into an immortal black cat himself.
Though Max and Binx work together to save Salem from the dastardly sisters, Binx is often frustrated by Max’s clumsy approach to saving the town (that he endangered in the first place). Katz and Marsden addressed the characters’ relationship in their recent interview. “On screen, we get along. But, off screen, I hate this guy,” Katz joked.
🕯️🎃We had some special friends stop by our special Halloween Zip Trip in Salem today!
— Boston 25 News (@boston25) October 20, 2023
Omri Katz and Jason Marsden from "Hocus Pocus" stopped by to talk the movie's 30th anniversary, its legacy and what it's like to return to Salem.
WATCH: https://t.co/7RaVD7RpvZ pic.twitter.com/gwjmZUGlyh
When asked if they ever thought Hocus Pocus would be heralded as a Halloween classic, both actors expressed their pleasant surprise. “It kind of came and went in the theaters,” Katz recalled. “And we kind of assumed like, okay! That was fun. Great. Moving on! And then here we are 30 years later and it’s just constantly growing. It’s quite insane.”
Omri Katz ‘Excited’ by the Idea of ‘Hocus Pocus 3’
Though the gap between Hocus Pocus and its sequel was nearly 3 decades, a third installment is already in the works. And this time, it might include Omri Katz as Max! If the actor has anything to say about it, that is.
“I’m excited for the new film!” Katz told Entertainment Weekly. “Glad to see this franchise gain its popularity 30 years later.”
“I would return if Disney approached me,” he continued. “It would be an honor to return, hopefully with some of my fellow castmates, and make a fun addition to the franchise!”
Bette Midler, the actress behind the iconic Winifred Sanderson, is ecstatic for a continuation as well. “If there was a third one, of course I’d sign on,” she said. “But I don’t know how. I can’t imagine what the story would be, but I love Winifred, Sarah, Mary, and our relationship. It’s good for women. We stick together through hell and high water, but we do cause mayhem, and not many women cause that much mayhem!”
The Sanderson sisters appeared to depart the mortal plane in Hocus Pocus 2. Could a little Halloween magic could bring them back for the third installment?
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