National Enquirer
Bette Midler & Sarah Jessica Parker Gambling Everything On Hocus Pocus 3
By Karen Aanonsen
June 12, 2026
Sarah Jessica Parker and Bette Midler are banking on the success of “Hocus Pocus 3” to revive their careers in movie theaters.
Sarah Jessica Parker stands at a career crossroads, and a source says Hocus Pocus 3 could prove to be a make-or-break project for the actress.
“The safe move for Sarah Jessica now that the Sex and the City franchise has been put to bed would be to lean into her strengths as a theater actress and sign up for a Broadway show,” the source tells the National Enquirer. “But that’s not what SJP is doing. She’s made getting back in movie theaters a top priority.”
In May, Variety reported that a third installment in the Sanderson sisters’ saga was headed to big screens after Hocus Pocus 2 went direct to streaming on Disney+.
Now, Enquirer’s source reveals Parker, 61, and costar Bette Midler were integral in making the platform switch happen.
“It was the main condition for both of them to sign on,” insists the source. “Neither SJP nor Bette have had a big hit movie in cinemas in many years, so they’re gambling their entire reputations on the next chapter of this story.”
As Enquirer previously reported, the Footloose alum can’t help but wonder about her acting prospects following the lackluster conclusion to And Just Like That in 2025, which also seemingly signaled the end of character Carrie Bradshaw’s story arc.
To conjure up as much magic as possible for Hocus Pocus 3, she and Midler, 80, are calling in the Hollywood troops, shares the source.
“They will cash in every favor they can to get huge names like Olivia Rodrigo or Hugh Jackman to show up for a wacky scene or a wild musical number,” the source explains. “They need this film to be huge and they need this franchise to continue!”
