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Disney finally confirms that Hocus Pocus 2 is coming next year

Hocus Pocus 2 will be a continuation of the story that started in the 1993 original movie.

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant - 1st November 2021

Disney+ has finally given confirmation that the long-awaited sequel to the iconic Halloween film Hocus Pocus is coming next year.

The original and beloved 1993 film – which stars Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Kathy Najimy as the Sanderson sisters – has become staple watching for households across the globe once the spooky season rolls around, and now, the streaming service has confirmed that Hocus Pocus 2 will land on the platform some time next autumn.

If you haven’t seen the original film, Hocus Pocus followed the Winnie, Sarah, and Mary Sanderson’s attempts to gain eternal youth.

They would kill anyone in their way and suck the life out of their victims before they’re caught.

When the evil witchy trio are accidentally resurrected by a teenage boy, Max, on Halloween night, it’s left to Max, his crush Allison, and his little sister Dani to stop the Sanderson sisters in their tracks before they exact their revenge on the entire town of Salem.

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And although it’s been 28 years since the film was first released, it’s remained as popular as ever. So popular, in fact, that rumours of a sequel have been circulating for well over a decade, but now it’s finally been confirmed by Disney+ that fans of the film revisit the iconic characters once again.

Hocus Pocus 2 will land on streaming platform Disney+ some time next autumn / Credit: Disney

Hocus Pocus 2 will be a continuation of the story that started in the original movie.

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As part of the big sequel announcement, fans also got a pretty in-depth cast list reveal, with Ted Lasso‘s Hannah Waddingham, and Veep‘s Tony Hale and Sam Richardson both joining the project.

They’ll join Bette, Sarah, and Kathy who are returning as the Sanderson sisters, as well as Doug Jones, who played Billy Butcherson.

Whitney Peak (Chilling Adventures of Sabrina), Lilia Buckingham (Zoe Valentine), Belissa Escobedo (The Baker and the Beauty), Juju Brener (Vanquish), Froy Gutierrez (Teen Wolf), Taylor Henderson (Earwig and the Witch) and Nina Kitchen complete the new line-up, although their characters are still being kept under wraps.

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With no official release date for Hocus Pocus 2 confirmed by Disney+ as of yet, make sure to keep your eyes peeled for announcements.

Featured Image – Disney

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Kevin De Bruyne reveals he wasn’t offered a new contract by Manchester City

Danny Jones Danny Jones Kevin De Bruyne not offered new contract by Man City

Manchester City star Kevin De Bruyne has revealed he wasn’t offered a new contract by the club before making the decision to leave at the end of the season.

The 33-year-old is preparing to leave the Etihad after more than a decade, following the conclusion of the current 2024/25 campaign, announcing the decision earlier this month.

It goes without saying that the Belgian playmaker isn’t just a fan favourite and club legend but one of the most revered players in European football, let alone England, having been transformational both for the Blues and the Premier League.

Although his exit hasn’t come as a complete shock, given his age and increasing injury problems, De Bruyne himself has confessed that he was “a bit surprised” not to be offered a new contract by Man City whatsoever over the past year.

As per multiple outlets, KDB shared the revelation during his post-match media duties after the Everton game on Saturday, revealing: “I didn’t have any offer from them the whole year and City made a decision. Obviously, I was a bit surprised but have to accept it.”

Despite a firm belief that he “can still perform” at this level (one most would wholeheartedly agree with him on), he assured he understood the club’s thinking and even admitted that it was “more of a relief” knowing that he was the first to learn that news and could announce his departure on his own.

Insisting that he’ll still be giving everything to help the team win in their remaining games this season, he went on to detail that the decision has been made “because the whole team has struggled.”

“Maybe if the team didn’t struggle and I came back like I did this year and bedded in like normal, then maybe they would take another decision”, he added, arguing that he’s playing with much more rhythm and confidence post-injury.

After all, he was the difference once again in the remarkable comeback against Crystal Palace.

A reminder that class is permanent as Kevin De Bruyne inspires remarkable Man City comeback
De Bruyne has made it clear he’d be more than happy to stay in the Premier League.

Although he wouldn’t go into too much detail on the conversations, he reiterated, “I can’t really say what they think on the inside […] I have to accept the situation even though I feel like I can still do a good job, but that’s it.”

Despite many fans coming to terms with the difficult choice made by the club, many supporters still believe it is an oversight on CFG’s (City Football Group) part.

One social media user has nearly 5,000 likes and almost 400 comments on a post entitled: ‘A petition to make Manchester City apologise and offer Kevin De Bruyne a new contract’.

While not everyone is in agreement on the matter, there is clearly plenty of doubt, with the same account going on to add, “There’s no shame in admitting a mistake and offer[ing] Kevin De Bruyne a new 1-year contract. His influence in the dressing room, let alone on the pitch, remains of critical importance.”

It’s hard to gauge exactly what manager Pep Guardiola makes of all of it, either; apart from his farewell message included as part of the club statement confirming his contract expiry, this is pretty much all the Catalan coach has had to say on the matter thus far:

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Featured Images — Ardfern (via Wikimedia Commons)

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A brand-new immersive ‘walking theatre’ and XR experience has landed in Greater Manchester

Danny Jones Danny Jones Walking theatre XR experience Trafford Palazzo

We hear the word immersive thrown around a lot these days, but if the notion of walking through some of your favourite fantasy and sci-fi worlds in a state-of-the-art XR tour doesn’t fit the definition, we don’t know what does.

Get ready to pull on a headset and be dropped into a different universe, Mancs.

This is Immersia XR: an industry-leading immersive entertainment and XR (extended reality) experience has just been unveiled right here in Greater Manchester.

Anyone for a ride on a magic carpet?

Credit: The Manc Group
Credit: Immersia XR (supplied)

Immersia XR specialises in what they call ‘Walking XR Theatre – a new term for a new kind of experience’, and boasts big plaudits across the board, with an average Google rating of 4.8 from dozens of reviews already.

Having just made its Manchester debut to the public at Trafford Palazzo (located right next to 0161’s famous Trafford Centre) this summer, the new addition brings cutting-edge technology blended with iconic family-favourite tales in an “unforgettable walk-through format.”

A lucky few have been treated to our first time, including us here at The Manc, and you’ll have to take our word for it when we tell you it’s a truly incredible experience.

It’s the first of its kind in the UK and Europe, and although there are other similar VR and AR offerings around the region, you won’t find anything quite like ‘walking theatre’ and this free-roam experience.

Credit: Supplied

As you can see above, there are a number of experiences to be enjoyed right from the off, including two modes inspired by childhood classics, Alice in Wonderland and Tales of Aladdin.

Ever fancied trying your hand as an astronaut and walking on the surface of the moon as you look back at the Earth below? Course you have! No training involved in this one, either.

Take that, Katy Perry, you can keep your short-lived Blue Origin nonsense to yourself.

Immersia XR’s ambition doesn’t stop there, though, as they are also preparing to introduce the exciting new ‘Terracotta Army’ experience in the near future.

Here’s a glimpse at how it looks inside the goggles:

Already open to the public and running up until Sunday, 6 July 2025, Immersia XR is fun for all ages, with kid-friendly zones and accessible narratives built into the experience.

Best of all, there are actually very few bells and whistles; no screens, no controllers – it’s just you walking through the story of your choice.

Immersia XR’s founder, Ian Xiang, said: “We’re not just launching a new attraction—we’re pioneering the future of storytelling. Walking XR Theatre is where cinema, theatre, and technology converge to create magic. You don’t just watch the story—you walk through it.”

Tickets are on sale now, with adult prices starting from only £17, children (ages 3–15) from just £12, and family tickets (2 adults, 2 kids) from £54. Great value for money.

Concession tickets are also available for students and over-65s, priced from £16, and group bookings of 10 or more receive 10% off. You can even get 20% off all ticket types with the early bird code: PRESS20. You can grab yours HERE.

Credit: Supplied/The Manc Group

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Featured Images — Press Images (supplied)

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