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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Manchester’s popular board game festival returns this month with hundreds of games to play
Emily Sergeant
Manchester’s popular board came festival is set to return later this month, with hundreds of games free to play.
Manchester Board Game Festival is set to kick off 2026 in style, returning for the first festival of the year with a full weekend of board games, role-playing games, indie traders, and community-led fun in the heart of the city.
The festival features a huge board game library, giving fans access to hundreds of games to try out across the weekend – with ‘Library Bees’ on-hand to help people find games, learn the rules, or jump into sessions with other players.
There’ll also be bookable sessions, like RPGs and Blood on The Clocktower, and seminars to take part in over the three-day event.
Manchester’s popular board game festival returns this month with hundreds of games to play / Credit: MBGF (via Facebook)
As well as gaming, visitors can browse the festival’s popular Geek Fayre too, open on the Saturday and Sunday of the event, which showcases indie traders, artists, and tabletop creators from across the UK. From games and accessories, to artwork and geeky gifts, it’s a chance to support small businesses all while discovering something new.
Running from Friday 27 February through to Sunday 1 March, this opening weekend festival marks the start of five events planned throughout 2026.
Events are designed to bring together players of all experience levels for three days of tabletop gaming and social play.
“There’s something really special about the first festival of the year,” commented festival organiser, James Oxley.
“People are excited, they’re ready to play, and there’s a real buzz in the room. Manchester Board Game Festival has always been about bringing people together through games, and we can’t wait to see everyone back in the halls enjoying themselves.
“Whether attendees come for a single afternoon or the full weekend, the focus is on playing at your own pace, meeting new people, and enjoying games in a relaxed and friendly setting.”
Further festivals will follow throughout 2026, including themed Halloween and Christmas editions later in the year, so keep your eyes peeled, but until then, February’s event marks the first chance for players to roll some dice, discover new favourites, and start the year with a table full of games.
Manchester Board Game Festival takes place from Friday 27 February through to Sunday 1 March at Sachas Hotel in the Northern Quarter, with tickets starting from just £13.
Trailer released for new romcom Finding Emily set and filmed all across Manchester
Emily Sergeant
The first trailer for a new romcom that’s set and filmed all across Manchester has been released.
The film, titled Finding Emily, tells the story of a lovesick musician, played by Spike Fearn, who meets his dream girl on a night out, but ends up with the wrong phone number, and so teams up with a driven psychology student, played by Angourie Rice, in a bid to find her.
Together, the unlikely duo spark a hilarious campus-wide frenzy that tests their own hearts and ambitions along the way.
The film – which is directed by Alicia MacDonald, and based on a screenplay written by Rachel Hirons – is produced by Working Title Films, is set in the fictional Manchester City University, and is due to be distributed by Focus Features and Universal Pictures across the UK and internationally this spring.
The talented ensemble cast groups together big names like Minnie Driver with rising stars like Ella Maisy Purvis, Yali Topal Margalith, and Kat Ronney, as well as other established actors including Timothy Innes and Nadia Parkes.
Filming took place in Manchester between August and September 2024.
The two and a half-minute trailer has been shared with the world today, and when we say it’s a Manc film, we mean it… we quite literally lost count of how many of our city’s famous locations can be spotted in just the trailer alone.
The trailer has been released for new romcom Finding Emily set and filmed in Manchester / Credit: Universal Pictures & Focus Features (via YouTube)
There’s everything from Manchester Central Library and Piccadilly Records, to Canal Street and the Gay Village, the Northern Quarter, the Crown & Kettle pub in Ancoats, and even the Emmeline Pankhurst statue in St Peter’s Square featured for all to see, alongside what’ll, presumably, be dozens of other famous locations.
Oh, and not to mention, if you keep your eyes peeled when watching the trailer, you can even see a small clip of Stockport band Blossoms playing a gig in there too.
Emily Sergeant -
1st November 2021 
