Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker and Kathy Najimy are finally back as the Sanderson witches in Hocus Pocus 2. The sequel of the popular 1993 fantasy comedy film has been decades in the making, although Midler had been talking up the possibility as far back as 15 years ago. Hocus Pocus is the story of three sister witches, who are summoned back to modern day Salem by a teenage boy. The follow-up film follows a very similar plot line, only that this time, they are recalled by three high school girls.
Hocus Pocus 2 was made available to stream on Disney Plus on September 30, with the original film having been released in theaters. The box office returns for that were very scant, and critical reviews were also damning.
It was only with the passage of time that the film picked up a cult following, sparking the plans for the sequel. Actress Thora Birch was another cast member of the first Hocus Pocus, but she did not appear in the second.
This prompted speculation regarding the reason for her absence, with some fans positing that she was intentionally written out of the script.
10 Who Did Thora Birch Play In Hocus Pocus?
The teenage boy who resurrected the Sanderson witches in Hocus Pocus was known as Max Dennison, and was portrayed by Omri Katz.
Thora Birch featured as Max’s sister, Dani Dennison. The character is described as “a spoiled 8-year-old who loves Halloween.”
9 Why Didn’t Thora Birch Return In Hocus Pocus 2?
In one episode of her podcast, The Overleaper earlier this year, Thora Birch revealed that she would not be reprising her role as Dani in Hocus Pocus 2.
According to the actress, though, it was not for a want of trying: “Everybody tried so hard to make that happen, [but] it just didn't.”
8 How Has The Critical Reception For Hocus Pocus 2 Been?
While fans have been relatively hyped about Hocus Pocus 2, the film has not enjoyed the best reception from critics.
On Rotten Tomatoes, the critical consensus reads: “Hocus Pocus 2 is basically a boiling cauldron of nostalgia, but that's just enough for this belated sequel to cast a reasonably effective spell.”
7 What Are Some Of Thora Birch’s Recent Roles?
Thora Birch did not get the chance to reunite with the Hocus Pocus cast for the sequel. Nonetheless, she has remained busy in the last few years.
Her latest big screen role was in the disaster film 13 Minutes. On October 1, her movie The Gabby Petito Story also premiered on Lifetime.
6 Thora Birch Was Also In The Walking Dead
Between 2019 and 2020, Thora Birch also enjoyed a recurring role in The Walking Dead on AMC.
She played a character known as Mary (previously Gamma), and featured in a total of nine episodes of the Frank Darabont series.
5 Was Thora Birch Blacklisted By Hollywood?
In 2010, Thora Birch was fired from an off-Broadway production after her father Jack reportedly assaulted one of her colleagues on set.
The incident is said to have gotten Birch blacklisted in Hollywood and Broadway, although her portfolio of work in the last decade or so would suggest that that is not the case.
4 Thora Birch Is Also A Director And Producer
As well as carrying on her acting work, Thora Birch has been transitioning behind the scenes to direct and produce.
According to her profile on IMDb, her credits in these roles include a 2006 short film titled i, WITNESS, as well as the feature films Petunia, Competition and The Gabby Petito Story.
3 Is Thora Birch Married Or Single?
After having previously dated the likes of Bill Maher and Nick Starcevic, Thora Birch finally walked down the aisle for the first time in December 2018.
She got married to talent manager Michael Benton Adler. The couple do not have any kids together yet.
2 What Is Thora Birch’s Net Worth In 2022?
According to Celebrity Net Worth, Thora Birch is currently worth around $6 million. It’s a figure that compares favorably with some of her old Hocus Pocus co-stars.
Sarah Jessica Parker and Bette Midler are way ahead of the pack as the richest of the bunch, however, with estimated net worths of $200 million and $250 million respectively.
1 Is Thora Birch On Social Media?
The one social media platform where Thora Birch is consistently active is Twitter, with a verified account that has been active since 2016.
On the bio of that account is one line that reads “I hate spiders,” and a link to an official Facebook fan page. Birch has 19,150 followers on the platform, but does not follow a single account.
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