Doug Jones returns to the role of Billy Butcherson in a new Hocus Pocus reunion video. Jones has made a career out of playing non-humans, hidden under heavy makeup and visual effects. The actor has collaborated frequently with Guillermo del Toro, appearing in Hellboy, Pan’s Labyrinth, and The Shape of Water. He’s also had significant parts on the small screen, as Commander Saru in Star Trek: Discovery and as The Lead Gentleman in the fan favorite Buffy the Vampire Slayer episode “Hush.”

One of Jones’ earliest performances came in the 1993 dark comedy Hocus Pocus. Directed by Kenny Ortega, the movie starred Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Kathy Najimy. The story of Hocus Pocus followed a villainous and comedic trio of witches who are accidentally resurrected by a teenage boy on Halloween night. Jones appeared as Billy Butcherson, a zombie that proves to be a formidable foe to the main antagonists. With the recent news that the Hocus Pocus cast would reunite for a one-night event to benefit the New York Restoration Project, fans have been getting a glimpse of some of their favorite characters from the 1990s film.

SCREENRANT VIDEO OF THE DAY

Ahead of the reunion event, which will take place on October 30, Jones posted a video on his Twitter account in which he returned to his classic Billy Butcherson look. The actor also gave a shoutout to Tony Gardner, who was the original makeup artist for Jones on Hocus Pocus. You can check out the video below.

Jones has always had a particular fondness for Hocus Pocus, previously revealing that he would love to reprise the role of Billy Butcherson. In one of his first major performances, Jones has said that one of his goals was to portray Billy not as a scary zombie but as a member of the undead that audiences might conceivably like to date. Though the trio of Midler, Najimy, and Parker are rightly remembered for their distinctly campy turns, Jones also left his mark as the surprisingly heroic Billy. As more audiences discover Hocus Pocus for the first time, it serves as a pleasant surprise that the zombie ends up containing a unique bit of depth. It’s one of the small subversions that has helped the movie’s reputation grow since it was first released.

Given that Midler has recently reaffirmed that the original cast of Hocus Pocus is interested in returning for a sequel, it could mean that Billy will once again have a chance to square off against the Sanderson sisters. Before that takes place, however, the loyal fans of the dark comedy will see Jones return to one of his most famous portrayals just in time for Halloween. Considering how the legacy of Hocus Pocus has grown, to the point where it has become a staple of spooky season, the reunion should definitely be memorable.

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Source: Doug Jones

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Abdullah Al-Ghamdi
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Abdullah Al-Ghamdi joined Screen Rant in August 2019, focusing on movie and television news. In January of the same year, he wrote a 3500+ word piece on why Primo Colón is underrated. He considers it his finest work. When he’s not arguing for the merits of his favorite wrestler, he can be reached at: [email protected].

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