Hocus Pocus 2’s Original Dani Plan Would’ve Been Perfect For Fans

Hocus Pocus 2 apparently wanted to bring back Dani and the main cast of the first film along with the Sanderson Sisters – a plan that would’ve been great for many long-time fans. However, it was recently announced that Thora Birch will not be returning to play Dani, meaning that the film will most likely focus on new characters. Losing Dani is a tragedy for Hocus Pocus 2, as she is at the center of the original Hocus Pocus, and seeing her again after all these years would have been perfect.

Hocus Pocus follows three witches from the 17th century, Winifred, Sarah, and Mary Sanderson, as they are released from a curse in 1990s Salem. Once there, the sisters try to steal the soul of children in order to extend their own youth. They set their sights on Dani, sister of the main character Max, and confrontations ensue. As of now, the only cast members of Hocus Pocus confirmed to return are Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Kathy Najimy as Winnifred, Sarah, and Mary respectively. However, it is always possible that more returning characters are announced closer to release.

That said, one cast member who definitely won’t be returning is Thora Birch, which changes Hocus Pocus 2 as a result. The original plans for Hocus Pocus 2 involved Dani returning as an adult in a “good supporting role.” The film currently centers around some new high schoolers, so it can be safely assumed that Dani would help once again fight the Sanderson Sisters, helping a new generation and paving the way for the franchise’s future. The film’s original plans for Dani were a great idea, that both honored the past of the series and set up a future for it, meaning it’s a shame that viewers won’t get to see her return to the role.

A recent movie trend is to bring back old cast members in reboots to have a rematch with their iconic foes. Some examples of this are Neve Campbell returning in Scream 5 and Jamie Lee Curtis returning in the Halloween reboot. Films like this realize that, while the monsters are fun, it’s the main characters that bring humanity to the film. While the Sanderson Sisters are iconic, the heart of Hocus Pocus is Max and Dani. Bringing Dani back all these years later to confront her tormentors not only lets the audience catch up with the character, but could add extra depth to the film.

Some are worried that Hocus Pocus 2 won’t work without the original cast. Having the witches repeat the same story with new kids wouldn’t add much, and may feel like a boring rehash of the original. Having Dani and the other characters come back would change the dynamic, as having adults try to take down the Sanderson Sisters alongside the kids is something interesting and new; this is what makes the character dynamics in films like IT so interesting. If Dani returned after all these years of preparing for the Sanderson Sisters, it could lead to a very fun film. Although it would be perfect for some fans of the film, Hocus Pocus 2‘s original Dani plan won’t be happening.

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