Bette's Second Act

After almost 30 years, Bette Midler Returns as the queen of Halloween in Hocus Pocus 2

- By H.Alan Scott

Movie studios don't make sequels to pictures that flop. Which is why Bette Midler thought she'd never return as Winifred Sanderson, the leader of a pack of witches from the 1993 Disney film Hocus Pocus.

Campy and over-the-top, the family-friendly comedy was tailor made for Bette Midler. The Sanderson sisters (Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker and Kathy Najimy) are awoken from a spell cast in the 17th century and proceed to try to steal the youth of the children of modern-day Salem, Massachusetts.

Released in July 1993, though, Hocus Pocus was steamrolled by that summer's blockbusters, among them the first Jurassic Park, Tom Cruise in The Firm and Harrison Ford in The Fugitive. While some devoted Midler fans bought tickets including this writer-the movie stiffed on its opening weekend and was promptly forgotten.

"I was disappointed because we had worked really hard on it," Midler says. "It was fun.