Billy Butcherson may have been one of the most overlooked characters in Hocus Pocus, but he’s set to return to the big screen in the upcoming Hocus Pocus 2 with some brand new powers. We sat down with Butcherson himself, Doug Jones, to talk about the challenges of taking on this iconic role and what fans can expect from the upcoming sequel. Check out our exclusive interview with Jones below! Billy Butcherson Returns in Hocus Pocus 2!
Table of Contents
I loved the movie when I was younger
Who doesn’t love a movie about a vengeful trio of teenage witches? However, I was always bothered by one thing: who is Billy Butcherson and why did Winifred Sanderson target him? Well, now we have an answer to that question. Doug Jones, better known as Hellboy or Abe Sapien in popular movies such as Hellboy and The Shape of Water will be returning to star in Hocus Pocus 2. But more importantly he will be playing his character from 1992 version of Hocus Pocus named Billy Butcherson.
Who Is Doug Jones Play as Billy Butcherson
The actor who played Billy Butcherson is Doug Jones. He’s an actor with a lot of credits, but he’s probably best known for his work as Abe Sapien in Hellboy and its sequel, among other characters such as Silver Surfer. His most notable role came in 2016 when he played The Amphibian Man on American Horror Story: Roanoke. And it’s that particular character that is keeping him from returning to play Billy for a new Hocus Pocus movie.
A scene from Hocus Pocus 2
The Return of Billy Butcherson shows him protecting all of humanity with his axe and his scythe against villainous witches such as Winifred Sanderson. This scene was shot at Universal Studios Hollywood, a real life location which serves as a theme park and movie studio located on Lankershim Boulevard, where movies like Fast & Furious 6 were also filmed. The Halloween scenes here will make your visit to Los Angeles exciting because you can look out for places that are featured in films. If you are traveling to Los Angeles for fun or business then it is a good idea to plan ahead and learn about Hocus Pocus 2 being shot at Universal Studios Hollywood as well as other locations.
Actor Doug Jones talks about playing Billy Butcherson
What was it like to play Billy again after all these years? How did you get into character? Did you talk to anyone who knew him? It’s been a long time since I played him. It’s really hard to say how much I’ve changed because I don’t know how much he’s changed either. We’re both just now coming back to life after being buried for two hundred years and neither of us were that active while we were dead, so some things may be different. But he still has his brain and he’s still Billy, so it would make sense that he’d be generally pretty similar as far as personality goes.
Watch the trailer for Hocus Pocus 2
Once Upon a Time…Again, which will be released on July 10, 2019. In it we see that Billy Butcherson (played by Doug Jones) is resurrected as a zombie. As an evil character whose presence is intended to scare our heroes, Billy’s transformation into zombie form may not be for everyone. In fact, some may feel that it amounts to grave robbing – people are buried with their bodies intact and only decomposed human remains should be desecrated post-mortem. But I think you’ll agree that he looks pretty darn cool: And what about his personality?
What does Billy Butcherson call Winifred?
__________, ___________ and _________________ (three pop culture references from three different decades). Did you know that before Winifred became immortal and an evil witch, she was just a sad little girl who had no friends? She didn’t have any friends because no one would play with her. Since Billy is only now becoming a zombie after he died in 1693 and he’s been dead for 300 years, we don’t know why Winifred has decided to resurrect him. But since it’s clear she needs his help – maybe he can talk some sense into her? Don’t forget – Stay Dead.
Who was Winifred Sanderson’s lover?
In 1993, Walt Disney Pictures released Hocus Pocus, a film starring Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker and Kathy Najimy as three witches who return from their graves every Halloween. But what you didn’t know is that one of those witches had a boyfriend. That would be Billy Butcherson, played by none other than horror icon Doug Jones. Unfortunately for Billy (played by Doug Jones), he got drunk with Winifred Sanderson (Bette Midler) and passed out — only to wake up moments later as her zombie servant and lover after she stuck him with a poisoned dagger.
What is Billy’s last name in Hocus Pocus?
Williams, Butterworth, Presley, and Butcherson are all possible last names for Billy. In other words: as of now, it is not known what Billy’s last name is. Theoretically speaking, his full name could be William Robert Jackson Francis Scott Key William McKinley Morgan Freeman Jackson Butterworth Presley Butcherson, and nobody would be able to refute that he had a legitimate last name because we don’t actually know his last name. But let’s assume that Butcherson is indeed his surname.
Why was Billy’s mouth sewn shut?
In an early draft of Hocus Pocus, Billy dies when his mouth is sewn shut. The writers felt that was too gruesome so they made him just a zombie instead. Also his mouth was supposed to be sewn shut. And I feel like they used this awesome detail as a nod to fans of Halloween or something? (This information came from an interview with Allyson Riggs and Mick Garris on YouTube if anyone can find it again)
Who was once Winnie’s boyfriend?
Billy Butcherson who, as seen in Halloween was Winnie’s ex-boyfriend. The two were very much in love and planned to get married until Winifred brought him back from hell to trick him into marrying her. He eventually left her after realizing he loved Sam, not Winifred, and would never marry a witch. However, what may come as a surprise is that Billy is still alive—well, sort of… In real life actor Doug Jones plays both Billy and his Halloween alter ego, or at least he does for now… Since it’s officially confirmed that Disney has greenlit production on a sequel to 1993’s Hocus Pocus, there are speculations circulating that Jones will reprise his role as ‘s beloved Billy Butcherson.
Who is the boy at the beginning of Hocus Pocus?
Max Dennison is a boy who lives with his younger sister Dani, and his widowed father, who works at a funeral home. He moved to Salem after his mother died when he was young. The movie opens with Max digging through an old box of Halloween decorations in search of something scary for their home, but everything he finds either breaks or doesn’t work. He decides that by adding new effects to their annual Halloween show from last year, it will make things spookier. One evening, Max and Dani sneak out to do so, but Max accidentally knocks over a lit jack-o’-lantern into his sister’s cauldron which causes her to fall into it and become possessed by Winifred Sanderson.
