If there’s one thing to be learned from the 2018 Hocus Pocus 2, it’s that the three Sanderson sisters are capable of anything, including coming back from the dead to exact their revenge on those who banished them to 17th century Salem. In order to stop them, we need someone who’s more than human; someone with magic at her fingertips and powers that can rival those of Winifred, Mary, and Sarah Sanderson. Fortunately, we have Izzy, a teenager from present-day Salem. Izzy and the Struggle to Stop the Sanderson Sisters in Hocus Pocus 2
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The basic plot
A sequel to 1993’s Hocus Pocus is finally coming to theaters. Fans of director Kenny Ortega’s classic film are psyched, of course—but that also means lots of newcomers will be tuning in too. So even if you’re one of those people who’ve never seen a second of Hocus Pocus, there are a few things you’ll want to know before going into your first showing: (Remember, we’re giving you fair warning here.) For one thing, it takes place nearly 25 years after Belissa Escobedo made her original wish—so it follows her daughter Izzy as she fights for her life against three sisters on Halloween night. But no spoilers! To learn more about Izzy’s mission, read our breakdown below
The actress who plays Izzy
Belissa Escobedo is an American actress, model, dancer, singer. Belissa began her acting career at age 6 with appearances on Disney Channel’s The Suite Life of Zack & Cody. She then appeared on The CW’s hit show Gossip Girl as a recurring guest star. Her professional acting debut was in Pineapple Express, followed by a short stint on Nickelodeon’s How to Rock. In 2012 she starred in a FOX pilot, Hieroglyph with John Rhys-Davies and Claude Rains. She has also modeled for Garnet Hill and Vans.
Who Is Belissa Escobedo
Belissa Escobedo, born January 24, 1992, is an American actress who has been acting since she was eight years old. At age 12, Belissa landed her first recurring role as Natalie Rodriguez on George Lopez (2001-2007). Since then she has had multiple roles on hit television shows including ER (2009), Hawaii Five-0 (2010), Undercovers (2010) as well as Hannah Montana (2009). She starred in her own Disney show called Shake It Up! which ran from 2010-2013.
The new additions to the cast
Hocus Pocus has added a new group of teenagers as both heroes and villains. Izzy, one of these characters, is played by Belissa Escobedo. It’s her job to save her younger sister from Belvina’s grasp. The catch? She’s got help from a few teen witches who have brought back their Halloween traditions, creating a magical brew that could save all of Salem while also leading them into danger. Needless to say, it won’t be easy for any witch or high-school student but especially Izzy herself.
Updates on other main characters from the original movie
Sarah Michelle Gellar’s daughter, Charlotte Grace Gellar, who is named after two of her grandmothers. She will also play a teenager named Thackery Binx, a cat that turns into a young man when he wants to. Binx is different from other witches and warlocks because they cast spells but he casts curses. Binx was introduced in Episode 7 (The Warlock at Heart) of Halloweentown High. It is unknown whether or not he will be played by Jason Marsden since it has been 15 years since then. He must have grown up since his last appearance on Disney Channel but Binx is currently a freshman at Screamy High School.
Where it falls short of expectations
The original Hocus Pocus (1993) is an entertaining, crowd-pleasing Halloween film that works despite its flaws. The villainous trio of witches, who were originally sentenced to death by hanging in 1693, manage to return after two centuries and begin terrorizing a small town on Halloween night. Teenager Max Dennison (Omri Katz), his little sister Dani (Thora Birch), and their friends Allison (Vinessa Shaw) and Billy Butcherson (Bradley Pierce) are able to thwart their plan—but not before it is revealed that he must become a virgin again or else sacrifice his own life when midnight strikes. The group then embarks on a quest for these artifacts as well as power sources which have been hidden throughout time.
Will we see another Hocus Pocus sequel?
It’s been 20 years since we were first introduced to Winifred, Mary, and Sarah Sanderson (played by Bette Midler, Kathy Najimy, and Sarah Jessica Parker). The film was a huge hit back then—the highest-grossing Halloween movie of all time. Now that it’s been a couple decades since its release, though, it might be unlikely that there will be another sequel. The cast has all moved on to other projects (except for Thora Birch), but many fans of Hocus Pocus are still holding out hope that they’ll get more movies with their favorite witches.
