On the heels of the long-awaited sequel Hocus Pocus 2 dominating Disney Plus last year and shattering streaming numbers, Disney is set to continue the witchcraft and madness with Hocus Pocus 3 — which was officially announced just a few days ago. And whether you like it or not, the third entry in the fantasy franchise is definitely happening. Of course, little information about the film has been released, but it’s safe to say that the Sanderson Sisters — portrayed by Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Kathy Najimy, respectively — will all be returning to reprise their roles. That is, if Midler’s September 2022 interview is anything to go by.
But while the Sanderson Sisters have been regarded as villains ever since 1993’s Hocus Pocus, there is a serious chance that filmmakers could turn the witches into heroes. Oof. That makes me shudder just thinking about it. Of course, this theory only increased due to the closing minutes of Hocus Pocus 2, where Winifred Sanderson bursts into tears and sorrow when she discovers that she might lose her two sisters forever — and we actually feel bad for her. But let’s face it, there are a plethora of reasons why Salem’s resident witchcraft baddies can never be considered good witches. So, let’s dive right in and fully explore exactly why that is.
Winifred once put a dreaded curse on Thackery Binx
Kicking things right off, one of Winifred Sanderson’s most awful antics occurred when she placed a horrid curse on fan-favorite protagonist Thackery Binx. In the first Hocus Pocus, Thackery rushes to the Sanderson cottage to retrieve his younger sister Emily, who was initially kidnapped by the sisters so that they could use her youth to make themselves more vibrant. And while Thackery as a black cat is undoubtedly adorable, it doesn’t take away the fact that Winifred was truly evil for putting him through such an ordeal.
All three sisters are actively cannibals
Getting down to the nitty and gritty, turning the sisters into heroes would truly be awful for the simple fact that the Sanderson witches are confirmed cannibals. There have been several instances of the three of them talking about torturing and eating children — especially when you consider the notion that Winifred’s spellbook is made of human flesh. Do what you wish with this information.
They faithfully worship Satan
On multiple occasions in both movies, the three crafty witches are unapologetic in their love and devotion to Satan himself. In fact, the trio even gets in trouble in the first film for dancing with a man dressed as Satan for Halloween, only for his wife to kick all three of them out of her house. But before getting the boot, the trio refers to the man dressed up as “master,” and that they will gladly obey his every command and wish. Of course, with witchcraft being considered Satanic in the ancient days of the Salem witch trials, this part of their personality certainly fits the bill — but it definitely wouldn’t make them heroes.
Sarah Sanderson is way too creepy around little boys
Using the term “pedophile” might feel like a stretch, but there’s no discounting that Sarah Sanderson definitely gives off uncomfortable vibes around little boys. In fact, she makes several mentions of wanting to “torture” little boys and even “play” with them. And while her comedic timing and bubbly personality might make it seem like she’s not some sort of predator, Sarah’s consistent remarks make it hard to disagree with the evident possibility. This reason, of course, would make it almost impossible for us to ever see her as a good guy.
They are child murderers, literally
If the other four reasons weren’t enough proof that turning the Sanderson sisters into “good” witches would be an awful idea, then perhaps the mention of them literally murdering children will clearly spell it out. After starting out as three young witches, the sneaky sisters soon discovered that they would turn old if they didn’t do something about it. So I guess murdering children and using their life force to make themselves younger was the answer, eh? Nevertheless, it’s never directly said how many children the trio has murdered, but I’d put my life savings on the number being particularly high.