Movies
‘Hocus Pocus’ Was Originally a Scarier Film Titled ‘Halloween House’
In a new Untold Stories video over on Entertainment Weekly, the cast and crew of Halloween classic Hocus Pocus spilled some stories and shared fun memories today.
For starters, did you know that the ’93 film, penned by master of horror Mick Garris, was originally titled Halloween House? Furthermore, Steven Spielberg was nearly involved!
“David Kirschner, who [was one of the writers of] An American Tail for Steven Spielberg, had this great idea about children in Salem, Massachusetts, coming up against the three Sanderson sisters, who were resurrected from the Salem of 1692, and he’d sold it to Disney,” Garris told the site. “[Spielberg] loved it until he found out that Disney was already involved. At that time, Disney and Amblin were very competitive in the family-film market, so neither of them wanted to be in business with the other. [But] it was very close to being a project with Steven Spielberg.”
How did Garris’ script, written in the ’80s, differ from what made it onto the screen in director Kenny Ortega‘s film? According to Garris himself, it was a bit darker.
“What I had written originally was about 12-year-olds,” Garris noted. “The kids being younger and in more jeopardy was certainly something more explicitly frightening.”
Watch the Untold Stories video below for more secrets!
Christopher Landon (Happy Death Day, Freaky) is staying busy here in 2024, directing not only the werewolf movie Big Bad but also an upcoming thriller titled Drop.
The project for Blumhouse and Platinum Dunes is being described as a “fast-paced thriller,” and Deadline reports today that Violett Beane (Truth or Dare) has joined the cast.
Newcomer Jacob Robinson has also signed on to star in the mysterious thriller. Previously announced, Meghann Fahy (“White Lotus”) will be leading the cast.
Landon recently teased on Twitter, “This is my love letter to DePalma.”
Jillian Jacobs and Chris Roach wrote the script.
Michael Bay, Jason Blum, Brad Fuller and Cameron Fuller — “who brought the script in to Platinum Dunes” — are producing the upcoming Drop. Sam Lerner is an executive producer.
THR notes, “The film is a Platinum Dunes and Blumhouse production for Universal.”
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