Update: Yesterday, it was widely reported (including by us) that Tina Fey would be producing and possibly starring in Hocus Pocus 2. Deadline quickly put a kibosh on that rumor, however, and claimed that Fey is developing and in talks to star in a different witch movie at Disney. Currently, the film, reportedly “in the vein of Ghostbusters,” is simply known as “Untitled Witch Project” and is being produced by Fey and Cinderella producer Allison Shearmur.

Deadline also leaves open the possibility that a Hocus Pocus sequel might still happen.

Here’s the original post:

Witches are the new vampires, and thus Hollywood is rooting around its recent, nostalgia-ready past for some wart-nosed, broom-riding projects it can reboot, sequel-ize, or whatever else it takes not to take a risk by coming up with a new idea.

One of those projects is Hocus Pocus 2, a spin-off of sorts to the 1993 kids’ comedy starring Sarah Jessica Parker, Bette Midler, and Kathy Najimy as a trio of witches from the era of the Salem trials.

Disney had previously announced it was looking for “leads in the vein of Tina Fey and Melissa McCarthy,” and now it’s gotten Fey to sign on — but as of right now just as a producer. It’s unknown whether Fey will agree to star as well, but viewers of 30 Rock know she can play one helluva comic villainness. Remember that episode where Liz Lemon started dressing up as the Joker? But here’s some definite casting news: Parker, Midler, and Najimy won’t play the leads.

According to The Tracking Board, the new film will take place a few years later. And instead of centering on a witch-hating little boy as the hero, its adult heroine will be a stay-at-home-mom who teams up with a witch hunter to battle against a coven of new baddies.

[via Empire]