‘Hocus Pocus 2’ Filming Locations: Why the Sequel Shot in Rhode Island Instead of Salem

The Sanderson sisters are again in Hocus Pocus 2, which is now streaming on Disney+. However the place, precisely, are they returning to?

To Salem, after all! Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Kathy Najimy are again as Winnie, Sarah, and Mary Sanderson, who’re as soon as once more unintentionally summoned to present-day Salem, Massachusetts on Halloween night time. It’s been 29 years, however these witches are nonetheless craving a feast of youngsters, and it’s as much as a brand new era of youngsters to cease them.

Hocus Pocus 2 is each bit as foolish, spooky, and fun-loving as the primary movie. However as nice as it’s to see these iconic witches again in Salem, you may be questioning as you watch: Is that actually Salem?

Learn on to search out out extra in regards to the Hocus Pocus 2 filming areas, and discover out why Hocus Pocus 2 didn’t movie in Salem.

WHERE WAS HOCUS POCUS 2 FILMED?

You’ll be able to’t get these spooky New England vibes from a Hollywood backlot—Hocus Pocus 2 was filmed on location in Rhode Island. (That is even supposing the movie takes place in Salem, Massachusetts. Possibly the Massachusetts tax breaks aren’t as beneficiant as Rhode Island’s!)

In accordance with a neighborhood Newport information website, Hocus Pocus 2 started filming in Rhode Island on October 18, 2021. The set for the scenes that happen within the 1600s was constructed on Chase Farm Park in Lincoln, Rhode Island.

Most of the modern-day scenes had been filmed in Windfall, Rhode Island. In accordance with The Boston Globe, that included scenes shot on Atwells Avenue—particularly, the Roma Ristorante car parking zone, a nook bakery, and a market. There have been additionally scenes shot the Historic Cranston Road Armory.

For the college scenes, the personal Catholic Excessive Faculty La Salle Academy was reportedly used. And for these spooky cemetery scenes through which Doug Jones reprised his position as Billy Butcherson? Effectively, that was the native Carpenter Cemetery in Rumford, East Windfall.

And, after all, a big portion of the movie takes place at a giant Halloween competition in Salem—that was really Washington Sq. in Newport, Rhode Island, which obtained the total spooky competition makeover.

DID HOCUS POCUS 2 FILM IN SALEM?

No. Whereas the primary Hocus Pocus was filmed in Salem, the sequel was shot in Rhode Island. In accordance with The Brown Each day Herald, the Hocus Pocus 2 manufacturing was initially scheduled to movie in Salem, however that modified when director Adam Shankman stepped down as director and was changed by Anne Fletcher in April 2021.

Cinematographer Elliot Davis informed The Brown Each day Herald that the rationale for the change was that “the director loves Windfall, she shot right here a pair occasions … and Disney loves the town.”

Hey, New England is New England, proper? Absolutely there have been loads of witches burned on the stake in Rhode Island.