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Thora Birch Has A Pretty Good Reason Why She Couldn't Be In "Hocus Pocus 2"

If we know you, you've probably got plans to watch Hocus Pocus 2 this weekend — that is, if you haven't watched it already.

the three witches in a drug store
Disney+ / courtesy Everett Collection

The long-awaited sequel to the 1993 cult classic brings back some familiar faces alongside a brand-new cast — but not everyone from the first film returned.

closeup of the three witches
Disney+ / courtesy Everett Collection

Specifically, Thora Birch — who played Dani in the original film — does not appear in Hocus Pocus 2. But why?

closeup of young Dani with her arms crossed
Buena Vista Pictures / courtesy Everett Collection

Well, Thora explained it all in an interview with ET Canada.

closeup of a recent Thora
Michael Buckner / Variety via Getty Images

In the interview, Thora said she was "dismayed" not to be able to appear in the new movie — but her absence wasn't without reason.

Thora
Steve Granitz / FilmMagic / Getty Images

"There were three options we had for how to bring Dani back, all of which I was excited by," she explained.

Young Thora as Dani
Buena Vista Pictures / courtesy Everett Collection

Unfortunately, as she explained, “by the time they got around to filming, I was already on something else."

closeup of Thora at an event
Timothy Hiatt / Getty Images for The Roger Ebert's Film Festival

Thora added that the first film still "holds such a special place in my heart," and that she'll be watching Hocus Pocus 2 along with, well, everybody else.

the three witches
Disney+ / courtesy Everett Collection

Here's the trailer for the new one if you want to get pumped: