Thora Birch reveals why she did not reprise her role in Hocus Pocus 2

Thora Birch explained why she didn’t reprise her role as Dani Dennison in Disney’s Hocus Pocus 2, which came out Friday.

The longtime actress, 40, told ET Canada that she was interested in appearing in the sequel, but couldn’t due to a previous commitment.

“By the time they started filming, I was already on something else,” she revealed while walking the red carpet at Variety’s Power of Women event in Los Angeles.

The star said she was “appalled” that it didn’t work, adding: “There were three options we had to bring Dani back, all of which I was excited about.”

While she won’t be appearing in the sequel, nearly 30 years after the 1993 original, she said she’ll tune in to watch it.

“I’m excited for the fans who have been begging for ‘Hocus Pocus 2’ for years,” she noted. “So yes, I’m watching everyone.”

Reminiscing about filming the first movie when she was just eight years old, Thoróra added that it “holds such a special place in my heart.”

Flashback: The longtime actress, 40, told ET Canada she was interested in appearing in the sequel but couldn’t due to a previous commitment; pictured in 1993 with Omri Kats and Vinessa Shaw

Also not returning for the Hocus Pocus revival are Omri Katz, Vinessa Shaw, who played Max and Allison.

Fans can still enjoy three original cast members – Kathy Najimy, Sarah Jessica Parker and Bette Midler – who all returned for the second film.

Characters Mary, Sarah and Winnie will lead the film in their roles as evil witches.

In August, director Anne Fletcher revealed that the sequel would explore the origins of the Sanderson sisters, dating back to the 1600s.

Disappointed: The star shared she was “appalled” that she couldn’t make it to the sequel, while sharing: “There were three options we had to bring Dani back, all of which I was excited about”; pictured with Kathy Najimy, Sarah Jessica Parker and Bette Midler

Teaser: In August, director Anne Fletcher revealed that the sequel would explore the origins of the Sanderson sisters, dating back to the 1600s

The opening scene features child actors Taylor Henderson, Juju Journey Brener and Nina Kitchen as younger versions of Winifred, Sarah and Mary.

The series also features a young Billy Butcherson (Doug Jones), years before he became Winifred’s lover.

“In the opening scene of the movie, we get some history from our witches and Billy. We get a little kiss—excuse the pun—from the Billy aspect of it and the world they lived in and what happened to the witches,” Fletcher explained.

‘I always missed that in the first. Like, what are the witches as they are? I had that question, and the script came, and I loved the early 1600s,” she added.

Red Carpet Event: The Stars Attended the World Premiere of Hocus Pocus 2 in NYC on September 27