Who played binx in hocus pocus

Today, Sean Murray is best known for portraying agent Timothy McGee in the hit primetime procedural NCIS. Though he has been almost solely committed to the series for the last 17 seasons, the actor’s career started when he was still relatively young. 

In 1993, Murray appeared as Thackery Binx in Hocus Pocus — the campy Halloween film starring Bette Midler, Kathy Najimy, and Sarah Jessica Parker. Though the film debuted to critical condemnation and performed poorly at the box office, it has since gone on to become a cult classic — playing many times throughout October on television. A sequel is even in the works for Disney+. 

Murray’s role as Thackery Binx was a bit limited. Thackeray Binx is mostly a cat while on the screen, as a spell from centuries ago left rendered him feline. The cat receives most of the screen time and most of the dialogue, and Murray didn’t voice the character; his entire performance was dubbed. 

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Why those behind ‘Hocus Pocus’ didn’t want Murray to voice Thackery Binx

As Seventeen notes, Murray was supposed to voice Thackery Binx, which logistically made the most sense. The man behind the visual performance should also be the man behind the voice, as adequate dubbing requires extra work. So, why didn’t Murray voice the character? 

The producers wanted Binx — both the cat and the boy — to sound like a young man from the 1600s, and Murray’s voice was too contemporary to adequately convey such tonality. Thus, they opted for an actor who could create the identity desired for the cat via his voice alone. 

Who voiced Binx in ‘Hocus Pocus?’

Jason Marsden voiced Thackery Binx in Hocus Pocus. Marsden is an American actor, voice actor, director, and producer with many voice-over credits to his name. The actor is well known for his work in A Goofy Movie, The Lion King 2: Simba’s Pride, Spirited Away, Hocus Pocus, and more.

According to Bustle, those behind Hocus Pocus initially wanted Thackery to boast a California vibe, but, at some point during production, realized that an “Olde English” accent made more sense for the character. Thus, Marsden stepped in to take over the responsibility of voicing the character when the initial Californian sound was dished to the side. 

According to Bustle, the decision to use Marsden “never bothered” Murray, as the accent desired was out of his wheelhouse. Together, Murray and Jason Marsden are Thackery Binx – Murray was the innocent face and Marsden was the memorable and brave voice. 

Dani : Where's Binx? Binx? Binx? Binx!

Allison : He's gone. He's gone, Dani.

Dani : But he can't die, remember? Wake up, Binx. Binx, wake up. Like last time.

[she begins crying over his feline body] 

Thackery Binx : [In human spirit form]  Dani, come on. Please don't be sad for me.

Dani : Binx, is that you?

Thackery Binx : Yeah.

[laughs] 

Thackery Binx : The witches are dead, my soul's finally free.

[Puts his hand out, as she lays her hand in his] 

Thackery Binx : You freed me, Dani, thank you.

[turns to Max] 

Thackery Binx : Hey, Max? Thanks for lighting the candle.

Emily : Thackery! Thackery Binx!

Thackery Binx : It's Emily!

[to Dani] 

Thackery Binx : I shall always be with you.

Emily : Thackery Binx, what took thee so long?

Thackery Binx : I'm sorry, Emily, but I had wait 300 years for a virgin to light a candle.

A cat seemingly got voice actor Jason Marsden's tongue ahead of Hocus Pocus 2.

The performer, who voiced the feline version of Thackery Binx — a 17th-century victim of the Sanderson Sisters cursed to live forever as a black cat — will not return for the Disney sequel, a source close to the actor tells EW exclusively. (Disney did not immediately respond to EW's request for confirmation.)

Though Thackery's curse was broken (and his ghostly form reunited with his sister in the afterlife) when the witches were defeated at the end of the first film, fan speculation ran wild Tuesday morning after a black cat appeared in the film's teaser trailer. The cat looked eerily similar to the creature that accompanied Max (Omri Katz), Dani (Thora Birch), and Allison (Vinessa Shaw) as they battled the nefarious witches (Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, Kathy Najimy) through Salem after unwittingly resurrecting them from the dead on Halloween night.

EW previously confirmed that Birch would also not reprise her role as an adult version of Dani due to filming conflicts. A source said that the original script had a "good supporting role" for Birch, who, if all had gone according to plan, would've worked to help three modern-day teens (Gossip Girl's Whitney Peak, Dirt's Lilia Buckingham, American Horror Stories' Belissa Escobedo) with their attempts to halt the Sanderson Sisters upon their second resurrection — this time in modern-day Salem.

Jason Marsden/Thackery Binx from Hocus Pocus

EW also confirmed that RuPaul's Drag Race stars Kornbread "The Snack" Jeté, Ginger Minj, and Kahmora Hall joined the cast for a scene featuring the queens as drag versions of the Sanderson trio.

Alongside Midler, Parker, and Najimy, original Hocus Pocus actor Doug Jones also returned for the sequel in the role of Billy Butcherson, Winifred's zombified ex-lover, with series newcomers like Ted Lasso Emmy-winner Hannah Waddingham and Veep alums Tony Hale and Sam Richardson also boarding the ensemble.

"I am beyond thrilled to be involved in the sequel to a film that is as beloved as Hocus Pocus," Fletcher said last year in a statement about the upcoming project. "Fans around the world have embraced these characters and have made this film a Halloween tradition whose popularity continues to grow, and how lucky am I to be back at Disney with these three extraordinarily talented ladies in the iconic roles they created, as well as our fabulous new additions to the cast?"

Hocus Pocus 2, directed by Anne Fletcher, premieres Sept. 30 on Disney+. Watch the new trailer above.

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Hocus Pocus Sarah Jessica Parker, Bette Midler, Kathy Najimy