Photo: Buena Vista/Courtesy Everett Collection; Valerie Durant/Freeform via Getty
Hocus PocusactorOmri Katzsays he had a professional “wake-up call” when he filmed the 1993 Disney classic.
As part of a roundtable interview with the originalHocus Pocuscast published Wednesday, Katz, 46, toldEntertainment Weeklyhe washigh from cannabis use while filming scenesfor the family film.
“That was at an age where I started experimenting with cannabis,” Katz, who was 16 at the time of filming, toldEW. “Let’s just say, some of those scenes, I was having a good old time.”
Katz noted that he does not remember exactly which scenes he was high during, but he recalled “misperforming and not hitting my keys or marks” during the interview.
“We got it done, but that was kind of a wake-up call, like, Omri, you’ve got to be a little more professional and make sure you hit your cues!”
Katz’sHocus PocuscostarVinessa Shawnoted in the interview that she remembered the incident happening during a sequence in the film’s first act, in which witch Winifred Sanderson (Bette Midler) zaps Max Dennison (Katz) with her magic powers.
“Yeah, but I didn’t look like I was getting zapped,” Katz toldEW. “I looked like I was getting high.”
Omri Katz (L) and Thora Birch inHocus Pocus(1993).Everett
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In September, Katz toldEWthat"unfortunately" he’s “not in” the sequelto the 1993 movie, in which he played the teenage protagonist who lit the Black Flame Candle and resurrected the Sanderson Sisters: Midler,Kathy NajimyandSarah Jessica Parker, who all reprise their roles in the new film.
Katz, said he “would have loved to be involved” in the sequel, adding, “I feel bad for the original fan base saying we aren’t because I’m sure they wanted to see us reprise our roles.”
But he’s excited for the “new fan base” the movie will “attract.”
“I think it’ll be good for everyone who loved the original!” Katz toldEW. “I hope fans will go see it. I know I will.”
On Oct. 4, Disney+ revealed thatHocus Pocus 2became thestreaming service’s No. 1 movie debut domestically to date, based on hours streamed in the first three days of its release on Sept. 30.
Katz’s activities on the set ofHocus Pocusappear to have led to business opportunities today. In February, USMagazine reported that the former actor nowruns a cannabis brand called The Mary Danksters.
source: people.com
