Bette Midler, a legendary actress and comedian, recently made headlines during an appearance on Watch What Happens Live (WWHL), where she passionately addressed the long-standing debate over a 'First Wives Club' sequel. Midler, alongside her co-stars Goldie Hawn and Diane Keaton, had been tirelessly advocating for a follow-up to the iconic 1996 comedy, but their efforts were met with resistance from Paramount Studios.
In a revealing moment, Midler shared the trio's relentless pursuit of a sequel, stating, 'We tried and tried and tried. All of us tried. We got together and tried. We tried singly, doubly, triply. We really, really tried. We involved numerous producers, but Paramount remained steadfast in their refusal.'
The actress expressed her disappointment and frustration, saying, 'They just didn’t feel like it. We were really insulted.' This revelation comes in the wake of Keaton's tragic passing from pneumonia at the age of 79, adding a layer of emotional complexity to the situation.
Midler fondly reminisced about her time working with Keaton and Hawn on 'The First Wives Club,' which was nominated for an Oscar for Best Original Musical or Comedy Score. She described their collaboration as incredibly fun and hilarious, stating, 'I think that was the most fun I ever had. Those two girls, between them, I was on the floor every single day. I was crying with laughter. We had a wonderful time.'
Despite the lack of a sequel, Midler found solace in the success of 'Hocus Pocus 2,' which came out in 2022 after a 30-year wait. She shared her experience of lobbying Disney for the sequel, saying, 'Hocus Pocus took 30 years. We used to lobby Disney all the time. 'Hocus Pocus, yeah! Look at these numbers!''
Looking ahead, Midler is excited about the prospect of 'Hocus Pocus 3,' having received a script that she found brilliant. She is now engaged in discussions about the film's logistics, including its plot, setting, and budget. The audience can catch WWHL on Bravo, where new episodes are available for streaming on Peacock the next day.
