Almost thirty years passed. That’s a long time to wait for a candle to be lit, but when Disney finally dropped the sequel to the 1993 cult classic, the spotlight didn't just stay on Winifred's buck teeth. It shifted. We met Becca.
Played by Whitney Peak, Becca isn’t just some random teen filler character meant to bridge the gap between millennial nostalgia and Gen Z streaming habits. She’s the anchor. Honestly, if you look at Hocus Pocus 2 Becca is the most significant addition to the lore because she redefines what it means to be a witch in Salem. She isn't just a victim running away from vacuum-riding hags. She’s their successor. Sorta.
The Birthday Ritual That Went Side-ways
Becca is a loner, but not in that cheesy, "nobody likes me" movie way. She has a tight circle—or she did. When the movie opens, she’s turning sixteen. In the world of occult tropes, sixteen is the big one. It's when the powers kick in. Becca and her best friend Izzy (Belissa Escobedo) head into the Forbidden Woods to do their annual birthday ritual.
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They think it's just flavor. Fun.
Then Gilbert, the owner of the Olde Salem Magic Shoppe, hands them a "gift." A Black Flame Candle. You know the drill. It gets lit. The floor boards shake. The Sanderson Sisters explode back onto the screen with a musical number because, of course they do. But the real story isn't the sisters coming back; it's why Becca was the one who could bring them—and eventually stop them.
Wait, Is Becca Actually a Witch?
This is where the fan theories started flying the second the movie hit Disney+. For the first half of the film, Becca is just a girl with a lot of crystals and a healthy interest in the craft. But as the night progresses, things get weird. She starts seeing things. She feels a "spark."
It turns out Becca is a natural witch. This is a massive departure from the original film. In the 1993 version, magic was something the Sandersons stole or brewed. It was transactional, powered by the Book and the souls of children. Becca's magic is different. It’s internal.
During the climax at the Reverend's house and eventually back in the woods, we see her manifest actual abilities. She protects her friends with a literal shield of blue light. It’s not just "movie magic" for the sake of a cool visual; it serves a narrative purpose. It establishes that magic didn't die with the Sandersons, and it doesn't have to be evil.
The Coven vs. The Sisters
The most poignant part of the Hocus Pocus 2 Becca storyline is the parallel between her friendship and the Sanderson bond. Winifred, Mary, and Sarah are obsessed with staying together, but their bond is rooted in codependency and fear. They literally cannot exist without each other, which becomes Winifred’s ultimate undoing when she trades her sisters for the ultimate power of the Magicae Maxima.
Becca’s coven—Izzy and their estranged friend Cassie—is built on actual choice.
When Becca realizes she has power, she doesn't use it to dominate. She shares it. The "Power of Three" vibes are strong here, though a bit more grounded than Charmed. By the time we get to the final incantation, Becca is the one leading the charge. She reads from the Book—which, by the way, chooses her. That’s a huge detail people miss. The Book (Laveau’s Grimoire) spent centuries with Winifred, but it ultimately abandons her for Becca because Winifred became too blinded by ego.
Whitney Peak and the New Generation
Let's talk about the acting. It's hard to share a screen with Bette Midler. She’s a hurricane in a velvet cloak.
Whitney Peak plays Becca with a groundedness that the movie desperately needed. If Becca had been as campy as the sisters, the movie would have collapsed under its own weight. Instead, she provides the "straight man" perspective. Her skepticism early on makes the eventual acceptance of her powers feel earned rather than forced.
She also represents a shift in how Salem is portrayed. The first movie treated the town like a historical theme park. In the sequel, through Becca’s eyes, we see a Salem that is trying to reconcile its dark past with its commercialized present. Becca lives in the tension between being a modern teen and an ancient soul.
The Ending Most People Misinterpret
When the sisters finally fade away—this time with a sense of peace rather than the screaming terror of the first film—Becca is left with the Book.
A lot of viewers thought this was just a setup for Hocus Pocus 3. It might be. But more importantly, it signifies a passing of the torch. Becca is now the guardian of that magic. She isn't going to use it to suck the lives out of toddlers. She’s going to use it to protect her "coven."
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The final shot of the crow (is it the Mother Witch played by Hannah Waddingham?) following Becca and her friends suggests that her journey is just beginning. She isn't just a protagonist; she’s a pivot point for the entire franchise.
Why This Matters for the Lore
For years, Hocus Pocus was just a standalone lightning-in-a-bottle moment. By introducing Becca, the writers expanded the universe. We now know that:
- Witchcraft is a biological trait for some, not just a learned skill.
- The Mother Witch has been scouting for a successor for a long time.
- The Black Flame Candle wasn't the only way to tap into the "other side."
Becca’s existence reframes the Sandersons as a cautionary tale rather than the peak of magical potential. They were powerful, sure, but they were limited by their malice. Becca’s power, fueled by her connection to Izzy and Cassie, is technically superior because it doesn't require the sacrifice of others.
What to Do With This Information
If you’re a fan looking to dig deeper into the world of Hocus Pocus 2 Becca and the new lore, there are a few things you can do to catch the details you probably missed on the first watch.
- Watch the Mother Witch Scene Again: Pay attention to the forest scene at the beginning. The Mother Witch tells young Winifred that magic belongs to those who are "unafraid." She looks at Winifred with hope, then disappointment. When you see Becca later, notice how she mirrors that same lack of fear, but with a moral compass the sisters lacked.
- Track the Blue Light: In cinema, color theory is everything. The Sandersons are associated with greens, purples, and reds (chaos and corruption). Becca’s magic is a steady, piercing blue. Look for where that blue appears in her room or her clothing before she even knows she’s a witch. It’s all foreshadowed.
- Check the "After Credits": If you turned the movie off when the names started rolling, go back. The teaser at the end isn't just about the sisters; it’s about the fact that there’s another candle. This puts Becca in a position of future conflict.
- Read the Prequel Novel: If you want the full context of how magic works in this version of Salem, Hocus Pocus and the All-New Sequel (the book that came out before the movie) offers a different but complementary look at the family lineages in Salem.
Becca isn't just a replacement for Max Dennison. Max was a "virgin who lit the candle." He was a catalyst. Becca is a participant. She’s a practitioner. Moving forward, the franchise isn't about people running from witches; it’s about the new witches who have to decide what kind of legacy they want to leave behind in a world that finally believes in them again.
Stay observant during the forest scenes. The crows are always watching.