Stranger Things star also starred in Hocus Pocus
Actor Tobias Jelinek appeared in both Stranger Things season 1 and Hocus Pocus
Halloween season is a time for fans to gather around the old ghoul log to enjoy some spooky streaming and terrifying television. For Stranger Things fans, there’s a connection to the classic Halloween movie Hocus Pocus: Tobias Jelinek. Jelinek appeared in Hocus Pocus back in 1993.
Stranger Things fans know Jelinek as the Lead Agent in season 1 of the show, appearing in six out of the eight episodes of the hit show’s freshman outing. The Lead Agent first appeared in “The Vanishing of Wil Byers” and he was with Dr. Brenner when he investigated the new dimension growing within Hawkins Lab.
However, long before his trip into the Upside Down, Jelinek played Jay in the cult classic Halloween movie Hocus Pocus. Jelinek got his big break as a 15 year old and Hocus Pocus was his first major role. Jay is probably most remembered as one of the film’s bullies who ends up in a cage singing “Row, Row, Row Your Boat” at the end of the movie.
While Stranger Things was an instant hit for Netflix, it took some time for Hocus Pocus to gain a following. It had a dismal showing at the box office in 1993 but it received a new lease on life as the movie started airing on the Disney Channel, where a whole generation of kids grew up with it. It wasn’t long before the movie achieved cult status and now it airs on Disney’s FreeForm annually during their October Halloween celebration.
Not only has Hocus Pocus enjoyed a resurgence, but there is even a push for the cast to reunite in a sequel. It makes perfect sense given that the people making decisions in Hollywood are the ones who grew up watching Hocus Pocus as kids. Sentimentality has been a driving force for sequels and remakes lately, and there’s no question that a sequel to the beloved film would be welcomed with open arms.