Something magical is brewing over at Warner Bros. Last year, it was first announced that Nicole Kidman and Sandra Bullock were nearing a deal with the studio to make a long-awaited follow-up to their witchy 1996 romantic fantasy “Practical Magic.” Then, teases trickled out for a few months before, and unexpectedly, WB dropped a teaser on social media in May, sending fans into a whirlwind.
The original film, which did not make a profit in its initial theatrical run, went on to become a staple of aughts cable television, brewing up generations of fans and becoming a cult favorite.
The logical next question, then, was who — besides the now-Oscar-winning Kidman and Bullock — would be returning to the quaint Owens sisters’ Massachusetts home for the next adventure. In 1998, the cast included Goran Visnjic, Dianne Wiest, Stockard Channing, Aidan Quinn, Evan Rachel Wood, and Margo Martindale. Visnjic’s character, Jimmy, would seem unlikely since (spoiler alert) he’s dead. But everyone else?
On July 11, fans learned that the main supporting cast members, and the co-conspirators in the above-mentioned “Midnight Margaritas,” were officially on board — Wiest and Channing. In the movie, they play Kidman and Bullock’s aunts, who teach the young witches everything they need to know about their craft — and then some.
Additionally, new members of the movie’s coven have since been announced — though what roles they’ll play is yet unknown. Joining will be Lee Pace, Maisie Williams, Xolo Maridueña, and Solly McLeod.
Of the original cast, only Wood — won played Bullock’s daughter in the 1998 film — has spoken about whether or not she is participating. On July 11, Wood took to Instagram to reveal that (via People), “I offered my services, even if it was one scene or one line… I was told they are re-casting. I am sorry to disappoint the fans. It was not in my control or my choice. I would have happily rejoined my sisters.”
The original film was based on the 1995 novel by Alice Hoffman, who later wrote two prequels and one sequel, “The Book of Magic” in 2021. No indications have been made if the movie will follow the plot of this book, though the script comes from the original film’s co-writer, Akiva Goldsman. Oscar- and Emmy-winner Susanne Bier, who worked with Bullock on “Bird Box” and Kidman on “The Undoing” and “The Perfect Couple,” will direct.
“Practical Magic 2” will be released on September 18, 2026.
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