Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman are back for Practical Magic 2, but not all of the same witches have returned with them.
In the sequel, set 25 years after the 1998 cult classic, Joey King and Maisie Williams replace Evan Rachel Wood and Alexandra Artrip as the daughters of Bullock’s Sally Owens. Wood has previously spoken out about being recast, saying she was “not asked to come back” and “it was not in my control or my choice.”
On a red carpet for The Shards in July, Wood added that it appeared she wasn’t asked back because “it seems like they’re not following the book,” but wished King the best in taking over the role as oldest daughter Kylie.
At the follow-up’s L.A. premiere on Monday, King told The Hollywood Reporter that she “had a lovely conversation” with Wood following that interview, “and I just was so appreciative of the support that she showed to me and to the rest of the cast. She is so talented and so beautiful and she made this role so special when she was a young girl. I feel so grateful to be able to play Kylie at this age but I love Evan so much and I’m so appreciative of her kind words and the exchange that her and I shared.”
Director Susanne Bier also shed some further light on the recasting decision, explaining, “It had to be a certain age group; in the story they’re just like literally out of college, and with Joey and Maisie it just felt completely right.”
