Evan Rachel Wood Says No Original Cast Members Discussed Practical Magic Sequel with Her
Evan Rachel Wood confirmed she was not consulted about the Practical Magic sequel, noting only Joey King reached out, while director Susanne Bier said recasting was required for the story.
Evan Rachel Wood said she was not approached by any members of the original Practical Magic team about the upcoming sequel, except for a call from Joey King, who is set to replace her as Kylie Owens. Wood shared the comment on an Instagram story, adding that she appreciated King’s outreach.
Director Susanne Bier explained at the film’s premiere that the recasting was driven by the narrative, which focuses on characters who have just graduated from college, and was not a personal decision.
King will portray the eldest daughter of Sandra Bullock’s character, who begins to develop magical abilities in the sequel, which arrives nearly three decades after the 1998 original. The sequel adapts Alice Hoffman’s The Book of Magic, while the original was based on her novel Practical Magic.
Wood also expressed in a July interview that the film’s adaptation appears to diverge from the source material and that she would have expected to return if the story followed the book.
Former cast member Alexandra Artrip, who played Kylie’s younger sister in the first film, posted supportive messages for Wood and noted her own replacement by Maisie Williams in the sequel.
Practical Magic 2 is scheduled for theatrical release on September 10.