Nicole Kidman’s Instagram video of an on‑set embrace confirmed day‑one filming for Practical Magic 2 on 18 July, reuniting Kidman and Sandra Bullock as the Owens sisters after twenty‑seven years.
Cameras are rolling on West London soundstages dressed in New‑England autumn hues, with exterior work scheduled around the capital later this month. Danish filmmaker Susanne Bier is directing from a script by returning writer‑producer Akiva Goldsman and Succession alum Georgia Pritchett, adapting Alice Hoffman’s 2021 novel The Book of Magic, which continues the family’s centuries‑old love curse.
Warner Bros. has locked 18 September 2026 as the North‑American release date, giving the production a fourteen‑month post‑production window for visual‑effects work tied to spell‑casting sequences. Legacy cast members Stockard Channing and Dianne Wiest reprise their eccentric aunts, while new arrivals Joey King, Lee Pace, Maisie Williams, Xolo Maridueña and Solly McLeod expand the Owens family tree. Kidman, Bullock and longtime collaborator Denise Di Novi share producer credit, with Griffin Dunne, who directed the 1998 original, serving as executive producer.
Industry observers note that Warner Bros. is positioning the sequel as a mid‑budget counter‑programmer in a superhero‑heavy autumn slate, banking on multigenerational nostalgia and TikTok popularity of the original’s “midnight margaritas” scene.
Despite widespread fan petitions, Evan Rachel Wood confirmed she was not asked to return as Sally’s daughter, citing scheduling conflicts after offering to reprise the role. Studio insiders say Joey King will portray the next‑generation witch at the heart of Hoffman’s novel, signaling a hand‑off that could extend the franchise.
Economic impact is already visible: Film London lists Practical Magic 2 among July’s largest shoots, a boost to local crew employment during a traditionally slow period. Merchandising partners are preparing limited‑edition candle sets and a vinyl release of the score, mirroring retail strategies that helped 2023’s Hocus Pocus 2 exceed projections. Executives close to the project describe the tone as “warmer and more romantic” than the original, promising practical effects wherever possible to maintain the film’s handcrafted charm.
