Joey King and Maisie Williams say stepping into “Practical Magic 2” carries a burden neither actor takes lightly, given their own history as fans of the 1998 original before joining its long-awaited sequel.
King and Williams play Kylie and Antonia, the grown daughters of Sandra Bullock’s Sally Owens, taking over character lineage previously depicted through younger actors Evan Rachel Wood and Alexandra Artrip. King described the assignment as one weighted by genuine affection for the source material. “As fans of the original film myself, ourselves, I feel like when you love something as much as we already love Practical Magic, there’s just massive responsibility of joining the team and wanting to do it justice,” she said.
That pressure eased once the cast started bonding off camera. Bullock reached out to both actors early, sending a text that jokingly introduced herself in a maternal role, a gesture Williams said immediately calmed her nerves about joining a production built around two established stars.
The relationship extended beyond set, including a night King and Williams spent at Bullock’s house that involved late-night drinks and conversation before staying over. The following morning brought its own memorable moment when Bullock personally checked on the pair while they relaxed in her hot tub.
The sequel, directed by Susanne Bier and based on Alice Hoffman’s 2021 novel “The Book of Magic,” reunites Bullock with Nicole Kidman as sisters Sally and Gillian Owens, alongside returning aunts played by Dianne Wiest and Stockard Channing.
New cast additions include Lee Pace, Xolo Maridueña and Solly McLeod. The story picks up with the Owens family’s inherited curse still active, following Kylie as she attempts to break it herself and drifts toward dangerous territory, pulling her mother, aunt and extended family into pursuit.
Wood, who played the young version of Kylie in the original film, told Entertainment Tonight she felt genuine sadness about not returning for the follow-up, noting the childhood bond she formed with her former castmates made looking back at that house and story as an adult something she’ll miss experiencing herself.
“Practical Magic 2” opens in theaters September 11.
