Why Practical Magic 2 Replaced Evan Rachel Wood With Joey King

The upcoming legacy sequel to 1998’s “Practical Magic” is making headlines for a casting change that has fans talking. Director Susanne Bier has confirmed that the roles of Sally Owens’ daughters, originally played by Evan Rachel Wood and Alexandra Artrip, will be taken over by Joey King and Maisie Williams in “Practical Magic 2.” The decision is rooted in a deliberate narrative choice rather than any behind-the-scenes conflict, and it sets up a distinctly different generational dynamic for the next chapter of the Owens family saga.

The Recast Explained

The decision to bring in King and Williams is not a result of any falling out, Bier clarified during a red carpet interview with Variety. Instead, it reflects a creative decision about where the characters should be in their lives. While the sequel takes place roughly 25 years after the events of the first film, Bier explained that the daughters will be aged down to recent college graduates rather than adults in their late thirties.

“The kids in the story are right out of college, so it wasn’t really a question. We had to recast,” Bier said. The adjustment allows the new film to center younger characters navigating the earliest stages of adulthood, even as their mothers continue to grapple with the legacy of the Owens women’s curse. It also opens the door to a more traditional coming-of-age arc, with the daughters learning to harness their powers while still figuring out who they are.

For Wood, who has remained a working actor since her childhood role, the reasoning ultimately came down to how the sequel interprets its source material. Speaking with Entertainment Tonight, Wood acknowledged that the film is taking notable liberties with Alice Hoffman’s 2021 novel “The Book of Magic,” on which the sequel is loosely based. “I read the book, and it seems like they’re not following the book,” Wood explained. “I think, in the book, it would have made sense to bring me back. I think in the way they’re approaching it, the way they’re doing it, it didn’t make sense.”

Returning Favorites and a Refreshed Lineup

Despite the recasting of the younger generation, “Practical Magic 2” is leaning heavily on nostalgia by reuniting its central duo. Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman are set to reprise their iconic roles as Sally and Gillian Owens, the witchy sisters at the heart of the original story. The supporting cast is also largely intact, with the original film’s beloved aunt duo returning:

• Sandra Bullock as Sally Owens
• Nicole Kidman as Gillian Owens
• Stockard Channing as Frances Owens
• Dianne Wiest as Bridget “Jet” Owens

For the next generation of Owens women, the production has turned to two of Hollywood’s most recognizable young stars. King, widely known for “The Kissing Booth” franchise and her dramatic turn in “The Act,” steps into the role of Kylie Owens. Williams, of “Game of Thrones” fame, takes on the part of Antonia. At 27 and 29 respectively, both actresses are closer to the new, post-college age the filmmakers had in mind. By contrast, Wood is now 38, and her original co-star Alexandra Artrip stepped away from acting several years ago.

A Timeline That Raises Eyebrows

The creative choice to age down the daughters has sparked lively debate among longtime fans. Mathematically, if the sequel picks up 25 years after the 1998 original, Kylie and Antonia should be in their mid-to-late thirties. Casting actors in their late twenties as recent graduates represents a clear departure from strict continuity, even by the loose standards of legacy sequels. The visual mismatch is harder to ignore in a story built around family lineage, where the daughters’ age directly affects how their relationship with Sally and Gillian is portrayed.

That said, this kind of flexibility is not unusual for the genre. Many follow-ups to beloved films take similar liberties with character ages in order to keep younger casts at the center of the story. The 1998 film itself was less than a decade removed from the time period in which it was set, which made the casting of young actresses like Wood feel natural. “Practical Magic 2” is making a different bet: that audiences will accept a softer timeline in exchange for a more dynamic and contemporary story.

The recasting also signals that the sequel is not aiming to be a direct adaptation of Hoffman’s novel. Instead, the film appears to be using “The Book of Magic” as a thematic jumping-off point and restructuring the timeline to fit a different narrative shape. Whether that gamble pays off remains to be seen, but it gives the production room to introduce fresh conflicts and relationships that a faithful, page-for-page adaptation might not allow.

Joey King and the Original Star Connect

One of the more heartwarming developments to emerge from the casting announcement is the relationship between Wood and her successor. King told The Hollywood Reporter that she reached out to Wood after landing the role and received an encouraging response, setting the tone for a smooth handoff between the two actresses.

“I had a lovely conversation with [Wood], and I just was so appreciative of the support that she showed to me and to the rest of the cast,” King said. “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.”

The exchange underscores how legacy sequels often navigate delicate dynamics between original and new cast members. Rather than treating Wood’s absence as a slight, both sides appear to be approaching the transition with grace. Wood has not publicly criticized the decision, and King has been vocal in honoring the work that came before hers. It is a striking contrast to other high-profile recasting sagas in recent memory, where public friction has often overshadowed the films themselves.

What’s Next for Practical Magic 2

Fans won’t have to wait much longer to see how the new-look Owens family comes together on screen. “Practical Magic 2” is scheduled for a theatrical release on September 11, 2026. By that point, the production will have weathered its early casting controversy and given audiences a chance to judge the results for themselves. Marketing for the film is expected to ramp up significantly over the coming months, with a teaser trailer likely to drop in advance of the fall release window.

Until then, expect more details about the supporting cast, a clearer sense of how the aged-down timeline will be addressed within the story itself, and possibly the first look at King and Williams in costume. Bier has hinted that the sequel will lean into the magical coming-of-age elements that made the original a perennial streaming favorite, with Sally and Gillian passing the torch to a new generation of Owens witches who must learn to master their powers on their own terms.

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