Evan Rachel Wood may not be returning to the Owens family in Practical Magic 2, but she has found one small gesture from the new cast meaningful. Wood, who played Kylie Owens in the 1998 original alongside Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman, revealed that Joey King reached out to her after taking over the role in the sequel. The actress said she appreciated the gesture, particularly because nobody involved with the original movie had contacted her about the recasting. For Wood, that personal acknowledgment from King stood out during what has otherwise been a disappointing return to a story she once helped bring to the screen.
Wood shared her reaction on Instagram Stories after King contacted her. “I really appreciated Joey King reaching out to me, because no one who worked on the original film did,” Wood wrote. “She’s a sweetheart.” The brief message gives a different perspective on the recasting situation, separating King’s decision to take the part from the circumstances surrounding Wood’s absence. King is now playing Kylie in the sequel, while Maisie Williams has been cast as Antonia.
Why Evan Rachel Wood Isn’t Returning
The casting change has been a sensitive subject for Wood since Practical Magic 2 was first announced. In the original film, she played Kylie, one of Sally Owens’ daughters, while Alexandra Atrip portrayed Antonia, the other daughter. Bullock and Kidman are returning as sisters Sally and Gillian Owens, but the sequel’s decision to recast their on-screen daughters means Wood and Atrip are not part of the new film.
Wood previously made it clear that she would have liked to return, even if the role had been extremely small. After news of the sequel broke, she addressed the situation directly on Instagram Stories, saying, “I am getting asked about this a lot, so I’ll just clear it up now; I was not asked to come back and be in the #PracticalMagic sequel. I offered my services, even if it was one scene or one line. I was told they are re-casting. I am sorry to disappoint the fans. It was not in my control or my choice. I would have happily rejoined my sisters.”
That disappointment became more personal when Wood later discussed the decision at the premiere of The Shards. She explained that the original cast had formed a bond when they worked together as children, making the possibility of returning to the same characters as adults especially meaningful to her. “It is sad, because we bonded with that cast so much as children, and so to miss out on the opportunity to look at that cast and look at that house as an adult and see the history in our eyes, it’s something that can’t be faked,” Wood told Entertainment Tonight. “I’m sad that doesn’t get to exist, especially for the fans.”
Joey King Steps Into the Owens Family
King now has the difficult task of taking on a character that already has a connection to the original movie. Rather than ignoring that history, however, her decision to contact Wood appears to have been appreciated by the actress who previously played Kylie. Wood’s comment suggests that King’s outreach gave her a sense that the new performer understood there was more behind the role than simply being cast in a major sequel.
Practical Magic 2 takes place 25 years after the events of the first film and returns to the Owens family as the next generation becomes connected to the family’s complicated history. Bullock and Kidman are back as Sally and Gillian, bringing the two central sisters together again after the original movie established their unusual bond and magical heritage. The sequel is therefore built around both familiarity and change, with new performers stepping into roles connected to characters audiences first met nearly three decades ago.
King’s casting also gives the sequel a major young star in a role that carries considerable nostalgia. She has appeared in a wide range of movies and television projects throughout her career, and her version of Kylie will now exist alongside Bullock and Kidman’s returning characters. Williams, meanwhile, takes over the role of Antonia, creating a new dynamic between the sisters’ daughters and the older generation of Owens witches.
What Practical Magic 2 Means for Fans
The original Practical Magic was released in 1998 and has developed a lasting following well beyond its initial theatrical run. Directed by Griffin Dunne and based on Alice Hoffman’s novel, the film centered on Sally and Gillian Owens, sisters raised by their aunts after losing their parents to a family curse. Their magical abilities become central to the story when they are forced to confront the evil spirit of Gillian’s abusive boyfriend.
The sequel has the advantage of bringing back the two actors most closely associated with that story. Bullock and Kidman remain the emotional center of the franchise, while the story moves the Owens family forward by exploring its history and the origins of its magic. That generational element makes the decision to recast Kylie and Antonia particularly noticeable, because the sequel could have offered longtime viewers the chance to see Wood and Atrip return to characters they first played as children.
For Wood, that missed opportunity remains a source of sadness, but her response to King shows that she is not directing that disappointment toward the new actress. Her praise for King is instead a reminder that performers can inherit iconic roles while still acknowledging the people who came before them. As Practical Magic 2 introduces a new generation of Owens witches, that connection between the original cast and the new one may become one of the more interesting parts of the sequel’s legacy.
Practical Magic 2: Questions Answered
Why isn’t Evan Rachel Wood in Practical Magic 2?
Wood has said that she was not asked to return for the sequel and was told the role would be recast. She also said that she offered to return even for one scene or one line, but the decision was not hers. Joey King has now taken over the role of Kylie Owens.
Who is playing Kylie Owens in Practical Magic 2?
Joey King is playing Kylie Owens in the sequel. Evan Rachel Wood played Kylie in the original 1998 movie. Wood has praised King for reaching out to her after taking on the role.
What did Evan Rachel Wood say about Joey King?
Wood said, “I really appreciated Joey King reaching out to me, because no one who worked on the original film did.” She then added, “She’s a sweetheart.” Wood’s comments indicate that she appreciated King’s personal gesture despite being disappointed about not returning.
Are Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman returning?
Yes. Sandra Bullock is returning as Sally Owens and Nicole Kidman is returning as Gillian Owens. The two actresses remain central to the sequel, which takes place 25 years after the original film.
Who is playing Antonia in Practical Magic 2?
Maisie Williams is playing Antonia Owens in the sequel. Alexandra Atrip originally portrayed Antonia in the 1998 film. Like Wood’s Kylie, the character has been recast for the new movie.
What is Practical Magic 2 about?
The sequel follows the Owens family 25 years after the original film as they uncover more about their family history and the origins of their magic. Bullock and Kidman return as Sally and Gillian, while a new generation of performers takes over the roles of their daughters.
