Why Practical Magic 2 Recast Sally's Daughters, Kylie & Antonia (& What The OG Stars Have Said)

Published Sep 9, 2026, 3:55 PM EDT ​​August is a freelance film writer. She studied journalism and cinema at American University. She is a member of the journalism honor society, Kappa Tau Alpha. August has written for various networks and publications, including PBS, Gargoyle Magazine, TheThings, and Identity Theory Magazine. Before returning to entertainment writing, August worked in the Automotive section of U.S. News & World Report. In her free time, August enjoys watching movies in theaters, watching movies at home, listening to podcasts about movies, reading books about movies, watching video essays on movies, talking about movies, thinking about movies, and doing crosswords. The Owens sisters are back on the big screen. 28 years after the original witchy rom-com, Practical Magic 2 has brought back Nicole Kidman and Sandra Bullock as the two sisters who headlined the original movie. While most of the beloved cast will be reuniting, two key actors are notably missing from the nostalgic ensemble. In 1998, Practical Magic introduced the Owens, a family of witches haunted by a centuries-old curse that kills any man they love. The family included three generations of sisters: protagonists Sally and Gillian, their eccentric aunts Jet and Frances, and Sally's young daughters Kylie and Antonia. Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman portrayed Sally and Gillian Owens, respectively. Aunt Jet and Frances were played by the great Dianne Wiest and Stockard Channing. The youngest generation of the Owens sisters were portrayed by Evan Rachel Wood and Alexandra Artrip. The sequel takes place 25 years after the events of the original Practical Magic movie, and sees Sally’s adult daughters face the ancient Owens curse. Bullock, Kidman, Wiest and Channing are all reprising their iconic roles in the coming sequel. However, Wood and Artrip will not be joining the reunion. The roles of Kylie and Antonia were recast in what amounts to a controversial move by the filmmakers. Who Plays Sally's Daughters In Practical Magic 2? Courtesy of Warner Bros. Joey King and Maisie Williams play Kylie and Antonia Owens in Practical Magic 2. The decision to recast Sally’s daughters came down to the character’s ages, according to director Susanne Bier. The sequel ages down the young sisters, placing them in their mid-twenties. “The kids in the story are right out of college,” Bier told Variety. “So, it wasn’t really a question, we had to recast.” The director clarified that the decision was not personal. As of writing, Artrip and Wood are 36 and 39. King and Williams are 27 and 29 years old. Based on the timelines of the film, it would make sense for Sally and Gillian to be in their late 50s to early 60s and for Sally’s daughters to be in their 30s. However, Hollywood historically ages down female characters. Name recognition may have also played a part in the casting decision, though this has not been confirmed. King and Williams are well-known stars and their names on a movie poster draw audience attention. The original actors would entice die-hard Practical Magic fans, but are not well-known to broad audiences. Artrip has not continued acting in her adult life. While Wood remains a working actor, recently appearing in FX’s The Shards, she is not as well-known as King. What Evan Rachel Wood & Alexandra Artrip Have Said About Being Recast Captive Camera/Cover Images When the sequel was announced, Wood and Artrip immediately received questions from excited fans concerning their involvement. The two soon revealed that they were not asked to return. “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,” Wood wrote in an Instagram story. “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.” The actor later noted that Joey King did reach out, which she appreciated as “no one who worked on the original film did.” Wood called King "a sweetheart" in her Instagram story (via Deadline). King has also publicly responded to fans’ disappointment about her casting in Practical Magic 2. “I know it’s hard sometimes when legacy sequels are made and casting is different than what certain people envisioned, but I only ask that you open your mind a little and see how much fun I had making it,” King commented on a TikTok video criticizing her involvement in the sequel. Artrip chimed in to defend both King and Williams in an Instagram video captioned “My thoughts on Practical Magic 2.” “Maisie and Joey are lovely actresses, and I’m sure the production team did what they thought was best for the film to be successful,” Artrip stated. The Practical Magic actor acknowledged that fans’ disappointment came from a place of love for the original movie, but said she did not want her “stuff to be a space for negativity.” Both King and Artrip have encouraged fans of the original film to go into Practical Magic 2 with an open mind. Practical Magic 2 5/10 Release Date September 11, 2026 Runtime 130 Minutes Director Susanne Bier Writers Akiva Goldsman, Georgia Pritchett Cast Sandra Bullock Sally Owens