Evan Rachel Wood isn’t feeling the excitement of the long-awaited Practical Magic sequel. The actress said she was “sad” not to be asked to reprise her role from the original 1998 film.
“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 this week. “I’m sad that doesn’t get to exist, especially for the fans.”
In the original movie, based on Alice Hoffman’s novel of the same name, Wood played Kylie Owens, the eldest daughter of Sandra Bullock‘s character Sally Owens. In the sequel, Kylie is being played by Joey King. Earlier this month, Wood confirmed on Instagram that she wouldn’t be returning.
“I am getting asked about this a lot, so l’ll just clear it up now; I was not asked to come back and be in the Practical Magic sequel,” she wrote. “l offered my services, even if it was one scene or one line. I was told they are recasting. I am sorry to disappoint the fans. It was not in my control or my choice. I would have happily rejoined my sisters.”
The sequel is adapted from Hoffman’s 2021 book The Book of Magic, however Wood said she doesn’t think the film, in theaters Sept. 11, will be accurate to the novel.
“I read the book and it seems like they’re not following the book,” she told ET. “I think in the book it would have made sense to bring me back; I think in the way they’re redoing it and approaching it, it didn’t make sense.”
Practical Magic 2 recast Sally’s daughter Antonia, played by Alexandra Artrip in the 1998 film, with Game of Thrones star Maisie Williams. Cast members Nicole Kidman, Dianne Wiest, and Stockard Channing are returning. Screenwriter Akiva Goldsman also returned (he wrote the original alongside Robin Swicord and Adam Brooks), co-writing with Georgia Pritchett. The filmed was directed by Susanne Bier.
