Original ‘Practical Magic’ Star Addresses Backlash Over Being Recast in the Sequel
Sequel casting decisions have a way of stirring up passionate reactions from longtime fans, especially when a beloved film gets revisited decades after its original release. Few franchises illustrate that tension quite as clearly as one supernatural family drama that’s returning to theaters nearly three decades after it first cast its spell on audiences.
That film is 1998’s ‘Practical Magic,‘ the Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman fantasy that’s become a genuine cult classic in the years since its release. With a sequel now heading to theaters, fans eager to revisit the Owens family have found themselves fixated on one particular casting decision that’s sparked considerable online debate.
That decision involves Antonia and Kylie Owens, the daughters of Bullock’s character Sally, who were originally played by Alexandra Artrip and Evan Rachel Wood in the first film. Artrip has now addressed the backlash directly, saying she doesn’t want her social media platform to become a space for negativity surrounding the sequel’s decision to recast her and Wood with Maisie Williams and Joey King.
Artrip explained her perspective in an Instagram video posted Thursday, acknowledging the outpouring of fan comments defending both her and Wood. “I just don’t want my stuff to be a space for negativity,” Artrip said, according to Variety, describing Williams and King as “lovely actresses” and expressing confidence that the production team made the choice they believed was best for the film’s success.
Artrip, who retired from acting after her role in the original film, went further in encouraging fans to give the sequel a fair chance rather than dismissing it outright. She emphasized that nothing could take away from what the original film meant to audiences, while expressing genuine excitement about seeing the Owens family story continue through new material.
‘Practical Magic 2’ is based on Alice Hoffman’s 2021 novel “The Book of Magic” and is set 25 years after the events of the original film. The sequel comes from a script credited to Akiva Goldsman, Georgia Pritchett and Kelly Marcel, with director Susanne Bier previously addressing the recasting decision at the film’s Los Angeles premiere, explaining that the characters needed to be portrayed by actors closer to college age given the story’s new timeline.
That explanation hasn’t fully quieted fan frustration, particularly from Wood, who has been noticeably less accepting of the situation than her former co-star. Wood recently noted that no one who worked on the original film had personally reached out to her about the recasting, though she did appreciate hearing directly from King, who described the exchange as coming from a genuine “sweetheart.”
The disconnect between Artrip’s measured response and Wood’s more pointed frustration highlights just how differently two actors from the same original project can process being replaced in a long-awaited sequel. For some longtime fans, the absence of both original actresses has become enough of a sticking point to spark boycott calls circulating online ahead of the film’s release.
‘Practical Magic 2’ follows Sally, played again by Bullock, and her sister Gillian, played by Kidman, as they return to a world steeped in ancestral magic while confronting a dark curse threatening to unravel their family once and for all. The sequel arrives in theaters September 10, giving audiences a chance to judge the new cast for themselves after months of anticipation and, for some, apprehension.
Whether Williams and King can win over skeptical longtime fans remains to be seen once the film actually opens. Artrip’s gracious response, however, suggests at least one member of the original cast is rooting for the sequel’s success regardless of who’s stepped into her old role.
Do you think Practical Magic 2 made the right call recasting Antonia and Kylie Owens?
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