Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman Are Back in Full Witch Mode, and the Press Look for ‘Practical Magic 2’ Says It All

Some movies take years to find their audience, and ‘Practical Magic‘ is the perfect example. When it first hit theaters in 1998, the witchy fantasy comedy starring Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman struggled both critically and commercially, failing to make much of a splash in its initial run.

That reception couldn’t have been more different from what came next. Over the following decades, ‘Practical Magic’ slowly transformed into a beloved cult classic, the kind of film that gets rewatched every autumn and quoted endlessly by fans who grew up falling in love with its blend of sisterhood, magic, and midnight margaritas.

Now, nearly three decades later, Bullock and Kidman are stepping back into that world, and new press photos from Film Updates are giving fans their clearest look yet at the reunion, showing the two stars affectionately posing together ahead of the release of ‘Practical Magic 2.’

The sequel finds Bullock and Kidman reprising their roles as sisters Sally and Gillian Owens, members of a multi-generational family of witches long cursed to be loveless, as they work to break that spell by confronting old secrets and making sacrifices for one another. Susanne Bier is directing from a screenplay by Akiva Goldsman, who also co-wrote the original film, with the story reportedly drawing from a later installment in Alice Hoffman’s ‘Practical Magic’ book series.

Joining them are franchise veterans Dianne Wiest and Stockard Channing, both reprising their roles as the Owens sisters’ eccentric aunts, Jet and Franny. The cast has also expanded with newer additions including Joey King, Lee Pace, Maisie Williams, Xolo Maridueña, and Solly McLeod rounding out the ensemble.

Bullock and Kidman produced the sequel alongside Denise Di Novi, who also worked on the original, keeping much of the creative lineage intact even as new voices join the project. That continuity seems to matter deeply to both stars, who have spoken warmly about their connection to the first film over the years despite its rocky initial reception.

Bullock reflected on that experience in a 2024 oral history with Rolling Stone, noting that the studio committed fully to the project even though it later drew criticism, adding that she remains grateful the film got made at all. Kidman echoed that sentiment in the same piece, saying she has always loved the film and wouldn’t be talked out of that affection.

‘Practical Magic 2’ is set to hit theaters on September 11, having moved up a week from its originally announced September 18 date, putting it squarely in the middle of fall’s spooky season lineup. The timing feels intentional, tapping into the same autumnal, cozy-witch energy that helped turn the original into an annual October tradition for so many fans.

Given how much goodwill ‘Practical Magic’ has built up in the years since its release, expectations for the sequel carry a very different kind of pressure than the first film ever faced. Rather than introducing audiences to something new, ‘Practical Magic 2’ has to live up to decades of nostalgia and fierce fan devotion, all while finding a way to expand the Owens family story in a way that feels earned.

With Bullock and Kidman’s chemistry clearly still intact based on these latest photos, and a supporting cast stacked with both returning favorites and exciting newcomers, the sequel already has plenty working in its favor heading into its fall release.

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