Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman only collaborated once in their career, in the 1998 fantasy film, Practical Magic. Now, they are coming together for a sequel to the magical film, which is an adaptation of Alice Hoffman’s novel of the same name.
The 1998 film received negative reviews and grossed $68.3 million, falling short of its $75 million budget. However, over the years, the film gained a cult following, and people started to appreciate it more.
Griffin Dunne, who directed the first film, approached Bullock first to play one of the Owens sisters. She thought of Kidman as the perfect actress to play her sister. She once shared (via E! News):
I was like, ‘Nicole Kidman seems like the perfect person.’ Our energies are so opposite that we needed what the other person had. I know I needed what she had. I don’t know why I thought of her or why that worked, it’s just one of those things, those magical things.
As the two actresses return to the screen to recreate the magic, fans would love to know more about this sequel. So here are all the details we know about the sequel so far.
Practical Magic 2 Release Date: When Will the Nicole Kidman-Sandra Bullock Sequel Be Released?
Yes, we do have the date for when Gillian and Sally Owens will grace the big screens for the second time. Practical Magic 2 is set to be released on September 18, 2026, and will be around for the spooky Halloween season. The film was first reported in June 2024, with the news that both Nicole Kidman and Sandra Bullock are in negotiations to return (via Deadline).
Susanne Bier, who has worked with both Bullock and Kidman, is taking over the reins of this movie. Bier previously directed Bullock in 2018’s Birdbox and Kidman in 2024’s The Perfect Couple. The director and Nicole Kidman shared an Instagram clip, announcing the start of production of the film in July 2025.
In the clip, we see Kidman and Bullock hugging each other tightly. The Babygirl actress wrote in her captions, “The witches are back. Owens sisters’ first day on set!”
A post shared by Nicole Kidman (@nicolekidman)
In September, Kidman shared another short clip of her and Bullock walking into the sunset on set. She announced that the movie had wrapped up filming. She wrote, “That’s a wrap on Practical Magic 2. Thank you to the cast & crew for all your magic.”
A post shared by Nicole Kidman (@nicolekidman)
The film’s script will be written by Akiva Goldsman and Succession fame Georgia Pritchett. Goldsman also penned the original movie.
Practical Magic 2 Cast: Who Will Be Joining Kidman and Bullock in This Sequel?
Besides Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman, two other cast members from the original movie are confirmed to make an appearance in this film. In the original film, Oscar-winner Dianne Wiest and Stockard Channing appeared as the Owens sisters’ aunts, Jet and Franny, who take them in after their parents died. It was this iconic pair who taught them everything they know about magic.
There are also a bunch of new blood joining the cast of Practical Magic 2. It was confirmed that Nicole Kidman’s A Family Affair co-star, Joey King, and Game of Thrones fame Maisie Williams were joining the movie. King would portray one of Sally’s daughters.
We also got Cobra Kai and Blue Beetle actor Xolo Maridueña in one of the roles. Other new characters include Lee Pace and Solly McLeod. Sadly, one of the actors from the original movie confirmed that she wasn’t part of this ensemble, adding that she had been informed that she was recast in the role.
Evan Rachel Wood played Bullock’s character’s daughter in the movie, Kylie. When Practical Magic 2 was announced, she obviously got a lot of messages from fans asking about her role. She replied to them on her Instagram stories (via THR):
I was not asked to come back and be in the Practical Magic sequel. I 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.
It is really sad to see the Westworld actress getting rejected from the sequel. However, fans have high hopes for the fresh faces that are going to be a part of this movie.
Practical Magic 2 Plot: What Is This Movie About?
In Practical Magic, Nicole Kidman and Sandra Bullock played sisters who were also witches. They try to fight off a curse that kills the men they fall in love with. When Gillian’s boyfriend dies, they give themselves a practical course in hard magic and try to resurrect him.
The sequel is all set to adapt Alice Hoffman’s fourth book in the Practical Magic series, The Book of Magic. According to producer Denise Di Novi, the sequel will maintain the spirit of the original while still offering a fresh story for new-age fans. He shared with PEOPLE:
I think the big mistake people make with sequels is when they kind of want to reinvent the wheel and be totally original and surprise people that it’s different or whatever. There’s a joyousness to that movie, and there’s such beautiful themes of sisterhood and family and acceptance, tolerance, love.
Just the title that Alice Hoffman, the amazing author, thought of that’s now become part of the vernacular of Practical Magic is that there’s magic in daily life, in love, in family, in sisterhood. It’s magical, and we all have our gifts, and women have very particular and specific gifts. We really want to honor all of that.
Back in July, the filmmaking team announced their excitement in bringing “Sally, Gillian, Aunt Jet and Aunt Franny flew off the pages of Alice Hoffman’s beloved novel and into theaters around the world” after 25 years. They shared (via THR):
The enduring affection for these characters has been our inspiration to deliver the next installment in the Owens’ story to new fans, and those who’ve been with us since the beginning.
The book’s synopsis is the only thing we have that comes close to revealing the film’s plot. The book follows three generations of Owens women as they use their magical gifts to break the curse after “a deathbed revelation.” We have to wait to know more about the plot.
What do you think of Nicole Kidman and Sandra Bullock’s sequel movie? Let us know in the comments below!
Practical Magic is now available for streaming on HBO Max.
