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'Practical Magic 2' Finally Happening: Bullock and Kidman Return With Joey King, Maisie Williams

The long-awaited sequel to the 1998 witch cult classic drops this September, nearly three decades after the original cast its spell.

By Liam O'Connor··3 min read

If you've been lighting candles and wishing for a "Practical Magic" sequel since 1998, your midnight margaritas have finally paid off. Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman are officially returning as the Owens sisters, and they're bringing some serious reinforcements.

According to UPI, the newly released teaser confirms Joey King and Maisie Williams have joined the cast for "Practical Magic 2," which hits theaters September 11. That's right — the sequel to the film that flopped at the box office but became essential October viewing for an entire generation is actually happening.

The original "Practical Magic" was a box office disappointment in 1998, earning just $68 million worldwide against a $75 million budget. But home video, cable reruns, and the collective good taste of people who appreciate witchy vibes, sisterhood, and Stevie Nicks on the soundtrack turned it into a cult phenomenon. It's the kind of movie that lives rent-free in the heads of millennials who grew up wishing they could summon their soulmate or banish an abusive ex with a little kitchen witchcraft.

Bullock and Kidman played Sally and Gillian Owens, sisters from a family of witches cursed in love, navigating romance, family drama, and one very dead boyfriend who refuses to stay buried. The film, based on Alice Hoffman's novel, had everything: '90s fashion, a gorgeous Victorian house, Stockard Channing and Dianne Wiest as the eccentric aunts, and that iconic "coconut cake and margaritas" energy that made it comfort food for the soul.

Now, 28 years later, we're getting a sequel. Details are still sparse — the teaser apparently keeps things mysterious — but the addition of King and Williams suggests the story might be expanding beyond the original Owens sisters. King, who's proven her range in everything from "The Act" to "Bullet Train," and Williams, best known as Arya Stark in "Game of Thrones," both bring serious acting chops and younger fan bases to the project.

The real question is whether this sequel can capture what made the original special. "Practical Magic" worked because it wasn't trying to be a big-budget spectacle. It was intimate, weird, romantic, and unapologetically feminine in a way that Hollywood rarely allowed then and still struggles with now. It trusted its audience to care about sisterhood and generational trauma as much as magical showdowns.

The Risks and Rewards of Resurrection

Legacy sequels are a gamble. For every "Top Gun: Maverick" that justifies its existence, there's a dozen cash-grabs that tarnish the original's reputation. "Practical Magic 2" has some advantages, though. The original cast seems genuinely invested — Bullock and Kidman have both spoken fondly of the film over the years. And unlike some nostalgic reboots, there's actually story left to tell. What happens to a family of witches as they age? How does the curse evolve? What does magic look like in 2026?

The September release date is smart positioning. Early fall is prime "Practical Magic" season — that sweet spot between summer blockbusters and full Halloween mode. It's when people start craving cozy sweaters, changing leaves, and stories about women with supernatural powers handling their business.

For fans who've been rewatching the original every October for nearly three decades, this sequel is either a dream come true or a potential heartbreak waiting to happen. The bar is high. We're talking about a movie where people can quote entire scenes, where the aesthetic has inspired countless Pinterest boards and TikTok trends, where "There's a little witch in all of us" became a lifestyle mantra.

But if they get it right? If the sequel honors what made the original resonate while bringing something fresh? We might be looking at a new tradition — one that introduces "Practical Magic" to a generation that wasn't even born when Sally Owens first did that midnight margarita spell on the roof.

The midnight margaritas are on standby. September 11 can't come soon enough.

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