Practical Magic 2 Brings Back Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman in a Mixed Sequel
- Nearly 30 years after the original film captured a cult following, Warner Bros.
- The ensemble also expands to include Joey King, Maisie Williams, Xolo Maridueña, Solly McLeod, and Lee Pace.
- The story picks up years after the events of the 1998 film, addressing Sally's cautious widowhood and introducing a new generation of magical stakes.
Nearly 30 years after the original film captured a cult following, Warner Bros. has set a September 18, 2026, theatrical release date for Practical Magic 2, bringing Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman back as Sally and Gillian Owens, according to reporting from The Playlist. Susanne Bier directs the upcoming sequel, which adapts Alice Hoffman’s literary world into a next-generation family conflict.
Production Details and Returning Cast
The ensemble also expands to include Joey King, Maisie Williams, Xolo Maridueña, Solly McLeod, and Lee Pace. Behind the camera, Susanne Bier directs from a screenplay written by original screenwriter Akiva Goldsman and Succession writer Georgia Pritchett, with Bullock and Kidman serve as producers on the project.
Plot and Narrative Setup
The story picks up years after the events of the 1998 film, addressing Sally’s cautious widowhood and introducing a new generation of magical stakes. That protection shatters when Kylie’s boyfriend, Gideon (Xolo Maridueña), is critically injured, prompting Gillian (Kidman) to reveal the truth about the Owens lineage. In an effort to save Gideon, Kylie uncovers the Book of Ravens within aunt Jet’s belongings, leading her to follow magical clues to England. There, she encounters Thomas Lockland (Solly McLeod), a farmhand whose family history intersects with her own. Meanwhile, Sally enlists the help of Ian Wright (Lee Pace), a British academic versed in the dark arts, after receiving a tip from aunt Franny (Stockard Channing). This sends the sisters across the United Kingdom to track down Kylie before her newly rediscovered powers trigger unintended consequences.
Critical Reception and Tone
Critical response to the sequel highlights a tension between nostalgic affection and narrative execution. At the same time, The Guardian’s review notes that the sequel still manages to cast a spell despite its oddities, and The Playlist points out that widening the family focus beyond a pure nostalgia run makes narrative sense for a story rooted in inherited damage and sisterly bonds.
