Nicole Kidman, Sandra Bullock share wisdom to women from ‘Practical Magic 2’
Nicole Kidman and Sandra Bullock on women’s intuition and choosing love during the Los Angeles premiere of “Practical Magic 2.”
Evan Rachel Wood is addressing her absence from “Practical Magic 2” as the long-awaited sequel prepares to hit theaters nearly three decades after the original.
Wood, who played Kylie Owens in the 1998 film, said Joey King was the only person connected to the new movie who contacted her about taking over the role.
“I really appreciated Joey King reaching out to me, because no one who worked on the original film did,” Wood wrote Tuesday, Sept. 1, on her Instagram story, according to TheWrap. “She’s a sweetheart.”
King plays the adult version of Kylie, the eldest daughter of Sandra Bullock’s Sally Owens, in the sequel which is set 25 years after the original film. Maisie Williams has been cast as Sally’s younger daughter, Antonia, replacing Alexandra Artrip, who portrayed the character in the original.
Wood also discussed her absence from the sequel in a July interview with Entertainment Tonight, at a red carpet event for “The Shards.” “It seems like they’re not following the book,” Wood said. “I think in the book it would have made sense to bring me back.”
She said she found the decision “sad” but wished them well anyway. “We bonded with that cast so much as children, and so to miss out on the opportunity to look at that cast and look at that house as an adult and see the history in our eyes is something that can’t be faked,” Wood said. “And so I’m sad that that doesn’t get to exist, especially for the fans.”
Still, Wood has made clear that she does not blame King for accepting the role. “I wish them all the best and obviously wish Joey the best, and I hope she had a great time, and I still have really fond memories of being in the original,” Woods said.
Wood previously revealed on an Instagram story that she had not been invited to reprise her role, despite offering to return for even a brief appearance, according to Entertainment Weekly.
“I offered my services, even if it was one scene or one line,” Wood wrote. The “Westworld” actress said she was informed that the filmmakers intended to recast the character and emphasized that her absence was not her decision. “I am sorry to disappoint the fans. It was not in my control or my choice. I would have happily rejoined my sisters,” Wood added.
“Practical Magic 2” director Susanne Bier has since explained that the recasting was driven by the ages of the characters in the new story. Kylie and Antonia are depicted as recent college graduates, making Wood and Artrip too old to portray them within the sequel’s timeline.
“It was not a personal thing,” Bier said during an interview with Variety at a red carpet event “We had to recast.”
The original “Practical Magic” starred Bullock and Nicole Kidman as sisters Sally and Gillian Owens, members of a family of witches burdened by a generations-old curse affecting their romantic relationships.
Bullock and Kidman return for the sequel alongside Stockard Channing and Dianne Wiest, who reprise their roles as aunts Franny and Jet. The new cast also includes Lee Pace, Xolo Maridueña and Solly McLeod.
“Practical Magic 2” is scheduled to arrive in theaters Sept. 10.