Evan Rachel Wood Talks Not Returning For Practical Magic Sequel

The Wrestler star Evan Rachel Wood has discussed sitting out the upcoming sequel to the 1998 romantic fantasy film, Practical Magic, which was the adaptation of Alice Hoffman’s 1995 novel of the same title by director Griffin Dunne. The film, centred on sister witches fighting against evil forces close to home, featured Wood in her second feature role as Kylie Owens, the daughter of protagonist Sally Owens, played by Sandra Bullock, appearing alongside Nicole Kidman, Stockard Channing and Diane West.

Released under Warner Bros., Practical Magic went on to be hailed as a cult classic, and a sequel was announced in the summer of 2024, with Bullock and Kidman set to reprise their roles and Susanne Bier to sit in the director’s chair. Practical Magic 2 will be based on Hoffman’s book, The Book of Magic, the sequel to the original novel, and Wood cited the source material as playing a part in why she will not be joining her old co-stars.

“I read the book, and it seems like they’re not following the book,” the star explained. “I think in the book it would have made sense to bring me back; I think in the way they’re redoing it and approaching it, it didn’t make sense.”

Read more content on the fantasy genre here.

Upon online queries about whether she would be returning to the follow-up, Wood took to social media to clarify and put the questions to rest. “I am getting asked about this a lot, so I’ll just clear it up now; I was not asked to come back and be in the Practical Magic sequel,” she posted on Instagram. “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.”

After affirming that she is “sad” about not returning to her role, the actress shared how “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, it’s something that can’t be faked.”

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Ros Tibbs

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Ros is a film and lit graduate writing news and reviews at The People's Magazine. She also writes long-form film theory, film history, analytical or curated recommendations pieces on other platforms.

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