Evan Rachel Wood Says Only Joey King Reached Out After Recasting in ‘Practical Magic 2’

Franchise reunions are meant to be a celebration for everyone involved, especially when a beloved cult classic receives a sequel decades later. However, not every original cast member has found the return to the Owens family as warm as fans might hope.

Evan Rachel Wood portrayed Kylie Owens in the cherished 1998 film ‘Practical Magic,’ where she starred alongside Sandra Bullock and Alexandra Artrip. With the announcement of ‘Practical Magic 2,’ both roles were recast, with Joey King taking over Wood’s character and Maisie Williams stepping in for Artrip.

Now, as the sequel’s release approaches, Wood has opened up about how isolating the recasting felt behind the scenes. She revealed that only one person connected to the project reached out to her after the decision was made, and it wasn’t anyone from the original 1998 film.

In an Instagram Story, Wood expressed her gratitude to King for reaching out, noting that no one else from the original film had checked in on her. “I really appreciated Joey King reaching out to me because no one who worked on the original film did. She’s a sweetheart,” Wood shared.

This comment subtly hints at her former co-stars Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman, both of whom are reprising their roles as Sally and Gillian Owens for the sequel. King, meanwhile, has been nothing but complimentary towards Wood leading up to the film’s release, sharing with The Hollywood Reporter at the ‘Practical Magic 2’ premiere in Los Angeles that she had a “lovely” conversation with Wood about taking over the role.

King also expressed her genuine appreciation for how Wood handled the situation publicly, emphasizing how much the support meant to her and the rest of the cast. This warmth stands in stark contrast to the silence Wood described from the remaining original production team.

This isn’t the first time Wood has publicly expressed her feelings about not being asked back for the sequel. At the premiere of ‘The Shards,’ she told Entertainment Tonight that she felt “sad” about missing the opportunity, reflecting on the bond she formed with her original castmates as children.

“It is sad, because 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,” Wood said, according to Entertainment Tonight. She added that she believed the loss extended beyond herself, indicating it was something fans would miss out on as well.

Director Susanne Bier has addressed the recasting decision directly, framing it as a practical necessity rather than a personal slight. Bier explained that the sequel’s younger characters needed to be portrayed as being “right out of college,” making the recasting of younger actors a straightforward choice rather than a reflection on the original performers.

‘Practical Magic 2’ follows Sally Owens’ daughters as young adults discovering their magical heritage, with King portraying Kylie and Williams as Antonia. The sequel also sees the return of Stockard Channing and Dianne Wiest as the sisters’ aunts, alongside newcomers Lee Pace, Xolo Maridueña, and Solly McLeod rounding out the cast.

Wood isn’t the only original cast member to express feelings about being excluded from the reunion. Alexandra Artrip has also voiced her support for Wood, sharing nostalgic photos from the original film on Instagram in August as the recasting news continued to stir conversations among longtime fans of the franchise.

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