Susanne Bier Finally Explains Why Evan Rachel Wood Got Recast for ‘Practical Magic 2′

Sequel casting decisions can spark just as much fan debate as any plot twist, especially when a beloved actor from the original film ends up nowhere in sight. That’s exactly what happened when ‘Practical Magic 2’ quietly moved forward without one of the original cast’s most recognizable young stars, leaving fans to wonder what actually happened behind the scenes.

That absence became a genuine talking point last year when Evan Rachel Wood revealed she hadn’t been asked to reprise her role as Kylie Owens, the eldest daughter of Bullock’s character in the original 1998 film. Wood said at the time that she’d offered to return, even for a single line of dialogue, only to be told her character was being recast entirely, a revelation that left fans questioning why the sequel would leave behind such a beloved piece of its original ensemble.

Now, director Susanne Bier is finally addressing that decision directly. Susanne Bier says recasting Evan Rachel Wood’s character in ‘Practical Magic 2’ was “not personal,” telling Variety, “The kids in the story are right out of college, so it wasn’t really a question.”

Wood had first addressed the situation herself back in June 2025, writing in an Instagram Story, “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. I offered my services, even if it was one scene or one line. I was told they are re-casting. I am sorry to disappoint the fans. It was not in my control or my choice. I would have happily rejoined my sisters.”

Bier’s explanation lines up with what’s known about the new film’s structure. Joey King has stepped into the role previously played by Wood, effectively de-aging the character by more than a decade to fit the story’s updated timeline, which follows a younger generation of the Owens family navigating adulthood. Producer Denise Di Novi had previously told Entertainment Weekly that the sequel would draw inspiration from Alice Hoffman’s 2021 novel ‘The Book of Magic,’ staying faithful to the chronology of the original story while advancing the timeline for these characters.

‘Practical Magic 2’ does bring back several key figures from the 1998 original beyond just its leading duo. Stockard Channing and Dianne Wiest are both reprising their roles as aunts Frances and Bridget Owens, the women who raised Sally and Gillian and taught them the family’s magical traditions. Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman are both returning as sisters Sally and Gillian, the emotional core of the franchise since the original film’s release.

Alexandra Artrip, who played Sally’s other daughter Antonia in the first film, has also been left out of the sequel’s cast alongside Wood, suggesting the age-jump explanation applies to both younger characters rather than being specific to any one performer.

Bier, known for directing ‘The Perfect Couple’ and ‘Bird Box,’ took over the sequel from original director Griffin Dunne, working from a script by returning co-writer Akiva Goldsman alongside Georgia Pritchett of ‘Succession.’ With Bier now publicly clarifying the reasoning behind the recasting decision, the situation appears to be a matter of narrative logistics rather than any behind-the-scenes conflict with Wood.

With ‘Practical Magic 2’ set to release later this month, fans will finally get to see how the franchise has handled this generational shift, even without the original actress who helped define the Owens family the first time around.

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