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Evan Rachel Wood appeared to shade her original “Practical Magic” co-stars Nicole Kidman and Sandra Bullock by revealing in an Instagram story (via Entertainment Weekly) that no one involved in the 1998 cult classic
reached out to her when she was not invited back to return for this year’s “Practical Magic 2.” Wood starred as Bullock’s daughter Kylie in the original. Joey King takes over the role in the sequel and, according to Wood, was the only person to reach out.
“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 on Instagram.
King told The Hollywood Reporter at the “Practical Magic 2” premiere in Los Angeles that she had a “lovely” conversation with Wood about taking over her original role, adding: “I just was so appreciative of the support that she showed to me and to the rest of the cast. She is so talented and so beautiful and she made this role so special when she was a young girl. I feel so grateful to be able to play Kylie at this age but I love Evan so much and I’m so appreciative of her kind words and the exchange that her and I shared.”
In the 1998 movie, Wood and Alexandra Artrip played Kylie and Antonia Owens, the daughters of Sandra Bullock’s Sally. In the sequel, Artrip is replaced by “Game of Thrones” favorite Maisie Williams. The sequel is adapted from “The Book of Magic” by Alice Hoffman, a sequel to her own novel “Practical Magic,” which inspired the first film.
“Practical Magic 2” is directed by Susanne Bier, who previously worked with Kidman on the HBO limited series “The Undoing.” The filmmaker spoke to Variety at the sequel’s Los Angeles premiere (see video below) about not asking Wood to reprise the role of Kylie.
“It was not a personal thing,” Bier said. “The kids in the story are right out of college, so it wasn’t really a question. We had to recast.”
Wood told “Entertainment Tonight” earlier this summer that it was “sad” not to be asked back for “Practical Magic 2” 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. I’m sad that doesn’t get to exist, especially for the fans.”
“I read the book and it seems like they’re not following the book,” Wood added. “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.”
Last year on Instagram, Wood revealed that she “offered my services” to appear in “Practical Magic 2,” adding: “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.”
“Practical Magic 2” opens in theaters Sept. 10 from Warner Bros.
