Nearly three decades after "Practical Magic" cast a cinematic spell on audiences, Nicole Kidmanand Sandra Bullock are starring in the long-awaited sequel, and Kidman told The Tennessean that it feels like no time has passed.
"Practical Magic 2" is officially in theaters all over the U.S. on Sept. 11 with Kidman and Bullock reprising their role as sisters Sally and Gillian Owens from the beloved 1998 witchy classic. Based on the 2021 novel "The Book of Magic" by Alice Hoffman, the new sequel also features new cast members including Joey King, Lee Pace, Maisie Williams, and Xolo Maridueña.
Kidman told The Tennessean that returning to her role this time felt like being back with family.
"Meeting back in that kitchen, in that house, was like no time
had passed. There’s so much love between all of us," she said. "We could pick up the conversation right where we left it."
Initially released on Oct. 16, 1998, the original film follows witchy sisters as they navigate love, family and a generations-old curse that threatens anyone they fall in love with. The sequel reunites the sisters as they attempt to break the curse.
"'Practical Magic' has become a film shared and passed from generation to generation. I hear from a lot of friends, and from the fans of the original, who will watch it with their mothers or their daughters or sons every year, every fall. It transports you, I think, to a time and a place and a vibe. I hope the new film can be a part of that tradition," Kidman said.
Though "Practical Magic" was not an immediate box-office hit when it was released in 1998, the film found a second life over the years, growing into a cult favorite and a Halloween staple for fans worldwide.
Warner Bros. Pictures initially announced that the sequel was in development with Akiva Goldsman, who co-wrote the screenplay for the original 1998 film, in June 2024. While the new two-hour film hit theaters in the U.S. on Sept. 11, preview screenings began on Thursday, Sept. 10. There are several such screenings and themed pop-ups around the Nashville area throughout the month, including a witchy tea menu at Blue Aster and a screening at the AMC Stones River theater in Murfreesboro.
"I hope we have been able to honor the original while bringing some new ideas to the table," Kidman said. "I think—I hope—we've found that balance between new and old, and that we have something relevant and fresh to add to the Practical Magic lore."
Kidman has called Nashville home for years, making the city an important part of their family life away from the spotlight. "Practical Magic 2" arrives just as fall gets underway, and Kidman is keeping that festive spirit alive at her home in Nashville.
"I love decorating for the holidays," she said. "That’s not necessarily witchy, but I love the decorations for Halloween. We go all out at our house!"
And while Nashville may be far from the fictional world of the Owens sisters, Kidman says the city has become a meaningful place for her and her family.
"We have such close friends here and feel a part of the city and community and feel deeply grateful," she added. "Both my daughters were born here so they are true Nashvillians."
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This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Nicole Kidman opens up about making 'Practical Magic 2' | Exclusive
