28-years-ago, Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman starred in ‘Practical Magic,’ drawing mixed reviews of a magic world forged in sisterhood. Now, nearly three decades later, the two returned for the sequel, and described how this time around they feel as though they were able to heal old wounds.
Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman have returned to the big screen together as the witchy Owen sisters in the sequel to their cult classic, “Practical Magic.” During their press run, the two powerhouse actors exuded so much love for each other and the connection they made 28-years-ago.
With nearly three decades between the first film and its sequel, one of the biggest questions on everyone’s mind was what similarities and differences did the two experience while returning to these iconic sister roles.
Both movies are based on Alice Hoffman’s novels, with the original book, “Practical Magic,” being released in 1995, and the sequel being based on her 2021 novel, “The Book of Magic,” which works to expand on the Owens family story.
When the original film came out in 1998, it received mixed reviews with a modest box office performance. Over the years, it became a cult classic and has consistently been embraced online by younger generations as well due to its mystical autumnal aesthetic, and themes of sisterhood and the power of women.
“Practical Magic 2” was released in theaters on September 10th, and has so far made over $78 million at the worldwide box office.
During the press run, Bullock reflected on how the promotional push was “memorable, for the wrong reasons,” according to AP.
“I had so much trauma from the press junket from the first one because it was brutal,” Bullock said.
“We were not well-received because we were ‘too much,’ ‘too witchy,’ ‘too many women,’ ‘too many tones.’ I’m like, ‘Have you lived a day in a life as a woman?’”
“We didn’t stumble, but it stumbled, but it didn’t really stumble. Maybe it needed to marinate a little bit. We were marinating,” Bullock reflected.
“But here we are, and how lucky are we that we’re still here to be able to go reap the benefits and the rewards of our work?”
During the Covid-19 pandemic lockdown in 2020, the nostalgia boom hit an all-time high. With everyone staying home, it gave them time to explore their old favorite movies and TV shows, while simultaneously branching out and exploring projects they’ve never thought to put on before.
In fact, Bullock said that she realized there had been a reappraisal of love for “Practical Magic” six years ago.
“I was still harboring so much shame. I was like, ‘Oh my god, the things that were said, I’m sorry, we thought we were doing something nice.’ And turns out we did. It was just 28 and change years too early.”
Bullock also believes that the resurgence of love for “Practical Magic” comes from it being a time in which people have reworked their definition of what it means to be a “witch.” “A witch has always been a negative connotation. It was presented that way. The word is being taken back, and there’s ownership of it from the community saying, ‘I’m a witch and I’m proud,’ ” Bullock said.
Kidman emphasized how the film’s resurgence has been personal. ““People started just coming into my life who would go, ‘You want to know what my favorite film of yours is? ‘Practical Magic.’ And suddenly I was like, ‘What? Wow, OK,’ ” she said.
When it came to making the sequel, Bullock described how she sat down with her children and their friends to get their perspective on the original.
“I wanted fresh eyes, because we were embarking on the new chapter, the new baby witches coming in. I wanted to understand it from a point of view I didn’t have. I wanted to see what they had to say.”
Both Bullock and Kidman were producers who faced the “practical realities of mounting a legacy sequel on a budget. Among the challenges was recreating one of the original film’s most recognizable elements: the Owens house,” AP writes.
Production on the sequel rebuilt the house on a back lot in London as a completely full structure, as opposed to using a temporary exterior shell used for the original movie.
“It was an incredibly tough fiscal time. We were hedging the dollar,” Bullock said. “We’re not a big superhero film, so you don’t get the luxury of a big price tag.”
Kidman added: “And we also knew the responsibility of bringing it in on a certain price because then you go, ‘OK, we can breathe a bit,’ ” she said. “I think when a budget blows out, you’re like, ‘Oh my gosh, the stress.’ And we don’t need any more stress in our lives. It’s stressful enough.”
The sequel continues on the story of the younger generation of Owens women. Joey King and Maisie Williams play Kylie and Antonia Owens, Sally’s daughters.
“I really appreciate that it’s like a passing of the baton. I think it’s beautiful,” King said.
“It just felt like we were stepping into their world and doing this with them, and it’s a real gift and honor to be considered the people who are taking the batons.”
Producer Denise Di Novi, who also produced the original, is already looking toward the future after completing this sequel.
“We would love to make a third one, and I think there’s so much more to do with Kylie and Antonia,” she said. “At the end of the movie, spoiler alert, but you kind of feel like the Sally and Gillian characters are kind of the elder aunts, you know, and Kylie and Antonia are the ones launching off into the world as witches.”
Eric Mastrota is a Contributing Editor at The National Digest based in New York. A graduate of SUNY New Paltz, he reports on world news, culture, and lifestyle. You can reach him at eric.mastrota@thenationaldigest.com.
