Deadlinereports that Oscar, Golden Globe, and Emmy-winning directorSusanne Bierhas been tapped to direct the sequel to the beloved 1998 witchy rom-comPractical Magic. While the deal with Warner Bros., the studio behind the film, isn’t quite sealed yet, it is a promising update on the highly anticipated reunion ofSandra BullockandNicole Kidman.
This will be a reteaming for both stars as Bullock worked with Bier on Netflix’sBird Box, an adaptation of the horror novel of the same name by Josh Malerman, and Kidman worked with the director on two previous projects, the HBO seriesThe Undoingand the Netflix miniseriesThe Perfect Couple.Bier won an Academy Award for best international feature for her 2010 filmIn a Better World. She also directed the 2007 dramaThings We Lost in the Fire, starring Halle Berry and Benicio del Toro, and is the main creative force behind the TV miniseriesThe First LadyandThe Night Manager.
The original film, directed by Griffen Dunne and based on a novel by Alice Hoffman, followed two sisters played by Bullock and Kidman who come from a long line of witches. After their parents died due to a family curse, the sisters were raised by their aunts in a small town, where they face prejudice amid the looming curse that might prevent them from finding true love.
One of the film’s original screenwriters, Akiva Goldsman, will be back to pen the script forPractical Magic 2. Denise Di Novi, who produced the original, will also return, producing alongside Bullock and Kidman.
Producer Di Novi Promises a Spiritually-Faithful Sequel
The new film is said to be an adaptation of Hoffman’s own sequel, titledThe Book of Magic, published in 2021. Producer Di Novispoke with MovieWebabout the film, saying it will be the product of careful consideration about what makes the original film work.
“I think we’ve had a lot of time to think about why that movie is still so resonant for people. And it’s pretty clear, you know, it’s sisterhood, it’s family, it’s being authentic to your true self, even if you don’t fit in. It’s finding the beauty and magic in everyday life, the practical aspect of magic.”
‘We’re Not Going to Reinvent the Wheel’: How Practical Magic 2’s Plot Will Play It By the Book of Magic
Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman’s Practical Magic 2 return will be sticking to the tried and tested formula.
Di Novi also promised that the sequel will be faithful to the spirit of the first film.“What saves you in this life? That’s what that movie is about, family, joy, love, music, home, beauty, surrounding yourself with nature and beauty. People are obsessed with that house, that garden. It’s pretty clear, you know, and whatever the storyline ends up as, we’re going to be faithful to those things and to Sandra and Nicole’s characters.”
No release date has been announced, but earlier reports suggestPractical Magic 2will hit theaters some time this year. However, considering the early stage of the movie, that seems like a bit of a stretch, and a 2026 release would likely be the earliest we can expect to see this sequel arrive in cinemas.
