Joey King And Maisie Williams Discuss ‘Practical Magic 2’

Joey King and Maisie Williams on Practical Magic 2: What We Know in 2026 The 1998 original Practical Magic* earned a quiet kind of immortality. It wasn't a blockbuster on release, but over the years it became a cult favorite, a Halloween staple, and a touchstone for anyone who ever believed in the messy, beautiful chaos of love and witchcraft. So when word first surfaced that a sequel was finally moving forward, fans paid attention. And then the casting news dropped. Joey King and Maisie Williams. Two actors who have built their careers on intensity, vulnerability, and a refusal to play it safe. The question everyone has been asking is whether this is the right move for Practical Magic 2* — and more importantly, what do the actresses themselves have to say about it? What Is Practical Magic 2 The Legacy of the Original The 1998 film, based on Alice Hoffman's 1995 novel, followed the Owens sisters — Sally and Gillian — played by Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman. They inherited a family curse that seemed to doom every romance they touched. The movie balanced dark fairy-tale elements with warm, almost cozy sisterhood dynamics, all set in a small New England town that felt like it existed outside of time. The film underperformed at the box office but found a second life on home video and television. It became one of those rare movies that grew in cultural relevance over decades. Fans quoted it. Cosplayed from it. Wrote endless fan fiction about what happened to the characters after the credits rolled. The Long Road to a Sequel For years, a Practical Magic* sequel existed in development limbo. Various writers and producers cycled through the project. Studios expressed interest, then lost it. The original screenwriters, Robin Swicord and Akiva Goldsman, were involved at different stages. Alice Hoffman, the author, remained protective of the source material, which made negotiations complicated. By 2026, the project appears to have gained real momentum. The shift from concept to active development has fans cautiously optimistic, especially given the casting choices. Why Joey King and Maisie Williams Joey King rose to fame as the lead in Netflix's The Kissing Booth* trilogy, but she has since proven she can handle far more dramatic material. Her work in The Act* (2019) earned critical praise, and she has shown a clear interest in projects with emotional depth and genre elements. Maisie Williams needs no introduction. She became a global star as Arya Stark in Game of Thrones*, a role that demanded physicality, precision, and emotional restraint in equal measure. Since then, she has taken on a string of eclectic projects, from the thriller Pistol* to voice work in animated series. She has a reputation for choosing roles that challenge her rather than play it safe. Together, they represent a generational handoff for a franchise that was defined by its original leads. King and Williams bring a different energy to the table — younger, more contemporary, and arguably more equipped to carry a story about inherited trauma and magical power in the modern era. Why This Matters The Cultural Weight of Practical Magic Practical Magic* occupies a strange and specific space in pop culture. It's not quite a horror film, not quite a rom-com, and not quite a family drama. It's all of those things at once, which is part of why it resonates so deeply. The sequel has the potential to introduce this world to an entirely new generation while giving longtime fans the continuation they've wanted for nearly three decades. Representation and Casting Choices Casting younger actors in legacy franchises is always a risk. Fans have strong opinions about who should play beloved characters, and recasting is inherently controversial. But King and Williams have something that helps: they are both respected performers in their own right, not just names attached to a franchise. They bring their own audiences and their own credibility to the project. The State of Fantasy in 2026 Fantasy and supernatural storytelling are thriving in 2026. From streaming series to blockbuster films, audiences are hungry for worlds that operate by their own rules. A well-made Practical Magic* sequel could tap into that demand while offering something distinct from the crowded witchcraft genre. The original succeeded because it grounded the magical elements in real emotional stakes. The sequel will need to do the same. How It's Coming Together What We Know About the Plot Details about the storyline remain under wraps, but there are some clues. The original novel by Alice Hoffman features a larger cast of Owens family members and deeper explorations of the family curse. If the sequel follows the book more closely than the first film did, audiences could see new characters, expanded mythology, and a more complex exploration of what the curse actually means. Joey King and Maisie Williams are reportedly playing the next generation of Owens women, though exact character names and roles have not been officially confirmed by the studio. The Creative Team The original director, Griffin Dunne, has expressed interest in returning to the franchise in some capacity, though it's unclear whether he would direct the sequel or serve in another role. The screenplay is being developed with input from Alice Hoffman, which suggests the studio wants to honor the source material rather than take it in a completely different direction. Filming and Release Timeline As of mid-2026, filming has not officially begun, but pre-production is reportedly underway. The project is being developed with the kind of care that suggests the studio wants to get it right rather than rush it to market. Given the long history of this sequel, that patience is welcome. What Joey King Has Said King has been characteristically guarded about the project, which is fair given how long it has been in development. In a 2026 interview, she acknowledged the significance of being part of the Practical Magic* universe. She spoke about the responsibility of stepping into a world that fans already love and the challenge of making the role feel authentic rather than like a nostalgia play. She has also discussed the appeal of playing a character connected to magic and family legacy, noting that the themes of the original film â€" grief