Ready for Practical Magic 3? Sandra Bullock wants a Game of Thrones star in charge
Sandra Bullock isn’t just eyeing a Practical Magic 3 return — she’s floating a younger lead, with a certain Game of Thrones alum squarely in torch-passing territory.
If you thought Practical Magic had brewed its last potion, Sandra Bullock has other ideas — just maybe with someone else wearing the pointy hat next time. Practical Magic 2 is nearly here, but Bullock is already thinking ahead, and she’s not shy about who she wants to stir the cauldron next. There’s a Game of Thrones twist, a torch ready to be handed over, and, unsurprisingly, a bit of controversy swirling round the sequel’s reception.
The Future of the Owens Family
During a recent chat on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, Bullock spelled out her hopes for the future of the franchise. She’s not angling to play Sally Owens for ever and a day — her plan is to 'pass the torch' to the next generation, specifically mentioning both Joey King and Maisie Williams. If the series gets a third outing, Bullock sees the centre of gravity shifting to Williams (yes, Arya Stark herself) as a possible new lead witch.
On The Tonight Show, Bullock said she would "like to pass the torch" to the young women currently playing Sally’s daughters, Joey King and Maisie Williams, if there’s another film.
This isn’t just idle chat either. Williams, of course, brings Game of Thrones cred to the table (her IMDB page also includes The New Mutants and Mary Shelley), while King is already all over Netflix thanks to things like The Kissing Booth, Bullet Train and The Princess. So, yes, plenty of acting muscle in the mix.
The Practical Magic Legacy
To keep you up to speed: the original film from 1998 had Bullock and Nicole Kidman as the ill-fated Owens sisters, their lives defined by a witchy family curse and a particularly grim attempt to resurrect Kidman’s abusive on-screen boyfriend. Not exactly a box office spellbinder (it did about $94.4 million globally on a $75 million budget), Practical Magic only really thrived as a cult classic. Critically, it’s always been a love-it-or-loathe-it job — current ratings put it at 6.4/10 on IMDb, with Rotten Tomatoes showing a split: a dismal 30% from critics but a solid 73% audience score. Audiences have always turned up for the sisterly banter, small town Americana, and the sort of witchcraft that makes you think someone will start chanting 'midnight margaritas'.
About Practical Magic 2
Which brings us to Practical Magic 2. The curse hasn’t gone anywhere — but now it’s Sally’s daughter, Kylie, in the firing line. The plot has the family heading over to England to try and finally break the Owens curse for good. Bullock and Kidman are back (because you wouldn’t recast them), and Dianne Wiest plus Stockard Channing return as the aunties. Also in are Maisie Williams and Joey King, joining the spellbook as the new generation of witches.
Practical Magic 2 releases in cinemas 10 September 2026.
Early reviews are… not exactly rapturous. Rotten Tomatoes shows the sequel at 37% from critics. The familiar faces are getting most of the love, with Bullock and Kidman cited as bright spots, and there’s plenty of appreciation for the nostalgia factor. The magic, though, feels a bit watered down, with many critics saying the new narrative hasn’t quite bottled the same charm that made the first one endure.