Get your salt ready and keep the rosemary by your garden gate, because the Owens sisters are officially coming back to enchant a new generation. During a star-studded appearance at the CNBC Changemakers event in Manhattan on Thursday, Sandra Bullock opened up about the highly anticipated Practical Magic , sending social media into a total tailspin.
Bullock, who starred in the original alongside Nicole Kidman, admitted that for a long time, she was the one holding up the reunion. While fans have been clamoring for a sequel for over two decades, the actress revealed she had actually resisted multiple attempts to revisit the story.
So, what finally changed her mind? It turns out, a little bit of creative inspiration and a touch of fate were all it took.
The Idea That Sparked the Magic
“Pam and Mike had reached out, saying, ‘Look, we really want to make Practical Magic ,'” Bullock recalled, referring to Warner Bros. film chiefs Pam Abdy and Mike De Luca. “I said, ‘It is not the right time.'”
However, the wheels started turning for the Miss Congeniality star. “I called Denise Di Novi, our producing partner,” Bullock told the crowd. “I said: ‘I have an idea about what I think Practical Magic should be and what we can say.’ And when I told her everything, she goes: ‘That is already in the second book [by author Alice Hoffman].’ And so that made me excited.”
The realization that her vision aligned perfectly with the source material was the green light Bullock needed to step back into the role of Sally Owens.
A Viral Cult Classic Reborn
While the original film famously struggled at the box office in , earning $ million against a $ million budget, it has found a massive second life online. On platforms like TikTok and Instagram, the film’s “whimsigoth” aesthetic has become a year-round vibe, with fans hosting “Midnight Margarita” parties and dressing up as the sisters for bridal showers and Halloween.
Pam Abdy noted that the studio couldn’t ignore the digital buzz. “Because of social media and because of the way people can start to find different kinds of stories, people start trading ideas about Practical Magic,” Abdy explained. She added that the film consistently hits the top of the charts on Max every October.
“I love this movie. This movie is about sisterhood,” Abdy shared. “The movie is so thematically rich, and I think has never been more urgent than to tell this kind of story about community, about family and about sisterhood than the times we are living in.”
Practical Magic Meets Practical Economics
Despite the supernatural themes, the production is keeping its feet on the ground. Bullock acknowledged that the “Hollywood economics” of today actually helped the film get made. By filming in London to take advantage of tax incentives, the team was able to find a way to bring the magic back without breaking the bank.
“We could make the film emotionally and visually that we wanted to make for a price that Warner Bros. could afford,” Bullock noted.
The “Italian Pit Bull” Behind the Scenes
Bullock also took a moment to praise Abdy’s leadership during a time of major industry shifts, including the looming Paramount-Warner Bros. Discovery deal. Calling Abdy an “Italian pit bull,” Bullock celebrated the executive’s transparency and honesty.
“There is no politicking with you. It is transparent, honest and clear so everyone can do their best job,” Bullock said to Abdy. “Honesty these days is very hard to come by… I felt creative and excited again.”
As Warner Bros. moves forward with its and slates, Practical Magic stands out as a beacon for fans who have waited a lifetime to see Sally and Gillian Owens jump off that roof together one more time. While a release date hasn’t been cast in stone just yet, the excitement brewing on social media suggests this sequel is already a certified hit.
