No surprise, “Practical Magic 2” is not doing well with critics. We all saw it coming. The first one also got hammered with bad reviews. The only reason we’re getting a sequel is due to its cult following and ‘90s nostalgia.
So far, “Practical Magic 2” sits at 32% on Rotten Tomatoes and 46 on Metacritic. That said, this film is critic-proof, as tracking currently hints at $40M+ for its opening weekend. Considering the first film limped to a $68M global box office on a $75M budget.
The sequel to the 1998 film has Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman returning for nostalgia’s sake. The rest of the ensemble includes Stockard Channing, Dianne Wiest, Joey King, Maisie Williams, and Lee Pace.
“Practical Magic” told the story of two witchy sisters, played by Kidman and Bullock, raised by their charmingly oddball aunts in a small town that didn’t take kindly to their magical leanings. They also had to deal with a family curse that ensured heartbreak for any man they dared to love.
Susanne Bier is directing—Bier previously worked with Bullock on “Bird Box” and with Kidman on both “The Undoing” and the upcoming “The Perfect Couple.” Bullock will reprise her role as Sally Owens, while Kidman returns as her wild-child sister, Gillian.
Akiva Goldsman, who co-wrote the original screenplay, is back to write the sequel. Goldsman’s most notable screenwriting credits include “The Client,” “A Beautiful Mind,” “Cinderella Man,” “I Am Legend,” “Constantine,” and—gulp—“Batman & Robin.”
“Practical Magic 2” is set to hit theaters on September 18, via Warner Bros.
According to THR, Aaron Guzikowski, who wrote Denis Villeneuve’s “Prisoners,” has been hired to write a new “Alien” movie for 20th Century Studios, unrelated to ‘Romulus,’ but connected to Ridley Scott.