Practical Magic Fans Slam Sequel Trailer Changes

The first trailer for Practical Magic 2 dropped on Monday night ahead of its hugely anticipated September release.

27 years after the first movie, , 61, and , 58, have reunited to reprise their roles as Sally and Gillian Owens - two sisters from a long line of witches trying to live normal lives despite a family curse.

The first trailer is littered with nostalgic hark-backs and eggs including glimpses of the same ramshackle family home and the sound of Harry Nilsson's Coconut song ringing out over shots of Midnight Margaritas.

But there are some notable absences among the cast.

The focus of the trailer is on Sally and Gillian, who appear to both be single as they tell a potential new love interest, played by Lee Pace, 'Everyone we loves dies...A really horrible death. But it's just not great for the Tinder bio.'

Fans have questioned what has become of detective Gary Hallet - the love interest of Sandra's character Sally in the original movie, and the one man who seemingly managed to beat the family curse.

Viewers of the trailer fear Gary has been killed off as there's no mention of him, with focus instead turned to Lee Pace's new character. 

Aidan Quinn, 67, who played the role in 1998, previously revealed he wasn't asked to be part of the sequel.

In an interview with SPIN 1038 in February, Aidan said if he had been asked he would have been up for reprising his role, insisting: 'Of course I would,' adding that he had 'lovely' memories of working with Sandra and Nicole.

'They were both great to work with,' he shared. 'You know, most of my stuff was with Sandy but they were both phenomenal to work with... we had a good time'.

Practical Magic 2 follows multiple generarations of the Owens family with Stockard Channing and Dianne Wiest also returning for the sequel in their roles as Sally and Gillian's aunts. 

But in another notable change, Sally's daughters have been recast with Evan Rachel Wood and Alexandra Artrip both missing from the trailer and cast list.

Evan and Alexandra were 11 and eight respectively in the first movie, but in the new trailer Joey King, 26, and Maisie Williams, 29, appear as Sally's daughters. 

Alexandra, who played younger daughter Antonia in the first movie, quit acting after the film and now works for an advertising company. 

Evan, who played eldest daughter Kylie has maintained a successful career on screen, going on to star in the likes of Thirteen and Westworld.

Last year Evan posted on Instagram, explaining that she was not asked to return for the sequel despite offering to film even a small cameo. 

'I am getting asked about this a lot, so l'll just clear it up now; I was not asked to come back and be in the #PracticalMagic sequel,' she told fans. 'l offered my services, even if it was one scene or one line.'

'I was told they are re-casting. I am sorry to disappoint the fans. It was not in my control or my choice. I would have happily rejoined my sisters.'

Some fans have questioned the casting decisions with one writing on X: 'Sequels only seem to really work when the original characters come back. Evan Rachel Wood, Aidan Quinn, weren't even asked. They said they would of done it. I don't understand. Loved the first one'. 

'Were Kylie & Antonia recast with Joey King & Maisie Williams bc they’re younger than the OG actresses? Evan Rachel Wood is right there. Don’t say they killed off Gary. It’s not the same w/o Aidan Quinn. At first glance, I don’t if Practical Magic 2 has the same charm as the OG,' agreed another.

Another mused: 'Evan Rachel Wood, the original Kylie in Practical Magic, was clearly deemed too old to play her own role in Practical Magic 2, as 'Kylie' has possibly been engineered in the script to be 10 years younger, throwing off the authenticity of continuing this storyline in the first place'. 

And another insisted 'the ages are all off, pointing out: 'Well, I guess Evan Rachel Wood is now too old to play Sandra Bullock's daughter. She's 38. Sally would've had her at like 23. Bullock is 61 but looks 45.'

'It's been 28 years old since the first film, yet Joey King is 26. Wood was a teenager back then. The ages are all off'.