Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman attended the blue carpet premiere of Practical Magic 2 at the Leicester Square Odeon in London on Wednesday night.
Bullock, 62, and Kidman, 59, reunited for the star-studded event as the sequel to their 1998 cult fantasy film prepares to hit cinemas. Kidman wore a custom silver Chanel gown featuring gold chain detailing and a low back that showed off her athletic frame, with her strawberry blonde hair styled in loose waves. Bullock wore a strapless leopard-print dress from Givenchy paired with black strappy heels as the pair posed together amid rows of candles.
The co-stars demonstrated their close friendship by holding hands, laughing together on the carpet, and affectionately leaning into one another before heading inside for the screening. Kidman has thrown herself into work this year following the finalisation of her divorce from country singer Keith Urban in January. Bullock recently opened up about the death of her long-time partner Bryan Randall.
Cast members gather for the London premiere
The premiere brought together cast members and filmmakers including Dianne Wiest, Maisie Williams, Joey King, Susanne Bier, Bullock, Kidman, Stockard Channing, Solly McLeod, and Xolo Mariduena. Wiest and Channing, who played the eccentric witch aunts Bridget and Frances in the original 1998 movie, posed on the blue carpet, with Wiest bringing magic to the proceedings.
In the new film, Kidman reprises her role as Sally Owens and Bullock returns as her sister Gillian Owens. The orphaned sisters were raised by their aunts and have spent their lives as the center of town gossip due to their magical family heritage. The sequel is set more than 25 years after the original movie, 28 years after the initial film was released in theaters.
Nicole confirmed in 2024 that she and Sandra would reprise their roles as the formidable Owens sisters. The new plot follows the family on an international journey across the Atlantic Ocean.
The next generation of the Owens family
The sequel properly introduces the next generation of the family, featuring Gillian's on-screen daughters Kylie and Antonia, played by Joey King and Maisie Williams respectively. King, 27, wore a sheer white and yellow dress with a billowing skirt and showcased newly dyed red hair, while also displaying a sheer green lace look that showcased her lingerie in a daring display. Williams, 29, wore a chic red corset-style dress with silver choker detailing that revealed her tattoos, including what appeared to be a witchy tattoo on her back. King and Williams emulated the close bond shared by Kidman and Bullock.
According to an official synopsis for the film, "The Owens women must once again unite, traveling from their home in Massachusetts to the United Kingdom to confront the source of their magic and save the next generation of their family." The movie is scheduled to hit theaters on September 11.
The movie is executive produced by Warner Bros. Kidman and Bullock served as producers on the project, which was directed by Danish filmmaker Susanne Bier. Akiva Goldsman, who co-wrote the script for the 1998 original, returned to write the sequel alongside screenwriters Kelly Marcel and Georgia Pritchett. The cast also features actors Lee Pace, Solly McLeod, and Xolo Mariduena.
Surprise fan appearance and after-party
Earlier this month, Bullock and Kidman surprised fans by making an unannounced appearance at a Cinespia screening of the original 1998 film at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery in Los Angeles. A behind-the-scenes video clip shared on Instagram showed the audience erupting with excitement as the pair took the stage.
According to an account from The Hollywood Reporter, Bullock told the crowd that "Practical Magic is the perfect movie to show at a cemetery." Kidman thanked the crowd for their support in "getting this second film made that's coming to you very soon."
Following the London premiere screening on Wednesday, Kidman was pictured arriving at an after-party held at Flute at Broadwick in Soho. Bullock also attended the celebration following the main event.
Box office history and author background
The original Practical Magic movie earned $68.3 million globally, according to box office tracking website The Numbers, falling short of its $75 million budget. Despite its initial box office figures, the film went on to gain a massive cult following over the past two decades.
The new film script is adapted from Alice Hoffman's 2021 sequel book, The Book of Magic. Hoffman has written three additional books centered on the Owens family due to popular demand from her readers.
Speaking in 2021 about her decision to expand the story, Hoffman said: "I got mail from readers saying that they wanted to have a sequel, that they wanted to know what happened to the characters. But, I felt like I wanted to know how these characters happened; I wanted to know their history. So I went back in time and I went to the '60s in New York City in Greenwich Village, which is my favorite time and I wish we were there right now, and it was a total pleasure."
