“Witches are back.” That’s more than an ancient Instagram update from Nicole Kidman it’s the truth for all fans of Practical Magic, 1998’s cult favorite that popularized midnight margaritas as a career goal. Even pundits maligned the film once, and now it has placed a spell that endures as a fall staple every autumn.
With Warner Bros. now officially greenlighting Practical Magic 2 to be released in September 2026, the original Owens family is reuniting Sandra Bullock, Nicole Kidman, Stockard Channing, and Dianne Wiest included. But what have these women been up to the last 27 years since they were first brewing potions on the screen? From Oscars to unexpected career changes, here’s where the magic has taken them.
1. Sandra Bullock’s Blockbuster Dynasty and Personal Perseverance
Sandra Bullock didn’t just ride the wave of Practical Magic she turned it into a career tide. After her turn as hard-as-nails Sally Owens, she signed up for mammoth box office hits like Miss Congeniality, The Proposal, and Oscar-winning The Blind Side. She remained to show dramatic range with Gravity and shattered genre thrills in Bird Box and Bullet Train.
Off-screen, Bullock’s life has also been a drama. She has adopted two children, endured a celebrity split, and experienced an eight-year on-again, off-again relationship with photographer Bryan Randall until he died of ALS in 2023. She’s been a crowd-pleaser meanwhile likable and talented and will reprise Sally in the sequel.
2. Nicole Kidman’s Award-Winning Versatility
Nicole Kidman’s feisty Gillian Owens was just one of more than 90 credits on a career. She’s an Academy Award winner for The Hours, was nominated for multiple films like Moulin Rouge! and Being the Ricardos, and dominated prestige television with Big Little Lies and The Undoing.
Kidman’s real life has also been similarly bathed in glory, from marrying musician Keith Urban to her new romance with country musician Keith Urban. She’s also stayed true to her Practical Magic roots, telling it like it is on the red carpet at the 2018 Oscars to Bullock, “This is a woman I love!” She’s back now reprising Gillian’s character for take two.
3. Stockard Channing’s Ageless Stage and Screen Presence
As Aunt Frances, Stockard Channing brought quirky sophistication to the Owens clan. A legend ahead of Grease and Six Degrees of Separation, she won Emmys for The West Wing and recurring appearances on The Good Wife. Her style-bending witch look, created with costumer Judianna Makovsky, is a fan favorite.
Channing talked about the movie’s enduring popularity, saying it “had a greater life after it first opened.” She is living in London now but will again be playing Aunt Frances, eager to resurrect her own special blend of warmth and wickedness on screen.
4. Dianne Wiest’s Award-Rich Career
Twice Academy Award winner Dianne Wiest added a mix of fantasy and gravity to Aunt Jet. Having played the lead in Hannah and Her Sisters and Bullets Over Broadway, she’s also had roles in TV favorites like In Treatment and Mayor of Kingstown.
Wiest, who has two adopted children of her own, has continued to alternate between film and television work, bringing depth to every character. Her return to the Owens’ kitchen in Practical Magic 2 guarantees the same down-to-earth magic fans love.
5. Aidan Quinn’s Steady Screen Journey
As state investigator Gary Hallet, blue and green, Aidan Quinn became a fan of Sally. His work has been steady and varied ever since, from Legends of the Fall to an occasional guest spot on Law & Order SVU.
Quinn, married to actress Elizabeth Bracco since 1987, is also recognized for his charitable efforts on behalf of autism research and cancer. His balance of charm and gravitas rendered Gary irreplaceable, and fans are waiting on pins and needles to learn if he will return in some unanticipated way.
6. Goran Višnjić’s International Success
Goran Višnjić, born in Croatia, made evil charm his trademark playing Jimmy Angelov. Post-Practical Magic, he was a household figure on ER, starred in Elektra, and had critically acclaimed roles in Beginners and The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.
Spending time between Hollywood and Croatia, Višnjić has four children with wife Eva. His recent credits include The Boys and the remake of Hellraiser, demonstrating that his range is quite a bit wider than zombie boyfriend.
7. Evan Rachel Wood’s Bold Career Moves
At 11, Evan Rachel Wood debuted as Kylie Owens, Sally’s feisty daughter. She went on to build a fearless career with limelight roles in Thirteen, Westworld, and Weird The Al Yankovic Story, where she played Madonna.
Wood has also written about her own life, including her activist campaigns following abuse claims against Marilyn Manson. Her range and openness have made her one of Hollywood’s most fascinating multi-hyphenates.
8. Margo Martindale’s Scene-Stealing Roles
Margo Martindale’s offbeat shopkeeper gimmick as Linda Bennett was just the beginning. She’s since taken home Emmys for Justified and The Americans, and delighted in Cocaine Bear and The Watcher.
Married to musician Bill Boals since 1986, Martindale keeps going strong with comedic and dramatic work, frequently showing up with her Practical Magic co-stars for other roles.
9. Mark Feuerstein’s TV Mainstay Status
Mark Feuerstein appeared for the first time on screen as Sally’s doomed husband, Michael. He went on to star in the lead role in Royal Pains for eight years and received an Emmy nod for the reboot of The Baby-Sitters Club.
Married producer Dana Klein and father of three kids with her, Feuerstein still appears everywhere on TV, most recently having appeared on Power Book II Ghost and Lady in the Lake.
From Oscars to unexpected genre plot twists, the actresses of Practical Magic have kept their careers and faces in an industry where both are ephemeral. As the sequel is currently in the works, fans can expect to see these old friends once again brought together under the same witchy roof, proving that some spells really do last an eternity.
