Joey King, the actress from The Kissing Booth, has opened up about Evan Rachel Wood’s reaction to the recasting in Practical Magic 2. King is taking over Wood’s role as Kylie Owens. She has said that she was not asked to reprise the role. Despite the change, King said Wood was supportive of her taking on the character.
Joey King says she was grateful for Evan Rachel Wood’s support after the sequel recasting
Wood played Kylie, the older daughter of Sandra Bullock’s Sally Owens, in the original story. For the sequel, set 25 years after the 1998 film, King takes over the role, while Maisie Williams replaces Alexandra Artrip.
Wood previously said she was “not asked to come back” and “it was not in my control or my choice.” At a July red carpet, she also said, “it seems like they’re not following the book,” while wishing King well in the role.
King later spoke with Wood and said she appreciated the actor’s support. She said that she “had a lovely conversation,” in the interview with The Hollywood Reporter. She added, “and I just was so appreciative of the support that she showed to me and to the rest of the cast.”
King also praised Wood, saying, “She is so talented and so beautiful and she made this role so special when she was a young girl.” She continued, “I feel so grateful to be able to play Kylie at this age but I love Evan so much and I’m so appreciative of her kind words and the exchange that her and I shared.”
Director Susanne Bier also explained the casting decision. She said, “It had to be a certain age group; in the story they’re just like literally out of college, and with Joey and Maisie it just felt completely right.”
King’s Kylie will have a much bigger role in the new movie. The character discovers secrets within her family and begins developing dark abilities, bringing the Owens women together as they try to break the curse that has followed them. Dianne Wiest and Stockard Channing are returning as the witchy aunts, while Bullock and Nicole Kidman reprise their roles from the original film.
The sequel will hit theaters on Sept. 10.
Originally reported by Deepshikha Sarkar on Reality Tea
