When Practical Magic 2 opened in theaters on September 11, 2026, fans of Alice Hoffman’s follow-up novel expected the magic-filled saga to expand the diversity that the original hinted at. The film reunites Sally Owens (Sandra Bullock) and her sister Gillian Owens (Nicole Kidman) as they travel to England to aid Sally’s younger daughter, Kylie (Joey King), after her boyfriend Gideon (Xolo Maridueña) falls into a coma. While the plot circles around the family curse and Kylie’s romance, the screen time allotted to Sally’s elder daughter, Antonia (Maisie Williams), is markedly thin.
Plot focus of Practical Magic 2
The screenplay, penned by Akiva Goldsman, Georgia Pritchett and Kelly Marcel, concentrates on the Owens women’s multigenerational battle against a centuries-old spell. Antonia appears in many scenes, yet her personal storyline—present in Hoffman’s novel The Book of Magic—is largely invisible. In the book, Antonia is explicitly gay, shares a life with a lawyer named Ariel, and even faces an unexpected pregnancy that helps unravel the family curse. The film, however, offers no named partner, no romantic subplot, and no hint of her pregnancy, leaving her sexuality ambiguous.
Maisie Williams’ stance on Antonia’s identity
During the press tour, Williams told Gay Times that she entered the set with a clear understanding of the source material. She recalled, “she knew the source material” and added that she deliberately performed Antonia as a “sapphic icon.” According to Williams, framing Antonia with a same-sex orientation added nuance to scenes where the character reacts to the men around her, offering a distinct perspective compared with the other Owens women. Her comments underscore a personal commitment to preserving the novel’s queer intent, even when the final edit chose to leave it unspoken.
Representation fallout and future prospects
The omission has reignited conversations about how mainstream adaptations handle LGBTQ+ characters. When a high-profile franchise trims or erases a queer storyline, the impact ripples beyond fan disappointment; it signals to broader audiences which lives are deemed marketable. Practical Magic 2 was marketed as a women-led, witch-rich narrative—an arena historically linked with queer subtext. By presenting an almost entirely straight female ensemble, the film misses an opportunity to showcase the community’s long-standing connection to mystical storytelling.
Sandra Bullock, speaking to Vanity Fair hinted that a third installment could shift the focus toward the younger generation, specifically Antonia and Kylie. She suggested that audience response might determine whether the franchise returns to explore the threads trimmed from the sequel. If a third film materializes, it could restore the lesbian plotline, giving Antonia the on-screen partner and narrative depth fans of the novel anticipate.
In the meantime, Maisie Williams’ outspoken acknowledgment serves as a reminder that creators can still champion representation, even when editing decisions fall short. Her stance keeps the conversation alive and may influence studios to reconsider how faithfully they translate queer characters from page to screen.
