Actress Evan Rachel Wood has explained her absence from the upcoming Practical Magic sequel by pointing to creative differences between the film and its source material. After reading author Alice Hoffman's The Book of Magic—the novel upon which the sequel is based—Wood concluded that the filmmakers' interpretation has diverged significantly from the original text, resulting in a story where her character's return would not fit naturally. She publicly confirmed through social media that she was not asked to reprise her role and had volunteered to contribute even minimally, only to learn that the production intended to recast the part entirely.

Beyond the creative reasoning, Wood expressed genuine disappointment about missing the opportunity to reunite with her original castmates from the 1998 film. She noted the unique value of bringing the cast back together as adults to explore their shared history on screen—something she felt could not be artificially recreated with new performers. The sequel, featuring Joey King in Wood's former role and Maisie Williams joining the cast, is scheduled for release on 11 September.