Original 'Practical Magic' Actress Speaks on Getting Recast: 'They Did What They Thought Was Best'

Not every actor takes a recast with grace, but Alexandra Artrip—who played young Antonia Owens in the 1998 cult classic—is choosing the high road. She's addressing the backlash and negativity that surfaced when the studio decided to go in a different direction for the sequel, replacing both her and Evan Rachel Wood in their original roles.

Artrip's take? They made a business decision. She gets it. Hollywood moves on, budgets shift, creative visions change—that's the game. Rather than throw shade, she's acknowledging that the studio did what they believed would make the film work, even if that meant moving on from the original cast members.

It's a stark contrast to the internet's immediate reaction, which saw fans come out swinging in defense of the original actors. But Artrip seems unbothered by the industry math at play. The sequel's still happening either way, and sometimes you're in, sometimes you're out.

Whether the recast move pays off creatively remains to be seen—but Artrip's already won points for not making this messier than it needed to be.

Read the full story at Variety → https://variety.com/2026/film/news/practical-magic-2-recasting-alexandra-artrip-1236852818/