Practical Magic 2 star: ‘People long for simpler times’

Mix together a beloved film simmering for decades, a sprinkling of social media hype and a generous glug of star power and you just might conjure up the long-awaited sequel to Practical Magic.

The 1998 fantasy romcom, starring Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman as witchy sisters Sally and Gillian Owens, received mixed reviews from critics when it was first released.

But it’s put a spell on a new generation discovering it online, with some now regarding the film as a cult classic and autumn staple.

The demand for a follow-up by this new wave of fans helped convince Bullock and Kidman to reprise their roles nearly 30 years on, they say.

“You never get the opportunity to do something where people really are asking you, ‘please do it’,” says Bullock. “It’s usually us going to them.”

Actresses Joey King and Maisie Williams are joining the cast this time round to play Sally’s daughters, Kylie and Antonia.

Kissing Booth star King tells BBC Newsbeat she feels this desire for nostalgic content, which has become one of the defining forces within entertainment in recent years, has been influenced by “the world moving so fast”.