Practical Magic 2 is finally on the big screen, but one of its most intriguing character arcs appears to have been dialed back in translation. According to Maisie Williams, Practical Magic 2 leaves out key LGBTQ+ elements from Alice Hoffman’s source novel, even though she still played Antonia Owens with a clear sapphic perspective throughout the film.
That revelation has sparked fresh conversation among fans of the franchise, especially those familiar with The Book of Magic, the 2021 novel that inspired the sequel. While the movie leans heavily into Kylie Owens’ romance and the family’s battle against an ancient curse, Antonia’s deeper identity and personal storyline received far less screen time than readers expected.
How Practical Magic 2 Changed Antonia Owens’ Story
In interviews promoting Practical Magic 2, Maisie Williams explained that she approached Antonia as queer, even if the final cut of the movie never fully states it outright. She noted that multiple edits and script versions shaped the finished film, but her own understanding of the character remained consistent.
That detail matters because Antonia’s characterization in Hoffman’s novel is far more expansive. In the book, Antonia is explicitly a lesbian and has a meaningful love interest, Ariel, a lawyer who becomes part of the family’s effort to understand and break the Owens curse. The novel also gives Antonia a more layered future, including a pregnancy storyline involving her best friend.
By contrast, Practical Magic 2 shifts the emotional spotlight elsewhere. The sequel centers on Sally Owens, Gillian Owens and Sally’s daughter Kylie as they travel to England, confront family history and try to save Kylie’s comatose boyfriend Gideon. In that structure, Antonia becomes more of a supporting presence than a fully developed co-lead.
Why the omission stands out
- The book gives Antonia a distinct romantic identity and emotional arc.
- The film hints at her perspective but avoids making it explicit.
- Fans looking for queer representation may see the change as a missed opportunity.
- Williams’ comments confirm the subtext was intentional on her part.
For audiences who have not read the novel, Antonia may still come across as witty, observant and emotionally distinct. But for readers, the absence of that LGBTQ+ storyline creates a noticeable gap between page and screen.
Maisie Williams Kept the Queer Reading Alive in Practical Magic 2
One of the most compelling takeaways from Williams’ remarks is that performance can preserve complexity even when a screenplay simplifies it. She said she always played Antonia as a “sapphic icon,” suggesting that the character’s worldview, especially in scenes involving men and romance, was informed by that lens throughout Practical Magic 2.
That choice may help explain why some viewers detect a different energy in Antonia, even if the script does not spell out her sexuality. In adaptations, actors often become the last line of defense for nuance when plotlines are condensed, combined or removed altogether.
It also raises a broader industry question: when studios adapt beloved books, how much LGBTQ+ representation gets lost in the effort to streamline a story for mass appeal? In the case of Practical Magic 2, the answer may frustrate fans who hoped the sequel would expand the franchise’s emotional range rather than narrow it.
What the book includes that the movie leaves behind
- Antonia’s sexuality is clearly defined in the novel.
- She has her own love interest, Ariel.
- Her role in solving the curse is more substantial.
- Her future is explored with greater depth and personal stakes.
These differences do not necessarily make the film unsuccessful, but they do change the emotional balance of the story. Instead of functioning as a dual coming-of-age and family-legacy tale for both sisters, Practical Magic 2 becomes far more focused on Kylie.
What This Means for Fans of the Franchise
For longtime followers of the Owens family, adaptation changes are nothing new. Still, the muted handling of Antonia’s identity in Practical Magic 2 lands at a time when audiences are increasingly attentive to how queer stories are represented on screen.
There is also a sense that the sequel may not be the end of the road. Sandra Bullock has already floated the possibility of a third film if the sequel performs well, with the idea of passing the torch to the younger generation. If that happens, Antonia’s sidelined storyline could return in a more central way.
That possibility is especially important because Williams’ interpretation has already laid the groundwork. A future installment would not need to invent a new direction from scratch; it could simply bring to the surface what was already embedded in her performance in Practical Magic 2.
Could a third movie restore the missing arc?
It is certainly possible. A follow-up could:
- develop Antonia as a lead rather than a side character,
- introduce a romantic storyline closer to the book,
- explore how the Owens curse intersects with the younger generation,
- deliver the fuller queer representation many viewers expected.
Whether Warner Bros. moves in that direction may depend on audience response, box office momentum and how strongly fans continue to discuss Antonia’s omitted storyline.
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Final Take on Practical Magic 2
Practical Magic 2 delivers witches, family drama and franchise nostalgia, but its treatment of Antonia Owens has become one of the sequel’s most talked-about creative choices. Maisie Williams’ comments make clear that the character’s queer identity was very much part of her performance, even if the finished film stopped short of fully embracing it.
The takeaway is simple: Practical Magic 2 may have preserved Antonia in spirit, but not in full narrative detail. For fans of the book and viewers hungry for richer LGBTQ+ storytelling, that omission feels significant—and it may be exactly why so many will now be hoping for a third chapter.
