We’re dying of a broken heart even if Sally hasn’t!

Aidan Quinn reveals why he’s not in Practical Magic 2: ‘We had a good time’

We're dying of a broken heart even if Sally hasn't!

By Mekishana Pierre

Mekishana Pierre

Mekishana Pierre is a news writer at **. She has been working at EW since 2025. Her work has previously appeared on Entertainment Tonight and Popsugar.

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April 21, 2026 12:26 p.m. ET

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Sandra Bullock and Aidan Quinn in 'Practical Magic'. Credit:

Warner Bros./Courtesy Everett

- Fans are asking where Aidan Quinn's hunky investigator Gary Hallet is after the *Practical Magic 2* trailer was recently released.

- Quinn played the detective who steals the heart of Sally Owens (Sandra Bullock) despite her resolve to never fall in love because of the family curse that kills every Owens witch's love.

- The sequel's trailer hints at what became of Gary after the first film's romantic conclusion.

It looks like even a true love spell can't break the curse of the Owens family witches.

With the trailer for *Practical Magic 2* officially here, fans are basking in the return of sisters Sally (Sandra Bullock) and Gillian Owens (Nicole Kidman), who are refreshingly witchier than ever. And while the teaser sets up a new tale of family, love, and heartbreaking curses, it's also lacking a very important character from the iconic 1998 — Gary Hallet.

Yes, Gary Hallet the hunky and terribly romantic investigator played by actor Aidan Quinn who steals the heart of Sally despite her resolve to never fall in love because of the family curse that kills every Owens witch's love. It's the same curse that took Sally's husband and father of her children, so it's even more romantic when the first film ends with Sally giving into the undeniable love between her and Gary, and falls in love with the impossible man she summoned with her true love spell (called Amas Veritas) as a child.

But where is Gary in the *Practical Magic 2* trailer? According to the cast, he's out of the picture.

Quinn in 'Practical Magic'.

Warner Bros./Courtesy Everett

Quinn broke the tragic news of his absence while chatting with SPIN 1038 back in February, sharing that he hadn't been asked to return for the film's sequel.

"I wasn't asked; I would have said yes, but I wasn't asked; of course I would," the actor said when asked whether he'd appear in the follow-up. However, Quinn added that he had "lovely" memories of performing alongside Bullock and Kidman. "They were both great to work with. You know, most of my stuff was with Sandy, but they were both phenomenal to work with. We had a good time."

Even Bullock and Kidman hint that Gary met his untimely end after the first film's romantic conclusion.

The duo recently shared a first look at *Practical Magic 2** *during a special appearance at CinemaCon last week, during which they teased fans about what to expect in the upcoming film.

"They're enjoying "midnight margaritas" and "jumpin' off the roof," Kidman said. But it's not all fun, because their pasts are "catching up with us," she continued. "We have our destinies, and we have the family."

While Gillian is still single and mom to a black cat, Sally has two daughters, played by Maisie Williams and Joey King, and she's now single too. "And if you know the original film, you can probably guess why," Bullock told the crowd.

Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman share first 'Practical Magic' sequel footage at CinemaCon 2026

Evan Rachel Wood won't be back for 'Practical Magic 2': 'I offered my services'

The sentiment is compounded in the trailer itself. In the video, we return to the sisters' coastal home in Massachusetts, where they tell Lee Pace's character about the fate that befalls all who get close to them — uh oh.

"Everyone we love dies," Sally says as Gillian chimes in, "A really horrible death. It’s not great for the Tinder bio."

Things are *really *not looking good for Gary.

Elsewhere in the trailer, fans also catch a glimpse of Stockard Channing and Dianne Wiest reprising their roles as the sisters' aunts, Frances and Jet, and are introduced to Sally's daughters. The movie also stars Xolo Maridueña and Solly McLeod.

Nicole Kidman and Bullock in 'Practical Magic 2'.

Courtesy Warner Bros. Pictures

*Practical Magic 2* comes 28 years after the 1998 original, which saw Sally and Gillian reunite to use their witch powers to fight the spirit of Gillian's abusive ex Jimmy (Goran Visnjic). The film grossed just $68 million on a $75 million budget but has gained a substantial following in the years since its release, thanks to persistent Halloween rewatches.

The sequel is helmed by Susanne Bier, who collaborated with Kidman on the miniseries *The Perfect Couple* and directed Bullock in *Bird Box*.

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We'll be crossing our fingers that some kind of magic will bring Gary Hallet back in action, riding a horse backwards and whistling Sally's favorite song, when *Practical Magic 2* premieres in theaters on Sept. 11, 2026.

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Source: “EW Film”