Maisie Williams Reveals Antonia Owens as a Lesbian in Practical Magic 2

Maisie Williams is back on screen in *Practical Magic 2*, the sequel to the 1998 classic that follows the Owens sisters, Sally and Gillian, as they confront a century‑old family curse.

The film, directed by Susanne Bier, debuted in theaters last month and stars Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman alongside Williams and Joey King. While the story centers on Kylie’s love with her comatose boyfriend Gideon, the character of Antonia Owens has sparked conversation among fans and critics.

During a recent interview, Williams explained how she approached her role. “There’s been a lot of different edits to the movie, and there was a lot of different versions of the script, but I always played Antonia as a sapphic icon,” she said. “And I love that.

I think it brought a real joy to the scenes when we would be talking about Gideon, because Antonia just has a completely different perspective on men altogether.”

The film’s plot follows Sally and Gillian as they search for their daughter Kylie in England, hoping to lift the curse that keeps her boyfriend Gideon in a coma.

The focus on Kylie’s romance and the mystery of the curse leads to a lighter treatment of Antonia’s backstory, which in Alice Hoffman’s original novel reveals her as a lesbian with a love interest named Ariel and a pregnancy with her best friend’s baby.

## The Film’s Treatment of Antonia Owens

Williams has consistently portrayed Antonia as a sapphic icon, even though the script went through multiple revisions.

She noted that this perspective added “a real joy to the scenes when we would be talking about Gideon.” This portrayal is significant because it signals an intentional choice to keep Antonia’s sexuality present on screen, despite the film’s different emphasis compared to the novel.

The decision aligns with a broader trend in contemporary adaptations to maintain LGBTQ representation when possible.

The movie’s script was written by Akiva Goldsman, Georgia Pritchett, and Kelly Marcel. Their draft aimed to balance the original story with new cinematic elements. However, while Antonia’s romance is absent from the film, her identity remains an undercurrent that informs her interactions and worldview.

## Comparing the Sequel to the Original Novel

Alice Hoffman’s 2021 novel *The Book of Magic* fleshes out Antonia’s life more fully than the film. In the book, she is explicitly a lesbian and has a romantic relationship with lawyer Ariel, who assists in unraveling the Owens curse.

The novel also depicts Antonia as pregnant with her best friend’s baby, adding layers to her personal narrative that are not reflected in the screen version.

The omission of these plot threads means that the sequel prioritizes Kylie’s story and the curse’s resolution over Antonia’s individual arc. Consequently, fans of the novel have noted a “sacrifice” of Antonia’s rich backstory.

The film still retains her identity as a lesbian, but without the accompanying romantic storyline or pregnancy subplot.

## Future Directions for the Owens Family Saga

Sandra Bullock has spoken about extending the franchise beyond the second film. “We’ll do a number three if this takes off. And we’ll pass the torch to the girls,” she said in an interview.

This statement indicates a potential third installment that could revisit Antonia’s full backstory, perhaps restoring elements absent from *Practical Magic 2*.

Should a third film materialize, it may offer an opportunity to explore both Antonia’s romance with Ariel and her pregnancy, thereby aligning the cinematic narrative more closely with Hoffman’s original vision.

It would also allow the Owens family saga to continue focusing on the younger generation while maintaining continuity with the earlier films.

The conversation around Antonia’s sexuality and storyline underscores how adaptations balance fidelity to source material with new creative directions. Whether a future film will fully honor the novel’s depth remains to be seen, but the foundation laid by Williams’ performance keeps the discussion alive.

In sum, *Practical Magic 2* presents a version of Antonia Owens that acknowledges her as a lesbian without delving into her romantic life or pregnancy—choices that reflect both the film’s focus on Kylie and the evolving landscape of LGBTQ representation in mainstream cinema.