Directing PRACTICAL MAGIC 2: Susanne Bier on Magic, Studio Sequels & A-List Casts + Giles Announces his latest project
The Filmmakers PodcastShow Notes
Filmmakers, we have an absolutely magical episode for you this week!
While Giles Alderson has been out in Bulgaria producing his latest feature film, the brilliant Conor Boru steps into the host chair to sit down with the phenomenal director Susanne Bier to discuss her massive new release, PRACTICAL MAGIC 2.
Nearly three decades after the original spellbound audiences, Susanne takes us behind the scenes of bringing the Owens sisters back to the big screen. She dives deep into the realities of directing a massive studio sequel, working with Hollywood royalty like Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman, balancing practical on-set effects with visual spectacles, and why the beating heart of this film is the authentic sisterhood on screen.
🚨 EXCLUSIVE ANNOUNCEMENT: Before the interview, Giles is back with a massive exclusive update! He officially announces his latest producing project, The Joy of Sex, starring Academy Award winners Colin Firth and Julianne Moore!
💡 TOPIC OF THE WEEK: Giles breaks down "The Myth of A-List Intimidation." How do you transition from micro-budget indie sets to working with literal Oscar-winning legends without losing your nerve? Listen in for the hard truths on why the job of filmmaking never changes, no matter who is on the call sheet.
🎬 IN THIS EPISODE WE DISCUSS:
Tackling a Legacy: The immense pressure and excitement of directing a sequel to a beloved 90s classic.
Directing A-Listers: Susanne’s approach to collaborating with Sandra Bullock, Nicole Kidman, and an incredible ensemble cast.
Practical vs. VFX: How to ground supernatural elements with practical on-set choices (and unexpected beetles!).
Stepping Out of Your Comfort Zone: Why filmmakers must continuously embrace challenges that terrify them.
The Producer's Mindset: Giles' lessons from the trenches of producing The Joy of Sex in Bulgaria.
🍿 ABOUT PRACTICAL MAGIC 2: Starring Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman, Practical Magic 2 returns to a world steeped in moonlit mischief and powerful ancestral magic. The Owens sisters must confront a dark curse threatening to unravel their family. Joining the cast are Joey King, Lee Pace, Maisie Williams, Xolo Maridueña, Solly McLeod, Dianne Wiest, and Stockard Channing. Directed by Susanne Bier, from a screenplay by Akiva Goldsman, Georgia Pritchett, and Kelly Marcel.
Distributed worldwide by Warner Bros. Pictures. In cinemas across North America on September 10, 2026, and internationally beginning September 9, 2026.
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