SANDRA BULLOCK, NICOLE KIDMAN, DIANNE WIEST AND STOCKARD CHANNING
SET TO STAR IN "PRACTICAL MAGIC"

- Warner Bros. to Distribute Worldwide -

(From Studio Brief)

BURBANK, CA., January 22, 1998 -- Four of motion pictures' best loved and most acclaimed talents-Sandra Bullock, Nicole Kidman, Dianne Wiest and Stockard Channing-are set to star in "Practical Magic," a Di Novi Pictures Production in association with Fortis Films. The announcement was made today by Bill Gerber and Lorenzo di Bonaventura, Presidents of Worldwide Theatrical Production at Warner Bros., which will distribute the film worldwide.

Griffin Dunne, who most recently directed the romantic comedy "Addicted to Love," is set to direct with Denise Di Novi producing and Mary McLaglen executive producing. The screenplay is by Robin Swicord, based on Alice Hoffman's popular novel of the same name about two sisters using their hereditary gifts to overcome the obstacles in discovering true love. Production is expected to begin in early February.

Set in a small New England town, "Practical Magic" follows the story of two sisters, Sally (Bullock) and Gillian (Kidman) Owens, who were raised by their aunts (Wiest and Channing) following the death of their parents. Attempting to pass on the unique and powerful psychic heritage of the Owens women, the aunts hope to give their nieces the strength that comes from the uses of practical magic.

In adulthood, Sally and Gillian go their separate ways, Sally pursuing a quiet and magic-less life and Gillian free-wheeling from town to town (and man to man). When the latest of Gillian's relationships turns bad, Sally rushes to her rescue and unwittingly releases a swarm of dark forces that threatens to destroy the Owens family. Finally calling on her inherited powers, Sally finds that it takes more than practical magic to win the fight and bring redemptive love back into her life.

Following several acclaimed roles in motion pictures ("Love Potion No. 9," "Wrestling Ernest Hemingway," "The Thing Called Love," "The Vanishing," "Demolition Man"), Sandra Bullock's breakthough came in 1994's runaway hit, "Speed," where her performance as the unwilling bus driver Annie led to a string of starring roles. Her next two feature films, "While You Were Sleeping" (which earned her a Golden Globe nomination) and "The Net," were both critical and popular successes. Her subsequent starring roles included "A Time to Kill" (People's Choice Award), "In Love and War," "Two If By Sea" and "Speed 2: Cruise Control." Bullock's debut as a writer/director was marked with the short film "Making Sandwiches," in which she also starred with Matthew McConaughey and which debuted at the 1997 Sundance Film Festival.

Bullock marks her feature film producing debut with the upcoming "Hope Floats," in which she also stars, along with Harry Connick, Jr. and Gena Rowlands. Her company, Fortis Films, co-produces "Practical Magic." Bullock will also be heard as the voice of Miriam in the upcoming animated "Prince of Egypt."

Nicole Kidman was already an acclaimed actress in her native Australia when she came to the notice of American audiences in the Philip Noyce thriller "Dead Calm." She followed that attention-getting role with the blockbuster "Days of Thunder," opposite Tom Cruise and directed by Tony Scott. Her subsequent starring roles include "Billy Bathgate" (for which she received a Golden Globe nomination), "Far and Away," "My Life," "Malice" and "Batman Forever." Her starring role in Gus Van Sant's acclaimed black comedy, "To Die For," brought her a Golden Globe for Best Actress, along with Best Actress awards from the Boston Film Critics, National Broadcast Film Critics, London Film Critics, England's Empire magazine and the Seattle Film Festival; she was also nominated by BAFTA (Britain's Academy Awards) in the Best Actress category. Recent starring roles include Jane Campion's "The Portrait of a Lady" and "The Peacemaker." Her upcoming projects include Stanley Kubrick's "Eyes Wide Shut."

Dianne Wiest has won two Academy Awards for Best Supporting Actress: one for her role as Holly in Woody Allen's "Hannah and her Sisters" (also Golden Globe-nominated) and one for her portrayal of Helen Sinclair in Allen's "Bullets Over Broadway" (Golden Globe winner). Since her film debut in "It's My Turn," Wiest has appeared in more than 20 motion pictures, with roles in "I'm Dancing as Fast as I Can," "Independence Day," "Falling in Love," "Footloose," "The Purple Rose of Cairo," "September," "The Lost Boys," "Radio Days," "Bright Lights, Big City" and "Cookie." She also received an Oscar nomination and a Golden Globe nomination for Ron Howard's "Parenthood." Her more recent credits include "Edward Scissorhands," "Little Man Tate," "The Scout," "Cops and Robbersons," "The Birdcage" and "The Associate." Her upcoming projects include Robert Redford's "The Horse Whisperer."

Stockard Channing made an indelible impression with her television debut in the Joan Rivers-scripted telefeature "The Girl Most Likely To..."

Motion picture roles followed, including "The Fortune" (which garnered her first Golden Globe nomination), "The Big Bus," "Sweet Revenge," "The Cheap Detective" and "Grease." Additional feature film credits include "Without a Trace," "The Men's Club," "Heartburn," "A Time of Destiny," "Staying Together" and "Meet the Applegates." Channing's acclaimed role as Ouisa Kittredge in the film adaptation of John Guare's stage hit (which she originated on the Broadway stage), "Six Degrees of Separation," brought her both Academy Award and Golden Globe nominations. Her more recent film credits include "Married To It," "To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar," "Smoke," "The First Wives Club," "Up Close and Personal" and "Moll Flanders." The Tony-winning actress (for "A Day in the Life of Joe Egg") also stars in the upcoming "Twilight."

Filmmaker/actor Griffin Dunne most recently ventured into directing with the dark comedy "Addicted to Love" and the critically acclaimed, Academy Award-nominated short film "Duke of Groove." As an actor, Dunne is perhaps best known for his performance in the Golden Globe-nominated "After Hours," which was directed by Martin Scorsese and produced by Dunne and his partner, Amy Robinson.

Dunne began his motion picture career by co-producing "Chilly Scenes of Winter," in which he also had a featured role. That led to starring roles in "An American Werewolf in London," "Who's That Girl," "I Like It Like That," "My Girl" and "Search and Destroy."

Dunne has produced four other films with Amy Robinson: "Baby It's You," "Running on Empty," "White Palace" and "Once Around."

Denise Di Novi counts among her producing credits such diverse motion pictures as "Heathers," "Little Women" and a number of films during her producing association with Tim Burton, including "Edward Scissorhands," "Batman Returns," "Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas" and "Ed Wood." More recently, she served as producer on "James and the Giant Peach." Upcoming projects include the comedy "Almost Heroes," starring Chris Farley and Matthew Perry, and "Message In a Bottle," starring Kevin Costner.