Good news: “Wizards of Waverly Place” (2007-2012) is getting a sequel series! A pilot has been ordered for a return to Disney’s hit wizard world. The show is confirmed to have David Henrie in a main role, and will feature an appearance from Selena Gomez. Henrie, who is also working as an executive producer on the show, stated his goal is to have the main cast return throughout the new show. To celebrate this good news, let’s cover what we know about the upcoming reboot and catch up on what the actors we’re expecting to see have been up to lately.
David Henrie confirmed the reboot, seemingly called “Wizards”, via Instagram. He expressed his excitement for returning to his character and posted the cover of a pilot script with a wand. In the time since the original show’s end, Henrie has gotten married and become a father to three children. He has had a few acting credits since the original show ended, and directed the 2020 film This Is the Year. It understandably seems like he’s focused on being a family man in recent years, and as much as we love that for him, we’re also excited to see him back in such a beloved role. The new show will focus on his character, Justin Russo, as a husband and father who gave up his powers to live a normal family life. This is a mature character arc for Justin, and it seems like a nod to the original show given that’s the same decision his character’s father Jerry also made. However, he will return to the Wizard World when a young wizard requests his help. Whether he has his own magic or not, it’ll be fun to see Justin back on our screens in a mentor role for the next generation of wizards.
Selena Gomez has been confirmed to return as her character Alex Russo for the reboot. She will make an appearance in the show’s pilot episode, and she will play a part behind the scenes as an executive producer. Alex Russo is one of Disney Channel’s most iconic characters ever, so we can’t wait for her to make her return. Gomez has stayed busy since the ending of “Wizards of Waverly Place” in 2012. She has released 3 albums, is currently appearing on Hulu’s “Only Murders in the Building” (for which she has been nominated for 2 Emmys and Golden Globes), and is set to portray singer Linda Ronstadt in an upcoming biopic. With her busy schedule, it means a lot to fans who have been around since her Disney Channel days to see her return to this role. Hopefully Gomez will return for more episodes beyond the pilot, but regardless it’ll be cool to get a glimpse into what Alex Russo is up to these days.
It is unclear if Jennifer Stone will return to her role as Harper Finkle, but she shared a sweet throwback photo of the cast to her Instagram. Between her lingering passion for the show and David Henrie’s allusion to more original cast members making appearances, it seems likely we will see Harper again. Fingers crossed for some new wacky and iconic outfits! Since the show ended, Stone has been working as a registered nurse. Through 2021 and 2022, she shared that she was working in a hospital. Healthcare workers do not always get the acknowledgment that they deserve, so we want to take a second to praise Stone for her hard work. In addition to her work in healthcare, she has also been an advocate for diabetes awareness since experiencing a personal struggle to get an accurate diagnosis.
David DeLuise is currently co-owner of The Bigfoot Cafe in Pine Mountain Club, California. He has hinted at an interest in the new show on social media. He commented “Reboot ?” on Henrie’s announcement post, and fans flocked to the comment section to express their hopes for his involvement with the show. Jerry Russo is a beloved sitcom dad, so it makes sense that fans are interested in seeing his return to the screen. Plus, given the parallels between DeLuise’s character and the plot of the new show, it seems like there’s a decent chance of his return to the role. In addition to the cafe, DeLuise -- who is the son of the legendary comedy actor Dom DeLuise -- has ventured into the world of podcasts. He and Stone host a podcast called “Wizards of Waverly Pod”. The podcast is an outlet for the two to talk about their acting experiences, reminisce on their Disney Channel days, and interview other actors. They have had multiple former co-stars make guest appearances on the podcast, including Selena Gomez. We’ve linked her episode below, but there’s plenty of other content available too. You can listen to "Wizards of Waverly Pod" on Spotify or Apple Podcasts, and you can watch it on YouTube.
The newcomers to the cast include Janice LeAnn Brown, Alkaio Thiele, and Mimi Gianopulos. Brown, whom you may have seen portray young Rue in “Euphoria”, is set to appear as the young wizard that Justin returns to the Wizard World to help. Thiele is a voice actor featured on Disney Jr.’s “Spidey and His Amazing Friends”, and he will be portraying Justin’s eldest son in the reboot. Gianopulos, who will portray Justin’s wife, is best known for her supporting roles in What to Expect When You’re Expecting (2012) and “Baby Daddy” (2012-2017). As exciting as it will be to see former cast members return, we’re also looking forward to meeting this new set of cast and characters.
The show does not have a set debut date yet, but hopefully it won’t be too far off! This show will be a fun nostalgia trip for anyone that grew up watching the original, and we’re eager to see where our favorite characters have ended up. Henrie and Gomez’s involvement as cast members and executive producers, the thrilling possibility of other returning cast members, and the open opportunities for new favorite characters have made this reboot really enticing!