Dinsey has set the premiere date for Wizards Beyond Waverly Place, the sequel to the popular Disney Channel Original Series Wizards of Waverly Place, in time for Halloween. Wizards Beyond Waverly Place will follow an adult Justin Russo (David Henrie), who has chosen to lead an everyday mortal life with his wife Giada (Mimi Gianopulos) and their two children, Roman (Alkaio Thiele) and Milo (Max Matenko). When Justin’s sister Alex (Selena Gomez) brings Billie (Janice LeAnn Brown) to his home seeking help, Justin must dust off his magical skills to mentor the wizard-in-training while also juggling his everyday responsibilities. Wizards of Waverly Place was the breakout role for Selena Gomez, who is currently set to guest star in the premiere episode, with the door open for her to return for more episodes.
Deadline has revealed that Wizards Beyond Waverly Place is set to debut with a two-episode premiere on Disney Channel on October 29, 2024, at 8 p.m. ET/PT. The first eight episodes will then become available the next day, October 30th, to stream on Disney+ and Disney Channel On Demand, timing it right before Halloween so families can watch it together for the holiday. The series will not just be a Wizards of Waverly Place reunion, as Deadline also confirmed that Disney Channel alums Raven-Symoné (That’s So Raven and Raven’s House) and Danielle Fishel (Boy Meets World and Girl Meets World) will be directing episodes in Season 1.
The Last Week of October Will Be Busy for Selena Gomez
Since Wizards of Waverly Place, Selena Gomez has gone on to become a superstar, both as an actress and a musician. She is currently starring in the critically-acclaimed Hulu Original Only Murders in the Building. Wizards Beyond Waverly Place‘s premiere date of October 29th is also the same day the Season 4 finale of Only Murders will air, making it a big day for Gomez and her dedicated fanbase. Gomez herself will be incredibly busy as two days later, on November 1st, Emilia Pérez, the film that won the Best Actress award at the Cannes Film Festival for Gomez and her co-stars, will be released in a limited theatrical release before debuting on Netflix on November 13, 2024.
Wizards Beyond Waverly Place debuting right before Halloween is good timing on Disney’s part. Through networks like Freeform and their 31 Days of Halloween, Disney has become a favorite destination for families to watch for the holiday, thanks to fixtures like Hocus Pocus and The Nightmare Before Christmas. Beyond Waverly Place should draw in big numbers when it debuts on The Disney Channel, from both older fans who grew up with the original and the new younger fanbase the series is aimed at, while becoming a must-watch binge for families over the last few days of Halloween and into November.