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On Jan. 18, 2024, Disney announced that it would be bringing back some 2000s magic with the that everyone has been waiting for. Selena Gomez, who starred as Alex Russo on the show, posted a screenshot to her Instagram Story of a article reporting the news.
“So excited!! ❤️,” she wrote.
She also posted a throwback picture of her and costar David Henrie, who plays older brother Justin Russo, on set of the original show. “We’re back,” she wrote.
And then in March 2024, it was officially confirmed that the reboot had been picked up for a full season. Gomez shared her excitement over the news with a post in her Instagram Stories.
With the spinoff, officially underway, the internet is buzzing with questions (such as, Will Gomez be rerecording the original theme song for this series?). Ahead, all your queries about the Wizards of Waverly Place reboot, titled Wizards Beyond Waverly Place, answered.
When does the Wizards of Waverly Place reboot come out?
On January 18, Henrie hinted at a 2024 release date when he posted a photo of a wand sitting on top of the script for the pilot episode.
“The Russo’s are excited to become a part of your family, once again, but we’ve grown 😊 2024, the year magic comes back! 🪄,” he said in the caption.
Then in March, a post from the Disney Channel about the show read, “Making magic, then and now The new Wizards of Waverly Place series is coming this fall!”
In the comments, Gomez wrote, “WE ARE BACK!! SOOOO GRATEFUL 😍MAGIC.”
Production was to begin in April 2024 in Los Angeles. Sure enough, during their upfronts presentation in May, Disney announced that “the series is slated to premiere on Disney Channel and Disney+ later this year.”
What will the reboot be about?
Per , writers and executive producers Jed Elinoff and Scott Thomas have revealed some insight on the plot. Reportedly, the spinoff follows an adult Justin Russo who gave up his wizard powers for his wife and two sons. After an emergency at WizTech, a young wizard in need of training appears in his life, and he must step aside from the normal, human life he created for himself in order to help out the Wizard World.
“Wizards of Waverly Place captivated hearts with its spellbinding adventures and big laughs, creating unforgettable memories for kids and families everywhere,” Disney Branded Television president Ayo Davis in a statement. “We can’t wait to step back into the magical world of Wizards, inviting longtime fans and a new generation to experience the enchantment alongside Selena, David, and our incredible cast and crew.”
Disney announced the synopsis on May 14: “The series follows an adult Justin Russo, who has chosen to lead a normal, mortal life with his family, Giada, Roman and Milo. When Justin’s sister Alex brings Billie to his home seeking help, Justin realizes he must dust off his magical skills to mentor the wizard-in-training while also juggling his everyday responsibilities — and safeguarding the future of the Wizard World.”
Henrie told , “We took very seriously the timeline of the original show. It’s been 12 to 15 years so there’s a big gap there; we have a mystery of what happened during that gap. You’re gonna wonder what happened to Justin and why things are a certain way. There’s all sorts of Easter eggs and mysteries for that original fan.”
Who is coming back from the original cast?
Thankfully, we’ll be seeing some familiar faces on the Wizards of Waverly Place reboot, but we’ll also be seeing some new ones. Henrie will be starring in the series as Justin. Gomez will be guest-starring in the pilot episode as Alex. The famous magical brother-sister duo will also be working as executive producers.
The Russo’s younger brother Max will be making an appearance in the spinoff. Jake T. Austin posted on his Instagram Story to share the news.
“Wow! Am looking forward to getting together with my wizards family,” he said with a picture of his on-screen parents and siblings.
Mr. and Mrs. Russo will also be making a comeback. “The Russos ❤️🪄 coming back #wizardsofwaverlyplace @,” David DeLuise (Jerry Russo) wrote on Instagram alongside a reunion pic of him, Henrie, Gomez, and Maria Canals-Barrera (Theresa Russo).
While promoting new music on Jimmy Kimmel Live! in February 2024, Gomez told Kimmel, “It’s going to be really fun and I’m excited to bring these characters back.”
She continued, “It’s not a reboot, it’s gonna be a different version, and I’m excited to share with you guys.”
She then confirmed there will be wizards in it, adding she is “the family wizard.”
In an interview with in June 2024, Henrie discussed working with Gomez again.
“It was awesome. We didn’t want it to end. It was great,” Henrie said “She’s so good. She has such a quick wit that’s only gotten stronger.”
He added, “We have a couple scenes that I think will choke up the original fan of the original show, and they’re really touching, and they went really well. So, I’m excited for you to see it.”
Henrie also stated that the “new cast is really, really talented,” and that his “goal is [to] recreate the heart of the original show so anyone can watch it and go, ‘This is Wizards. This feels like the themes, the values, the world, the comedy. This is Wizards.’”
In August 2024, Gomez shared how it felt to return to the set with .
“It felt like I was home again,” Gomez said. “I’m so happy I got to bring this childhood gift to a new generation.”
“It was bonkers,” Henrie said told the publication. “It was unspoken but we were behind a door and heard, ‘Action,’ we looked at one another and were like, ‘This is crazy.’ It was like a day hadn’t passed in 12 years. We were right back to where we were.”
While talking to , Henrie refuted rumors that Gomez was only appearing in one episode.
“You’re gonna see [her] a lot,” he said. “[Selena] in multiple episodes so I’m not sure why people keep saying she’s only in one.”
Who else will be included in the cast?
As for the new cast members, Janice LeAnn Brown will be playing Billie, the young wizard who comes to Justin. Alkaio Thiele will be Roman Russo, Justin’s older son, Max Matenko, his younger son, and Mimi Gianopulos is Justin’s wife, Giada.
In August 2024, Gomez was asked by about the possibility of her costars in Only Murders in the Building, Steve Martin and Martin Short, might made cameos.
“Oh, they don’t answer my calls,” she joked.
Short chimed in to say, “I’d be thrilled but I was a little hurt when she said, ‘Can you read for our casting director? I thought that was a little icey.”
Where will you be able to watch the Wizards of Waverly Place reboot?
While we still don’t know too many details just yet, we do know that the Wizards of Waverly Place reboot will be on .
All four seasons of the original Disney Channel sitcom are available to stream on Disney+ (as well as and ).
Is there a trailer yet?
As of now there’s no trailer, but we do have some first-look photos of Gomez and the cast on set together.
How did Wizards of Waverly Place end?
In 2012, the series came to an end after Alex won the wizard competition that determines which family member gets to keep their powers. Justin also got to keep his magical abilities when Professor Crumbs offered him a job as headmaster of WizTech. Meanwhile, Max was eventually going to take over the Waverly Sub Station.
Then in 2013, the cast reunited for the Disney Channel original movie The Wizards Return: Alex vs. Alex.
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