The talented and charismatic Selena Gomez is undeniably one of Hollywood's most sensational superstars, with the actress, singer, and producer extraordinaire having dominated both the world of television and film as well as the music scene throughout her illustrious career. While Gomez is now perhaps best known for her Golden Globe-nominated role as Mabel Mora in the mystery dramedy Only Murders in the Building as well as her chart-topping singles and albums, she got her start as a lovable teenage wizard on Disney's Wizards of Waverly Place.
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The hit fantasy sitcom ran for four exciting seasons and helped skyrocket Gomez to widespread prominence, with the series becoming one of Disney's most popular and highly-viewed hits over the course of its 106 episodes. Though the show bid farewell in 2012, longtime fans were thrilled when news broke that a long-awaited spin-off was in the works, with Wizards Beyond Waverly Place making its triumphant debut on October 29, 2024. Let's explore how the sequel relates to the original and who from the original cast is set to return.
Wizards Beyond Waverly Place TV-GFantasyComedy
Release Date October 29, 2024 Cast David Henrie , Janice LeAnn Brown , Alkaio Thiele , Max Matenko , Taylor Cora , Mimi Gianopulos , Selena Gomez Seasons 1 Disney's Sensational Fantasy Teen Sitcom Close ✕ Remove Ads
Selena Gomez skyrocketed to superstardom when she appeared alongside David Henrie, Jake T. Austin, and Jennifer Stone in the fantasy teen sitcom Wizards of Waverly Place.The Disney knockout centered on the spellbinding Russo family as siblings Alex, Justin, and Max all compete to inherit their family's magical powers and become the official Russo wizard. The vastly different teenagers attempt to navigate not only their wondrous abilities and intense training but also must juggle their other responsibilities at school and at their parents' sandwich shop, all while vying for the coveted position.
Wizards of Waverly Place ran from 2007 to 2012 and dominated the ratings week after week, garnering widespread praise for its quirky characters, feel-good humor, and talented cast performances. The fantasy sitcom went on to win two Primetime Emmys for Outstanding Children's Program and after 106 exciting episodes and an entertaining TV film, bid fans all across the world farewell on January 6, 2012, with the series finale becoming the most-watched final episode in Disney history and attracting 9.6 million viewers.
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The Fan-Favorite Show's Epic Return Close
12 years after the record-shattering series premiere, a spin-off was revealed to be in the works at Disney Channel, with original star David Henrie reprising his role as Justin Russo in the buzzed-about comedy. The enchanting sequel focuses on a now-adult Justin as he lives a normal life as a Staten Island middle school principal with his investigative reporter wife Giada (Mimi Gianopulos) and two sons Roman and Milo. After embracing his own mortality in order to have a family, Justin finds his everyman existence turned upside down when his sister Alex shows up in need of her big brother's expertise.
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Justin's magical history is thrust into the spotlight with Alex's unexpected arrival, as the eldest Russo sibling never shared his conjuring abilities with his wife and children after he was devastatingly fired from WizTech. Alex shows up with the young wizard Billie (Janice LeAnn Brown) in tow in hopes of convincing Justin to train the gifted young girl, who is destined to help fulfill a prophecy and prevent the world from ending. Henrie expressed how he looked forward to exploring Justin's complicated relationship with magic and his family, revealing to UPI:
"I call this first season the rebirth of Justin because Billie's character really reawakens a side of him that has been cut out tragically in the past. It's a side that he kind of missed, and a side that his family may have subconsciously always known was there, but are now explicitly understanding for the first time."
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Selena Gomez makes a special guest star appearance in the series premiere of the fantasy show, while original Wizards of Waverly Place cast members Jake T. Austin (Max Russo), Maria Canals-Barrera (Theresa Russo), and David DeLuise (Jerry Russo) also pop up in the sequel. The trailer for Wizards Beyond Waverly Place racked up a whopping 69 million views in just 10 days on social media, and both critics and fans were thrilled to be reunited with the lovable characters, zany humor, and immersive magical world.
A Fun & Wholesome Spin-Off Close ✕ Remove Ads
Wizards Beyond Waverly Place made its long-awaited debut on October 29, 2024, arriving on Disney Channel just in time to ring in Halloween as fans anxiously tuned in to see the Russos on screen once again. Upon its sensational release, the sequel became a knockout for critics and audiences alike, with the series currently holding a prestigious 100% Rotten Tomatoes score and 81% on the Popcornmeter. Celebrated for its wholesome dose of nostalgia, heartfelt message, and endearing humor that all ages can enjoy, the comedy more than delivered for longtime fans of the Disney sitcom staple.
Many have deemed Wizards Beyond Waverly Place a worthy follow-up to the beloved original show and one that is sure to please both new and old viewers, as both Henrie and Gomez effortlessly step back into their popular roles while showing off their winning chemistry and signature charm. In their glowing review of the spin-off, Decider accurately captured the allure of the series, declaring that it, "will give the adults who were fans of the original series the proper nostalgia hit, but it also has more than enough laughs for the kids who are entering this world for the first time."
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Stream Wizards Beyond Waverly Place on Disney+.