Get ready to dust off your wands and stir up some magic because the Wizards of Waverly Place are back in action! Following a near-decade hiatus since the conclusion of the beloved Disney series, the Russo Family returns like never before.
Earlier this year, the announcement of the wizard's return was released. The sequel series comes with a new name: Wizards Beyond Waverly Place.
History Behind The Show
Alex Russo and her brothers, Justin and Max, hail from a distinguished lineage of wizards, tasked with mastering their newfound magical abilities or risk losing them for good. Their father, Jerry, sacrificed his powers upon marrying their mortal mother. Set against the bustling backdrop of Manhattan, the family runs the Waverly Sub Station. Amidst the chaos of the city, these young wizards navigate an array of wild adventures and mishaps, all while dealing with the everyday challenges of teenage life.
When Wizards of Waverly Place concluded, Justin Russo was appointed headmaster of WizTech. This came after a fierce competition between the siblings to decide who would retain their magical powers and become the family wizard. Although Justin initially won, he confessed that Alex had helped him, leading him to forfeit his win so she could become the family wizard. However, Justin's powers were restored for his new role at WizTech.
In the 2013 TV special The Wizards Return: Alex vs. Alex, all the original cast returned except David Henrie (Justin). Justin's absence was attributed to his duties as WizTech's headmaster, yet his influence was still present in the story.
Alex struggled with her new responsibilities as the family wizard. Attempting to rid herself of traits she disliked, she accidentally split into two versions of herself: good Alex and bad Alex. Ultimately, she reversed the spell and reaffirmed her position as the family wizard, showing loyalty to her best friend Harper. By the series' end, Alex was still with her werewolf boyfriend Mason Greybeck, Justin was with his vampire girlfriend Juliet, and Max, who lost his powers, inherited the family sandwich shop.
Plot: The Wizards of Waverly Place Reboot
In the official series synopsis, "Wizards: Beyond Waverly Place" picks up after a mysterious incident at WizTech, where an adult Justin Russo has chosen to live a normal, human life with his wife Giada and their two sons, Roman and Milo. However, Justin's peaceful existence is upended when his sister Alex arrives with Billie, a powerful young wizard in need of training. Justin must reconnect with his magical past to mentor Billie and ensure the future of the Wizard World, all while managing the challenges of his everyday responsibilities.
Who to expect?
Selena Gomez won't be a series regular in the Wizards of Waverly Place reboot, but she'll appear in the pilot and serve as an executive producer. David Henrie, however, will be a series regular. Henrie recently shared an Instagram photo with Gomez and their on-screen parents, David DeLuise and Maria Canals-Barrera, confirming their return as Jerry and Theresa Russo.
Jake T. Austin, who played the goofy younger brother Max Russo, was absent from the photo but has confirmed his return via Instagram Stories, expressing his excitement about reuniting with the "wizards family."
Jennifer Stone, who portrayed Alex's quirky best friend, Harper, is also expected to return. It might not happen all at once, but we'll see familiar faces from the original cast gradually reappear as the series unfolds.
The series will introduce new stars, including Janice LeAnn Brown as the powerful young wizard Billie, Alkaio Thiele and Max Matenko as Justin’s sons, and Mimi Gianopulos as his wife Giada.
Behind the Scenes
A total of six executive producers are involved, including Gomez. Alongside her, Jed Elinoff, Scott Thomas, Gary Marsh, Andy Fickman, and Henrie himself have executive-produced the pilot and will continue to produce many other episodes.
Release Date / Where to watch
"Wizards Beyond Waverly Place" will premiere on Disney+ and the Disney Channel this fall. In the meantime, fans can catch the original "Wizards of Waverly Place" series and its spin-offs, all available for streaming on Disney+.
