I'm just going to say that I freaking called it for a Wizards of Waverly Place sequel/reboot/reunion in 2023. It's happening, and here is what we know so far about it.
When it comes to some of the best Disney Channel shows – and one of the best shows to watch with kids on Disney+ overall – I can think of nothing better than Wizards of Waverly Place, and the show is hilarious and even funnier as an adult.
Well, here we are, in the best timeline, where we know that a Wizards of Waverly Place sequel series that's in the works, titled Wizards Beyond Waverly Place. But who will be coming back for this potential show? And what could it be about? Here is what we know so far.
What Is The Wizards Of Waverly Place Premiere Date?
When updating this in June 2024, Wizards Beyond Waverly Place is set to release later in 2024, according to Disney.
This just means that the show will premiere on the 2024 premiere schedule, even if we don't have a set date yet. I’m ready to recapture the magic of my youth with this show.
Wizards Beyond Waverly Place Follows Justin Teaching A New Wizard His Powers After An Incident At WizTech
Get ready because we already know what Wizards Beyond Waverly Place will be about – and it's more like a sequel than anything else.
Reported by Deadline in January 2024, it will follow Justin this time. But it's not what you would expect – despite earning powers in the Wizards of Waverly Place finale, Justin has given up that life to live normally with his wife and children.
However, a strange occurrence happens at WizTech (this story's version of Hogwarts). Now, Justin is responsible for training a wizard who shows up at Justin's home afterward. To save the Wizard World, he has to embrace his past and find the magic within himself again to help the next generation.
This already sounds like the premise of something that would appear on my list of the best fantasy shows, so sign me up.
The Wizards Beyond Waverly Place Cast
While we know the details of what the show will be about, who can we expect to see star in Wizards Beyond Waverly Place? Here is what we know so far from Disney:
David Henrie as Justin Russo
David Henrie is set as a series regular for Wizards Beyond Waverly Place, playing the same character he did in the original series, Justin Russo.
Henrie is primarily known for his role in the original show, but he has appeared in various other movies and TV series since, including Grown Ups 2, Little Boy, Walt Before Mickey, and more. In How I Met Your Mother, he also appeared in a recurring role and had guest appearances on Arrested Development, Mind Games, and more.
Selena Gomez as Alex Russo
Another piece of news confirmed from the Deadline article is that Selena Gomez would return to her role as Alex Russo in the pilot episode of Wizards Beyond Waverly Place, at least for a guest role.
If you love Selena Gomez, this is what you should watch if you like the actress.
We're unsure if she'll appear in more than that. Gomez will also be working as an executive producer, which was confirmed by the Deadline article, and she’s super excited for the reboot.
Gomez has appeared in various movies and TV shows since the original series ended, especially with her starring role in one of the best Hulu shows, Only Murders in the Building, but it'd be great to see her come back to this role.
Janice LeAnn Brown as Billie
Janice LeAnn Brown is going to play Billie, the wizard that Justin will have to teach to save the Wizard World. Brown is a young actress who has appeared in shows such as Best Foot Forward, Just Roll with It, Black-Ish, and more. She even played young Rue in the hit HBO show Euphoria, one of the best teen dramas.
Alkaio Thiele as Roman Russo
Alkaio Thiele plays Roman Russo, Justin's son. The young actor has appeared in shows such as Call Me Kat, The Wingfeather Saga, and voices several characters in Spider and His Amazing Friends.
Max Mantenko As Milo Russo
Max Mentenko will play Milo Russo in Wizards Beyond Waverly Place. The young actor is primarily known for his role in Platonic, and guest starred in shows like This Is Us and General Hospital.
Mimi Gianopulos as Giada Russo
In Wizards Beyond Waverly Place, Mimi Gianopulos plays Giada Russo, Justin's wife. The actress has appeared in movies such as What To Expect When You're Expecting, The Knight Before Christmas, Get a Job, and more.
Taylor Cora as Winter
Taylor Cora will play Winter in Wizards Beyond Waverly Place. The young actress is known for her guest role in American Gangster: Trap Queens.
This is such exciting news for the whole cast – and Henrie himself even shared a behind-the-scenes photo with the main cast to show off his on-screen family on his Instagram stories (via Entertainment Weekly).
We’re Unsure If The Rest Of The Russos Will Be Back
While Alex and Justin were undoubtedly some of the best siblings on Disney Channel, it wouldn't be the Russos without Jerry, Theresa, and Max, the parents and the family's youngest sibling.
Nothing has been entirely confirmed by Disney, but that hasn’t stopped the former stars from posting about it. David DeLuise and Maria Canals-Barrera (Jerry and Theresa) were pictured when DeLuise posted about how excited he was on his Instagram to get back to work with the cast:
Jake T. Austin, who played Max, shared his excitement about the new show on his Instagram stories (via Entertainment Tonight), saying he was looking forward to getting with his "wizards family."
Austin has appeared in Rio, Hotel for Dogs, and a few other films and co-starred in The Fosters. Canals-Barrera has appeared in Cristela and done several voice roles. DeLuise has appeared in various comedy movies and co-hosts the Wizards of Waverly Pod with former co-star Jennifer Stone.
We're still unsure if Stone will return as Harper, Alex's best friend, but I doubt she'll be there if Alex isn't a main character in this new show. And Stone isn't even an actor anymore – she works as a nurse, so I'd be pretty shocked if she appeared in a significant role.
But we haven’t gotten exact casting info about these actors from Disney yet, so we can only hope they’ll make an appearance.
Jed Elinoff and Scott Thomas Wrote The Pilot
The last thing we know from that Deadline article is that Jed Elinoff and Scott Thomas wrote the pilot for Wizards Beyond Waverly Place. This is significant news, as these two previously worked on another popular Disney sequel series – Raven's Home.
The show, a sequel to That's So Raven, featured Raven as an adult in her home with her son, who could now also see the future. The series has run for six seasons, which is a long freaking run for a Disney Channel show, so you know that this reboot is going to be just as great if it goes to series.
Wizards Beyond Waverly Place Is Filming
Something that’s exciting to hear is that the sequel series is actively filming as of May 2024. In fact, David Henrie keeps his Instagram updated with posts regarding the show decently often. He posted a picture of him getting started filming in May 2024 on Instagram, featuring a cute moment with his real-life daughter:
He also posted a few days before then with the cast on Instagram at their very first table read:
All I know is that I’m excited as heck for this show and the filming posts give me life.
This makes me want to do another Wizards of Waverly Place rewatch. I think it's time to return to the Russo household – is anyone else up for some wizard lessons?
