The Wizards of Waverly Place: what we know about the comeback of the cult series
The news dropped a few days ago and had the effect of a bombshell on the die-hard fans: Wizards of Waverly Place, the famous Disney sitcom from the 2000s, is about to make its big comeback.
Almost 15 years after the last episode aired, Disney has indeed ordered a revival of the cult series, in the form of a pilot for a new season. This will delight the many fans of the show who have been hoping for its comeback for a long time.
This article details all the information known to date about the highly anticipated return of the Wizards of Waverly Place.
Selena Gomez and David Henrie returning
Let’s start with the essentials: the original interpreters of Alex and Justin Russo, namely Selena Gomez and David Henrie, will indeed be part of this revival. They will even play a key role as they will be executive producers of the pilot ordered by Disney.
Selena Gomez will make a guest appearance as her iconic character Alex Russo, which allowed her to become known to the general public. David Henrie will reprise his role as Justin Russo, this time as a regular character in the new season.
A new cast around Justin Russo
Even though Gomez and Henrie will be present, the revival of the Wizards of Waverly Place will showcase new faces. Indeed, the plot will focus on the character of Justin Russo now as an adult.
We will therefore see David Henrie surrounded by three new actors:
- Janice LeAnn Brown (Disney’s Just Roll with It) in the role of Billie, a young witch under Justin’s tutelage
- Alkaio Thiele (Call Me Kat) who will portray Roman Russo, Justin’s eldest son
- Mimi Gianopulos (American Princess) as Giada, Justin’s wife.
A plot rooted in the original series’ universe
On the script side, creators Jed Elinoff and Scott Thomas (known for Raven) have envisioned a plot directly connected to the universe of the Wizards of Waverly Place.
The story will begin after a mysterious event at the WizTech wizarding school. We will then discover Justin Russo, now an adult, who has chosen to abandon his magical powers to lead a normal life, surrounded by his wife and two sons.
But the past will quickly catch up with him in the form of a young apprentice witch who comes seeking help. Justin will face a dilemma: reconnect with his sorcerer origins or act as if nothing happened?
The series’ return: a pressing demand from fans
The revival of the Wizards of Waverly Place meets a strong demand from fans of the original series. For years, discussions about a possible comeback of the fantastic show animated social media.
Aired between 2007 and 2012 on Disney Channel, the sitcom followed the daily life of the Russo family whose three teenagers developed their magical powers while leading a normal life.
With its quirky tone and talented cast led by Selena Gomez and David Henrie, Wizards of Waverly Place left its mark on a whole generation of fans. The series finale remains to this day the most-watched episode in Disney Channel’s history.
Unwavering popularity 10 years later
Proof that the popularity of the Wizards has remained intact: Selena Gomez teased her return to the series a few months ago on her TikTok account. The video where she transforms a towel into a turtle, a nod to her character Alex Russo, has been viewed over 30 million times!
On his part, David Henrie had expressed a few years ago his desire to return for a new season: “I would love to come back, have all the original actors present, and tell a story that pleases the fans”. This is now a reality!
