David Henrie and Selena Gomez are back together for a brand new Wizards of Waverly Place show! Fans will be excited to see them on screen again, and it sounds like filming the reunion was a blast for the actors too.
In the new show called Wizards Beyond Waverly Place, Selena will reprise her role as Alex Russo. The story picks up with David’s character, Justin Russo, years after the original Disney Channel series ended.
Even though Wizards of Waverly Place wrapped up in 2012, David says it felt like no time had passed when he and Selena were back on set together. “There are a few scenes that I think will really touch the hearts of the original fans,” he shared. “They’re very emotional and we filmed them really well. I can’t wait for everyone to see them!”
Another familiar face returning to the show is David DeLuise, who played Alex and Justin’s dad, Jerry Russo. “It was a pleasure working with him again,” David said. “We’d love to have the whole original cast back as often as we can. They’re all such a great team.”
The new series will also feature a brand new cast of characters. Some of the new actors include Alkaio Thiele and Max Matenko who will play Justin’s sons. Mimi Gianopulos will play Justin’s wife, Giada, and Janice LeAnn Brown will play Billie, a young wizard who seeks out Justin’s help (even though he’s no longer a wizard himself) to save the magical world.
“The new actors are really talented,” David said. “I want the new show to capture the same heart as the original. I want people to watch it and say ‘This is Wizards of Waverly Place! It has the same themes, characters, and humor.’ I’m also excited for a whole new generation of viewers to discover the world of Wizards.”
In the new show, Justin is a dad, just like David himself. David has three kids with his wife Maria Cahill. “Justin loves being a dad,” David said. “He also works at a school, which he really enjoys.”
David added that while Justin is still the same character we know and love, there will be some new things to learn about him. “There’s a backstory and some big questions that will be introduced right from the very first episode,” he teased.
One of the biggest questions will be how Justin lost his powers. At the end of the original series, he became the Headmaster at the magic school WizTech. “Losing his powers might not have been entirely his choice,” David hinted. “You’ll have to watch the new show to find out exactly what happened. There are some clues hidden throughout the first few episodes.”
