Launched on October 29, 2024, Wizards Past Waverly Place is a fascinating Disney+ reboot of the 2007 teen fantasy collection Wizards of Waverly Place. The semi-sequel and spin-off incorporates a handful of unique characters returning as adults, together with David Henrie as collection mainstay Justin Russo. Now dwelling his greatest life as a household man, Justin’s life is upended when his sister, Alex Russo, arrives in search of assist.
Though the story considerations a brand new crop of younger wizards studying the tips of the commerce, a handful of recurring characters from the unique teen sitcom will return to supply nostalgic fan service. For these questioning if the brand new Disney+ reboot is value watching, analyzing which unique characters will take part in Wizards Past Waverly Place will assist make up their thoughts somehow.
- Launch Date
- October 29, 2024
- Seasons
- 1
David Henrie as Justin Russo
David Henrie reprises his function as Justin Russo in Wizards Past Waverly Place. From 2007 to 2012, Henrie portrayed the teenager wizard Justin Russo within the Disney Channel’s fantasy sitcom Wizards of Waverly Place. Within the new reboot, Justin is a married man dwelling on Staten Island together with his spouse Giada (Mimi Gianapulos) and two kids, Roman (Alkaio Thiele) and Milo (Max Matenko).
Within the unique, Justin was the eldest sibling of the Russo household, identified for being the neatest teen wizard who may forged as much as 5,000 magical spells. 12 years after the unique collection ended with Justin as an adolescent, he now leads a brand new crop of younger wizards and imparts the sage recommendation he has gained all through maturity. The battle of the reboot intensifies when Justin’s youthful sister, Alex Russo, arrives in search of coaching for a brand new wizard after Justin has determined to go away his supernatural powers behind.
Selena Gomez as Alex Russo
Returning as a particular visitor star within the pilot, Selena Gomez reprises her function as Alex Russo in Wizards Past Waverly Place. From 2007 to 2012, Gomez starred as Alex Russo within the unique Disney collection, gaining notoriety as the one feminine sibling within the Russo household of sweet sixteen witches. Shrewd, scheming, and impartial, Alex’s rebellious nature typically will get her into hassle at college and residential.
In Wizards Past Waverly Place, Alex incites the plot by bringing a younger new witch to be skilled by her brother, Justin. The brand new witch is called Billie (Janice LeAnn Brown), who should study to get together with the others whereas honing her wizarding methods. Along with being Justin’s sister, and Billie’s surrogate caretaker, Alex can also be Roman and Milo’s aunt. Gomez and Henrie appeared in each Wizards of Waverly Place episode. With the finale slated to air on November 22, 2024, tune in to find if Gomez seems after the pilot.
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David DeLuise as Jerry Russo
Returning as a particular visitor star in Episode 7, “We’re Gonna Want a Larger Float,” David Deluise performs the household patriarch, Jerry Russo, in Wizards Past Waverly Place. DeLuise originated the function from 2007 to 2012, giving up his magical powers to marry Theresa Russo. Though Theresa (Maria Canals-Barrera) and youngest sibling Max Russo (Jake T. Austin) are obviously absent from the reboot, Justin follows in Jerry’s footsteps.
Within the unique collection, Jerry broke a significant taboo by marrying a mortal, which stripped him of his wizard powers. Justin faces an identical dilemma when he marries a mortal girl (Giada) and offers up his magical powers to start out a brand new household. Within the reboot, Jerry is the grandfather of Milo and Roman, doing the whole lot he can to guard his household after Alex and Billie arrive and fire up new supernatural phenomena.
Potential Returning Characters
Though they’ve but to seem onscreen through the reboot’s inaugural season, two extra Russo members of the family may return to Wizards Past Waverly Place. In January 2024, ET introduced thatJake T. Austin had been forged to reprise his function as Max Russo, the youngest sibling within the witch household. Austin introduced his potential return on Instagram and included a reunion photograph with the forged, with David Henrie (a producer) confirmed. Whereas he has but to seem, Austin might very effectively return sooner or later.
Equally, in June 2024, Folks introduced plans for Maria Canals-Barrera to reprise her function as mortal matriarch, Theresa Russo. Canals-Barrera appeared in 84 episodes of the unique Wizards of Waverly Place, serving because the existential medium between her mortal self and her immortal household of wizards. Whereas it is unclear why Theresa has but to seem within the Disney+ reboot, the door is open for her return ought to the collection be renewed for Season 2. Given the unaired finale, Theresa and Max may seem on November 22, 2024, when Wizards Past Waverly Place Season 1 concludes.
No matter who might or might not return, showrunners Jed Elinoff and Scott Thomas have already been met with backlash over the shortage of unique characters, telling The Hollywood Reporter:
“Absolutely the hope is that all through this season and into future seasons, we are able to carry again everybody in some unspecified time in the future and have these nice fan moments for followers of the previous present. It’s somewhat bit arduous within the first season, as a result of we’re making an attempt to inform tales in regards to the new children, and we’re making an attempt to ahead their tales and set up them because the leads of the present.”
Wizards Past Waverly Place is accessible to stream on Disney+.