Yes, Selena Gomez Is Back For The ‘Wizards of Waverly Place’ Sequel: Here’s Everything We Know About Its Cast, Plot, Release Date & More

Patrick Hipes and Tom Tapp

May 15, 2024 at 11:20 a.m.·3 min read

UPDATED with latest: Selena Gomez revealed the Wizards of Waverly Place sequel title at Disney’s upfront Tuesday. The spinoff will be called Wizards Beyond Waverly Place. She also shared two first-look images which can be found below.

Deadline broke the news of the sequel series in January. Jed Elinoff and Scott Thomas serve as writers and executive producers. Andy Fickman directed and executive-produced the pilot and will direct multiple episodes.

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The original show ran four seasons, winning Emmys and doing well in the ratings until star Selena Gomez decided it was time to graduate to more adult roles. The show ran from 2007-2012, with Wizards of Waverly Place: The Movie also airing on the Disney Channel in 2009. The cast returned for a stand-alone television special, The Wizards Return: Alex vs. Alex, in 2013.

There have been rumors of another reunion ever since and now, after a decade, Disney is making them a reality.

Now for the answers to the most important questions.

Is Selena Gomez involved?

Yes, Gomez will guest star in the pilot as Alex Russo. She is also executive-producing the series with David Henrie, her small screen sibling.

Are other original cast members of ‘Wizards of Waverly Place’ returning for the sequel?

Henrie is reprising the role of Justin Russo. He will be a series regular, which means we’ll see more of him in the series than Gomez.

WIZARDS BEYOND WAVERLY PLACE – ÒPilotÓ (Disney/Eric McCandless) SELENA GOMEZ, DAVID HENRIE

Are any new actors joining the cast?

Yes. New cast members include series lead Janice LeAnn Brown (Disney’s Just Roll with It), who will play the powerful young wizard Billie, whom Justin takes under his wing. Taylor Cora will join the series’ regular cast in the role of Winter, Billie’s bubbly, quirky and oversharing best friend. Alkaio Thiele (Call Me Kat) will play Roman Russo, Justin’s oldest son. Mimi Gianopulos (American Princess) will play Justin’s wife, Giada.

WIZARDS BEYOND WAVERLY PLACE -
ALKAIO THIELE, JANICE LEANN BROWN, SELENA GOMEZ, MAX MATENKO, MIMI GIANOPULOS, DAVID HENRIE — WIZARDS BEYOND WAVERLY PLACE – ALKAIO THIELE, JANICE LEANN BROWN, SELENA GOMEZ, MAX MATENKO, MIMI GIANOPULOS, DAVID HENRIE

How will the ‘Wizards of Waverly Place’ sequel expand on the original series?

In the sequel, Justin Russo is all grown up, with a wife and two sons. Justin has left his wizard powers behind, opting for a normal, human life. After a mysterious incident at WizTech, Justin gets a surprise when a powerful young wizard in need of training shows up at his door. He’s faced with a dilemma: Maintain his everyday life or embrace his past to ensure the future of the Wizard World.

When will the ‘Wizards of Waverly Place’ sequel debut?

From Disney Branded Television, the series is slated to premiere on Disney Channel and Disney+ later this year. It fits into the strategy of beefing up Disney Channel’s lineup of multi-camera sitcoms.

Is anyone else from the original series involved?

Gary Marsh, the former longtime top Disney Channels creative executive who was the driving force behind Wizards of Waverly Place and was instrumental in getting Gomez on the network after she was discovered during an open casting call in Dallas, is also an executive producer.

What else is Gomez working on?

Beyond music, Gomez is currently in the Disney family as a star and executive producer of the hit Hulu/20th TV television comedy series Only Murders In the Building. She’s also set to play Linda Ronstadt in a film based on the singer’s memoir Simple Dreams. David O. Russell is directing. Further, Gomez has an untitled Food Network series in the works that will debut in 2024. It will have her meeting up with some of the best chefs in the country in a quest to cook their most popular dishes when she visits their kitchens.

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