Felt Like Being Home Again

It’s been more than 12 years since “Wizards of Waverly Place” ended in 2012 after four seasons, but reuniting for the spinoff, “Wizards Beyond Waverly Place,” it was if no time had passed for stars Selena Gomez and David Henrie.

“It felt like I was home again,” Gomez said Thursday at the “Only Murders in the Building” Season 4 premiere in Hollywood. “I’m so happy I got to bring back this childhood gift that I was given to new little ones out there.”

When the original “Wizards” concluded, Gomez never expected to play Alex Russo again. But now she’s hopeful for a multi-season run of the spinoff. “We don’t know, but if people like it, we’ll see,” she remarked.

David Henrie, reprising his role as Alex’s brother Justin, revealed the idea’s origin. “Selena, my wife, and I spent years drinking wine and talking about where the characters would be. Eventually, we said, ‘I think we have a show. Let’s talk to Disney.’ And we did. It took years of development to get it exactly where it needed to be.

“It came out of a place of love,” Henrie continued. “The number one thing Selena gets asked about even today is ‘Wizards.’ It’s a show that meant a lot to many people.”

Gomez announced the spinoff during Disney’s 2024 upfront presentation in May. Images from the show were released alongside the announcement, showing grown-up versions of Alex and Justin along with new Russo family members.

“It was bonkers,” Henrie said, reflecting on working with Gomez again. “When we heard ‘Action,’ we looked at one another and were like, ‘This is crazy.’ It was like a day hadn’t passed in 12 years. We were right back where we were.”

“Wizards: Beyond Waverly Place” follows an adult Justin, who has chosen a normal, mortal life with his family: Giada (Mimi Gianopulos), Roman (Alkaio Thiele), and Milo (Max Matenko). When Alex brings Billie (Janice LeAnn Brown) to Justin’s home seeking help, he agrees to mentor the wizard-in-training while juggling everyday responsibilities and safeguarding the future of the Wizard World.

Henrie is optimistic about the potential for more seasons. “It’s such a fertile universe. You could do so much,” he said.

Henrie is using his original wand in the spinoff. When the show ended in 2012, producers gave the wands framed in glass as wrap presents to the cast. “I was like, I am gonna break this sucker out again,” Henrie said.