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In 2007, Disney launched the career of future superstar Selena Gomez with the premiere of the Disney Channel Show, Wizards of Waverly Place. The show starred Gomez as Alex Russo, a young girl who seems like a normal teenager, but is secretly a wizard. Alex is competing against her two brothers — Justin and Max — to become the sole wizard in her family. Wizards of Waverly Place was an absolute hit, running for four seasons and having the most-watched series finale in Disney Channel history.
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Related: Selena Gomez’s Character on Wizards of Waverly Place Was Bisexual, Says Writer
It has been more than ten years since fans last saw the Russo family, but that will soon change! According to reports, Disney has greentlit a Wizards of Waverly Place sequel series!
At the beginning of the year, Disney ordered a pilot episode for a potential sequel series to be shot. The sequel series is set to be called Wizards, and, after seeing the pilot, Disney has approved a series order.
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Wizards production will begin next month in L.A. and feature Selena Gomez and David Henrie reprising their roles as Alex and Justin Russo. Both will exec produce the series. Henrie will lead the cast of series regulars alongside Max Matenko (Platonic), who plays Justin’s youngest son, Milo. He joins the previously announced cast that also includes Janice LeAnn Brown (Bunk’d) in the lead role as a young, powerful wizard Billie; Alkaio Thiele (Marvel’s Spidey and his Amazing Friends) as Justin’s oldest son, Roman; and Mimi Gianopulos (Rutherford Falls) as Justin’s wife, Giada. Gomez will guest star in the premiere.
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When Wizards of Waverly Place ended in 2012, fans saw Alex (Gomez) win the wizarding competition and retain full wizard powers. However, instead of losing his powers, her older brother, Justin (Henrie), is allowed to keep them because he becomes the headmaster of WizTech, a boarding school for wizards in training.
After the series was announced, the President of Disney Branded Television, Ayo Davis, released a statement:
“Wizards of Waverly Place captivated hearts with its spellbinding adventures and big laughs, creating unforgettable memories for kids and families everywhere. We can’t wait to step back into the magical world of Wizards, inviting both longtime fans and a new generation to experience the enchantment alongside Selena, David and our incredible cast and crew.”
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According to Disney, the series will show Justin deciding that he wants to give up his powers and live his life as a mortal with his family. But his plans are thrown out the window when Alex introduces him to Billie, a powerful young wizard who needs his help. Justin must then put his mortal plans on pause while he helps mentor Billie.
We do not know how large his role will be, but Jake T. Austin, who played youngest brother, Max Russo, in the series, has confirmed that he will be back for the new show.
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Wizards is set to premiere later this year on both The Disney Channel and Disney+. The series is expected to be another hit for the streaming platform, which has seen huge success with two other new series — Goosebumps and Percy Jackson and the Olympians. Both of those series have already been given the go-ahead for a second season.
Are you excited to see Wizards of Waverly Place coming back to Disney? Let us know in the comments!
