Selena Gomez and David Henry
Disney Channel/YouTubeSelena Gomez fingers crossed that the upcoming Wizards of Waverly Place The spinoff will be more than just a one-season wonder.
The 32-year-old actress recently spoke with diversity on Thursday, August 22, about her return to the popular role of Alex Russo and shared her excitement about the project.
“It felt like I was back home,” Gomez said, reflecting on the experience of returning to the world that made her a well-known figure. She added, “I’m so happy I was able to pass on this gift of my childhood to a new generation.”
Wizards of Waverly Place followed Gomez’ Alex Russo, a teenage magician in New York City, and her brothers Justin (David Henrie) and Max (Jake T. Austin) as they prepared for a future showdown in which only one will claim the powers of his family. The show ran for four seasons from 2007 to 2012. For the spinoff, called Wizards: Beyond Waverly PlaceGomez will reprise her role as Alex and she leaves the door open for a possible multi-season run.
Selena Gomez had her breakthrough role with the role of teenage magician Alex Russo in Wizards of Waverly Place on the Disney Channel. The series, which ran for four seasons from 2007 to 2012, followed Alex and her brothers Justin and Max, played by David Henrie and Jake T. Austin, as they learned the secrets of magic (…)
“We don’t know, but we’ll see if people like it,” Gomez said.
Henrie, 35, who returns as Alex’s older brother Justin, also told diversity about the spin-off and reveals how it came about.
“Selena, my wife (Mary Cahill), and I spent years talking over a glass of wine about where our characters would be now,” Henrie recalls. “One day we realized, ‘We have a show here. Let’s talk to Disney.’ It took years of development, but we finally got it to the right point.”
Gomez officially announced the spin-off during Disney’s 2024 upfront presentation in May and revealed the title: Wizards: Beyond Waverly PlaceThe new series is about the adult Justin, who chooses a normal, mortal life with his family – his wife Giada (Mimi Gianopulos) and her children Roman (Alkaio Thiele) and Milo (Max Matenko). But when Alex arrives with a young sorceress in training named Billie (Janice LeAnn Brown), Justin finds himself in the magical mix again and manages to balance his duties as a mentor with his everyday life.
While Gomez is excited to see how fans receive the new show (a small snippet was released earlier this month), she can at least rest easy knowing that her co-star approves of her boyfriend. Benny Blanco.
Selena Gomez and producer Benny Blanco officially announced their relationship via Instagram in December 2023. “He is my absolute everything in my heart,” the “Wolves” singer wrote in an Instagram comment at the time. “He is the best thing that has ever happened to me.” References to the couple’s relationship were posted on Selena’s website (…)
In an interview with E! News On August 22, Henrie gushed about the 36-year-old music producer, calling him a “super cool guy.” The actor also recounted their first meeting, where Blanco impressed him with his takeout food choices.
“He orders great Italian food,” Henrie said, laughing, as he recounted that Blanco had introduced him to polenta bolognese, which Blanco jokingly called “baby food for adults.”
Gomez and Blanco sparked dating rumors in July 2023. The pop star confirmed their relationship in December 2023 with a simple “Facts” comment on Instagram.
