Fans of the hit Disney Channel show 'Wizards of Waverly Place' are in for a treat, as Selena Gomez and David Henrie are reuniting for a sequel pilot that will continue the adventures of the Russo family.
The pilot, which has been ordered by Disney Branded Television, will feature Gomez and Henrie reprising their roles as Alex and Justin Russo, the magical siblings who competed for the title of the family wizard. Gomez will guest star in the pilot, while Henrie will be a series regular. They will also serve as executive producers, along with Jed Elinoff and Scott Thomas, Gary Marsh and Andy Fickman.
The sequel will pick up after a mysterious incident at WizTech, where Justin has left his wizard powers behind, opting for a normal, human life with his wife and two sons. But he gets a surprise when a powerful young wizard in need of training shows up at his door, and Justin must embrace his past to ensure the future of the Wizard World.
The young wizard, named Billie, will be played by Janice LeAnn Brown, who previously appeared in Disney's 'Just Roll with It'. Alkaio Thiele, from 'Call Me Kat', will play Roman Russo, Justin's oldest son. Mimi Gianopulos, from 'American Princess', will play Justin's wife, Giada.
The original series, which ran from 2007 to 2012, followed the Russo family, who owned a sandwich shop in New York City. The three children, Alex, Justin and Max, were secretly wizards in training, who had to balance their ordinary lives with their magical abilities. The show was a huge success, winning two Emmy Awards and launching the careers of Gomez and Henrie.
The sequel pilot, which is expected to start production in February, will also feature some familiar faces from the original cast, such as Maria Canals-Barrera as Theresa Russo, David DeLuise as Jerry Russo, Jennifer Stone as Harper Finkle, and Gregg Sulkin as Mason Greyback. The pilot will also introduce some new characters, such as Billie's parents, played by Ana Ortiz and Oscar Nuñez, and Roman's best friend, played by Nathan Arenas.
Gomez and Henrie, who are also close friends in real life, have been teasing the possibility of a 'Wizards of Waverly Place' reunion for a while. In August 2020, they posted a video on Instagram, where they joked about what their characters would be doing in 2020. They also hinted at a "big, big, big idea" that they were working on together.
Now, fans can finally see their favorite wizards back on screen, as they embark on a new adventure that will test their family bonds, their magical skills, and their sense of humor. The pilot is slated to premiere on Disney Channel later this year.
