Disney Orders Wizards of Waverly Place Sequel: Selena Gomez's Return and What to Expect

The Return of Wizards of Waverly Place

The era of spinoffs, revivals, and reboots continues with the Wizards of Waverly Place sequel television show, and many are curious about Selena Gomez's involvement in the project. Gomez previously appeared as Alex Russo in the Disney Channel fantasy teen comedy, which helped launch the star's career. Wizards of Waverly Place was one of Disney's most popular series, having lasted for four seasons and 106 episodes, making it one of the network's longest-running live-action shows. Additionally, its last episode is the most-watched series finale of any Disney Channel show, so it's easy to understand why it's getting a reboot.

Selena Gomez in the Disney show Wizards of Waverly Place

Disney announced on January 18, 2024, that it had ordered a pilot for a Wizards of Waverly Place sequel. A follow-up to the fantasy teen comedy was only a matter of time, given the original show's success and Disney's trend of rebooting works from the 2000s and 2010s. Jed Elinoff and Scott Thomas, the creative minds behind the That's So Raven spinoff series, Raven's Home, will write and executive produce the Wizards sequel's pilot, and, thankfully for fans, the episode will feature a couple of familiar faces.

The Wizards of Waverly Place

Selena Gomez Is Returning As Alex Russo For The Wizards Of Waverly Place Sequel's Pilot. Deadline reports that Selena Gomez is set to reprise her role as Alex Russo in the pilot of the upcoming sequel show. Gomez will also join the project as an executive producer, so the star is seemingly heavily involved in developing the reboot. Only one other Wizards of Waverly Place cast member is confirmed to appear in the episode — David Henrie. The actor played Justin Russo, Alex's older brother, in the original Disney Channel show. Henrie will return as Justin in a series regular role in the sequel (while working alongside Gomez as an executive producer).

During the Wizards of Waverly Place finale, the three Russo siblings — Alex, Justin, and Max — competed in the family wizard competition. Since the beginning, the big question that loomed over the show was which of the three characters would get to retain their powers and claim the status of the Family Wizard. Ultimately, Alex won the competition (on a technicality), and Justin was declared the new Headmaster of Wiz-Tech, meaning he could keep his powers.

The Role of Selena Gomez in the Sequel

How Much Else Will Alex Russo Be In Wizards Of Waverly Place's Sequel? While David Henrie will have a series regular role in the reboot, Selena Gomez is confirmed to only appear in the pilot. Gomez's character, Alex, is described as a guest star, so she might return a few other times (if Disney greenlights the show and it's successful). However, the Wizards of Waverly Place sequel seems to be focused on Justin and his family — other cast members include Janice LeAnn Brown, Alkaio Thiele, and Mimi Gianopulos.

Streaming Availability

All four seasons of Wizards of Waverly Place and Wizards of Waverly Place: The Movie are available to stream on Disney+.