Something magical is coming to Disney Channel and Disney+. Earlier this year, Disney officially confirmed the title of the upcoming Wizards of Waverly Place sequel with an announcement from Selena Gomez herself. The new series, entitled Wizards Beyond Waverly Place, will guest star Gomez, who is also serving as an executive producer on the project along with her OG costar David Henrie. And now we know when we’ll be able to revel in our WWP nostalgia — on Aug. 29, Disney announced the official premiere date for the highly-anticipated series.
“Wizards of Waverly Place captivated hearts with its spellbinding adventures and big laughs, creating unforgettable memories for kids and families everywhere,” Ayo Davis, the president of Disney Branded Television, previously said in a press release. “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.”
Now, let’s wave our magic wands and conjure up all the details we know about Wizards Beyond Waverly Place so far.
When will Wizards Beyond Waverly Place premiere?
Although we knew the series would drop sometime this year, it feels so much closer than we could have hoped for. Wizards Beyond Waverly Place will premiere with two episodes (!!) on Tuesday, Oct. 29, at 8:00 p.m. ET on Disney Channel. The first eight episodes will be available on Disney+ and Disney Channel On Demand the next day, Wednesday, Oct. 30.
For those who don’t have Disney+, you can catch two new episodes — including a Halloween-themed episode — on Disney Channel on Wednesday, Oct. 30. Then, beginning Nov. 8, Disney Channel episode premieres move to Fridays at 8:00 p.m. ET, with two episodes weekly.
So, you’ve still got a bit of time to watch the original series (plus the movie and the 2013 special) with your little witches and wizards before you return to Waverly Place.
What’s the Wizards of Waverly Place sequel about?
It seems Alex (Gomez) is still vexing her big brother, Justin Russo (David Henrie), after all these years. According to the official series description, Justin has given up magic in favor of leading a “normal” life with his wife Giada (Mimi Gianopulos) and their sons Roman (Alkaio Thiele) and Milo (Max Matenko). At least that’s his plan until Alex shows up on his doorstep with a young witch named Billie (Janice LeAnn Brown), who is in need of mentoring.
The arrival of Billie turns Justin’s family‘s life upside down as he has to reacquaint himself with his magic while also “safeguarding the future of the Wizard World.
Are all of the Russos coming back?
A big part of the charm of the OG series, which ran for four seasons from 2007 to 2012, was the sibling dynamic between Alex, Justin, and their little brother Max (Jake T. Austin). The sequel will certainly have an element of that with Gomez and Henrie reprising their roles — even though Gomez will only be around in a guest star capacity (she’s a little busy solving crimes with Steve Martin and Martin Short to be in every episode).
So far, none of the other original characters have been confirmed to be returning. Still, it’s possible that Austin and other actors, like David DeLuise and Maria Canals-Barrera, who played the trio’s parents, could pop up at some point.
For now, the focus appears to be on the next generation of characters, including Billie, Roman, Milo, and Billie’s best friend Winter (played by newcomer Taylor Cora). Think of it as the Girl Meets World treatment.
And speaking of nostalgic Disney favorites, Danielle Fishel (of aforementioned Girl Meets World fame) and fellow alum Raven-Symoné (Raven’s Home) are set to direct episodes during the season. So, just a few more reasons to wish October would hurry up and get here!
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