Calling all Gen Z! Wizards of Waverly Place is returning to Disney Channel! According to The Hollywood Reporter, new revival of the classic 2007 comedy series has been ordered. Initially reported by Deadline, the new series is set to be a more modern take on the original show.
David Henrie (How I Met Your Mother, Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2) and Selena Gomez (Barney & Friends, Only Murders in the Building), who played siblings Justin and Alex Russo, respectively, are tied to this project and will serve as executive producers. Henrie will be a series regular, while Gomez is set to be a guest star on the pilot.
As per The Hollywood Reporter, the series will follow Henrie as he reprises his role as a (now grown-up) Justin, who leaves his wizarding ways behind in exchange for a more normal life without magic for himself and his family. The plot thickens as a young wizard named Billie, whom Janice LeAnn Brown (Euphoria, Endings, Beginnings) will portray, tracks him down and asks him to help aid in training her to save the wizard world’s future. Gomez will also be reprising her role of Alex in the pilot episode.
Other cast members tied to the project are Alkaio Thiele (Call Me Kat, Spidey and His Amazing Friends) and Mimi Gianopulos (What to Expect When You’re Expecting, Baby Daddy), who is set to portray Justin’s son and wife.
The Hollywood Reporter notes that Scott Thomas (R.L. Stine’s the Haunting Hour, Raven’s Home) and Jed Elinoff (Day of the Dead, Malibu Rescue) are set to write the pilot and will be on board as co-executive producers on the revival alongside Henrie, Gomez, Andy Fickman (Anaconda, Race to Witch Mountain) and Gary Marsh (E! Special: Selena Gomez), a former Disney Branded Television head.
Wizards of Waverly Place played a significant role in jumpstarting Gomez’s career and was an incredibly successful series. It was one of the original Disney Channel sitcom classics of the early 2000s, alongside Lizzie McGuire, Hannah Montana and That’s So Raven. As per The Hollywood Reporter, the network’s production of live-action comedy has gone down recently, especially with the comedy series Bunk’d coming to an end this year. The last few live-action sitcoms for the network will now include The Villains of Valley View, Pretty Freekin’ Scary and Raven’s Home.