Wizards Beyond Waverly Place

Premise

Fifteen years after the events of Wizards of Waverly Place, Justin Russo is living a normal life with his wife and two sons in Staten Island. His sister Alex asks for his help with Billie, a young wizard-in-training. Justin revives his magical skills to mentor Billie while balancing living a normal life and safeguarding the future of the Wizard World.

In the second season, with Roman and Milo having also become wizards, Justin is tasked with training all three children in preparation for the upcoming family wizard competition.

Cast and characters

Main

• Janice LeAnn Brown as Billie, a young wizard sent by Alex to live with Justin so that he can train her. In the second-season finale, Billie is revealed to be Alex's daughter. Alex and Billie's father, Damian, previously hid Billie at WizTech and erased all memory of her existence to protect her from her paternal grandfather, who was hunting her for her powers. The memories are later restored through a magical locket kept by Alex.
• Alkaio Thiele as Roman Russo, Justin's older son, Milo's older brother, and Billie's cousin. His full name, Roman Laritate Russo, is revealed in the episode "Howdy with a Trance of Gumballs".
• Max Matenko as Milo Russo, Justin's younger son, Roman's younger brother, and Billie's cousin.
• Taylor Cora as Winter, Billie and Roman's best friend.
• Mimi Gianopulos as Giada Russo, Justin's mortal wife, Roman and Milo's mother, and Billie's aunt. She is an investigative reporter for WOWP News.
• David Henrie as Justin Russo, Giada's husband, the principal of Greenwald Middle School, Roman and Milo's father, and Billie's uncle, who trains her in magic.

Recurring

• Selena Gomez as Alex Russo, Justin's younger sister, Roman and Milo's aunt, the Russo Family Wizard, and a member of the Wizard Tribunal. In the second-season finale, Alex is revealed to be Billie's mother. She later sacrifices herself by jumping into a portal with her father-in-law, Lord Morsus, which can only be sealed from the other side.
• Kirsten Vangsness as Minister Bigelow McFigglehorn, a member of the Wizard Tribunal who later falls under the control of Lord Morsus. She is returned to normal after the Amulet of Evilini is destroyed.
• Patrick Bristow as Wizardpedia / Wiz M.D., magical holographic sources of wizarding knowledge accessed through an enchanted book in the Russo family wizard lair.
• Eleanor Sweeney as Bella Bianchi (season 1; guest season 2), Justin's neighbor who feuds with Milo.
• Tobias Jelinek as Lord Morsus / Nicodemus Pennwolf (season 2), a masked wizard who seeks Billie's powers and brainwashes McFigglehorn. He is later revealed to be Billie's paternal grandfather in the season finale.
• Recker Eans as Quentin (season 2), an orc disguised as a human and sent by Lord Morsus to retrieve Billie. He is inadvertently sent to the Nowhere Zone by Roman in the season finale.

Notable guest stars

• Maria Canals-Barrera as Theresa Russo (season 1), Justin and Alex's mother, and Billie, Roman, and Milo's grandmother.
• David DeLuise as Jerry Russo (season 1), Justin and Alex's father, and Billie, Roman, and Milo's grandfather, who volunteers at the Spellp Line.
• Sarrie Thompson as Iggy (season 1), a pixie and Roman's former love interest.
• Oscar Montoya as Marcus (season 1), Justin's assistant at Greenwald Middle School.
• Freya Skye as Piper (season 2), an oracle who receives visions and sketches the future.
• Bill Chott as Mr. Laritate (season 2), the retired principal of Tribeca Prep.
• Sean Whalen as Mantooth (season 2), a ghost who haunted Justin during his teenage years.
• Amanda Tepe as Monotone Woman (season 2), a former New York City worker now employed as a mall security guard.
• Harvey Guillén as Gossip Stone (season 2), a living bust knowledgeable about Billie's parentage.

Episodes

Series overview

Season 1 (2024–25)

Special guest star: Selena Gomez as Alex Russo

Guest star: Dee Bradley Baker as Floogie

Absent: Taylor Cora as Winter

Guest stars: Patrick Bristow as Wizardpedia, Dee Bradley Baker as Phantomus

Absent: Taylor Cora as Winter

Guest stars: Oscar Montoya as Marcus, Dee Bradley Baker as Phantomus, John DiMaggio as Frog

Guest stars: Darien Sills-Evans as Superintendent Kowalski

Guest star: Patrick Bristow as Wizardpedia

Special guest star: David DeLuise as Jerry Russo

Absent: Taylor Cora as Winter

Guest stars: Kirsten Vangsness as Bigelow McFigglehorn, JJ Nolan as Morphia Murkshadow, Eleanor Sweeney as Bella Bianchi, Kristin Hensley as Anita Bianchi

Absent: Taylor Cora as Winter

Guest stars: Mykal-Michelle Harris as Nerissa, Eleanor Sweeney as Bella Bianchi, Sarrie Thompson as Iggy, John DiMaggio as Gnome

Guest stars: Oscar Montoya as Marcus, Amir Talai as Alistair Goodspeed

Absent: Max Matenko as Milo Russo

Guest stars: Adam Chambers as Nigel Dragonberry, Sarrie Thompson as Iggy, Yuvi Hecht as Xander Dragonberry, Britt Chandler Johnson as Emcee, Austin Brady as The Hand

Guest star: Eleanor Sweeney as Bella Bianchi

Guest stars: John DiMaggio as Technician, Ivy Perkins as Automated Voice

Guest star: Miguel Pinzon as Martim

Guest stars: Camila Rodriguez as Eva Morales, Kingslei Michelle Love as Lucy, Rory Keane as Centaur

Guest stars: Caroline Valencia as Sage, Jaeden White as Parker

Guest stars: Deron J. Powell as Cyclops, John DiMaggio as Boltron

Guest stars: Kirsten Vangsness as Bigelow McFigglehorn, Deron J. Powell as Cyclops, Matthew Willig as Archive Guard, John DiMaggio as Gnome, Rory Keane as Centaur

Absent: Taylor Cora as Winter

Special guest stars: Maria Canals-Barrera as Theresa Russo, David DeLuise as Jerry Russo

Guest stars: Kirsten Vangsness as Bigelow McFigglehorn, Eleanor Sweeney as Bella Bianchi, Ian Gary as Wishing Squonk

Special guest star: Selena Gomez as Alex Russo

Guest stars: Kirsten Vangsness as Bigelow McFigglehorn, Ramon Reed as Silas Evilini

Season 2 (2025)

Guest stars: Kirsten Vangsness as Bigelow McFigglehorn, Tobias Jelinek as Lord Morsus

Guest stars: Freya Skye as Piper, Patrick Bristow as Wiz M.D.

Guest stars: Freya Skye as Piper, Bill Chott as Mr. Laritate, Isaac Bae as Frank

Guest stars: Audrianna Lico as Karina Kowalski, Patrick Cox as Thorn Blazeheart

Guest star: Sean Whalen as Mantooth

Guest stars: Kirsten Vangsness as Bigelow McFigglehorn, Recker Eans as Quentin

Absent: Taylor Cora as Winter

Guest stars: Amanda Tepe as Mall Security Guard

Guest stars: Recker Eans as Quentin, Eleanor Sweeney as Bella Bianchi, Audrianna Lico as Karina Kowalski, Tobias Jelinek as Lord Morsus

Special guest star: Selena Gomez as Alex Russo

Guest stars: Kirsten Vangsness as Bigalow McFigglehorn, Recker Eans as Quentin, Tobias Jelinek as Lord Morsus, Britt Chandler Johnson as Messenger Fish

The curse on The Gossip Stone lifts and he reveals Nicodemus Pennwolf is Billie's grandfather, his son Damian Pennwolf used to be evil but then he met Alex and they fell in love and he betrayed his father and they had Billie he then exclaims "It was so romantic".

Special guest star: Selena Gomez as Alex Russo

Guest star: Harvey Guillén as Gossip Stone, Kirsten Vangsness as Bigalow McFigglehorn, Recker Eans as Quentin, Tobias Jelinek as Lord Morsus

Absent: Taylor Cora as Winter

Production

Development

On January 18, 2024, it was announced that Disney had ordered a pilot for a sequel television series of Wizards of Waverly Place. Jed Elinoff and Scott Thomas, who developed Raven's Home, the sequel to That's So Raven, wrote the pilot episode. It was directed by Andy Fickman. Elinoff, Thomas, and Fickman executive produce the series alongside stars Selena Gomez and David Henrie, as well as Gary Marsh, a former television executive, and Jonas Agin. The pilot was filmed on February 1, 2024, with Gomez guest starring and reprising her role as Alex Russo. In the series, Henrie's character is set to have given up his wizard powers to live like a normal human. On March 22, 2024, it was announced that Disney Channel had ordered the pilot to series. Production began in Los Angeles in April 2024. Wizards was used as the working title during early filming until its official title, Wizards Beyond Waverly Place, was announced in May 2024. Raven-Symoné and Danielle Fishel directed episodes. Andy Fickman also directed additional episodes outside of the pilot. The first season consists of 21 episodes.

On March 31, 2025, the series was renewed for a second season.

Casting

David Henrie reprises his role as Justin Russo, while Selena Gomez guest-stars as Alex Russo. Mimi Gianopulos was cast to portray Giada, Justin's wife, and Alkaio Thiele plays their older son Roman. Additionally, Janice LeAnn Brown stars as Billie, a young wizard seeking Justin's assistance in wizard training. At the time it was ordered to series, it was reported that Max Matenko was cast as Milo, Justin's younger son. Taylor Cora also appears as Winter, Billie and Roman's best friend. It was later announced that David DeLuise would reprise his role as Justin and Alex's father Jerry.

Release

The trailer for Wizards Beyond Waverly Place amassed 69 million viewers in 10 days across all social media platforms. It became Disney Channel's most-watched trailer for a comedy series of all time. The series premiered on October 29, 2024, on Disney Channel. The first nine episodes became available to stream on Disney+ the following day, with episodes 3–9 being released prior to their televised premieres. Episodes 10–21 were released on Disney+ on February 28, 2025, with episode 21 being released prior to its televised premiere. The second season premiered on September 12, 2025 on Disney Channel, with two episodes. All episodes of the second season were released on Disney+ in the U.S. and select international markets on October 8, with episodes 7–10 being released prior to their televised premieres.

Reception

Critical response

The review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes reported a 89% approval rating with an average rating of 7.7/10, based on 9 critic reviews. Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned a score of 78 out of 100 based on 4 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews".

Aramide Tinubu of Variety said Wizards Beyond Waverly Place successfully blends nostalgia with fresh content. She praised the performances of both returning cast members like David Henrie and Selena Gomez, and newcomers such as Janice LeAnn Brown, Alkaio Thiele, and Max Matenko. Tinubu found the enhanced special effects and comedic timing of the child actors particularly impressive. She stated that the series retains the charm of the original, with its focus on family and magic, while introducing new adventures. She appreciated the show's lively and fun atmosphere, saying it appeals to both longtime fans and newcomers. Joel Keller of Decider noted that Wizards Beyond Waverly Place captures the silliness and family vibe of the original show, but observed a difference in Selena Gomez's performance. He praised her more subtle comedic timing, saying it may be influenced by her work on Only Murders in the Building, contrasting with the more exaggerated sitcom-like acting from the rest of the cast. Keller appreciated her nuanced portrayal of Alex Russo, balancing the childlike antics around her. He also highlighted the show's focus on Billie's integration into the mortal world and the return of original cast members, expecting the series to appeal to both nostalgic fans and new younger audiences.

Abigail Stevens of Screen Rant found Wizards Beyond Waverly Place to be a funny and heartwarming sequel that successfully captures the essence of its predecessor. She praised David Henrie and Selena Gomez for reprising their roles, noting their strong dynamic, while complimenting the performances of the new cast members. Stevens appreciated how the show mirrors the original family structure without feeling like a direct copy, maintaining unique characterizations. She stated that the series introduces darker emotional storylines, hinting at deeper themes of family and self-worth. Ashley Moulton of Common Sense Media rated Wizards Beyond Waverly Place four out of five stars. She complimented the show's comedic tone and found the moderate scariness of the wizards' encounters with monsters to be lighthearted and not overly alarming. Moulton appreciated the positive messages about perseverance and self-belief, while noting that the main character Billie is a complex role model, showing both rebelliousness and personal growth. She also found Justin Russo to be a good role model, while the relationship between brothers Milo and Roman was seen as affectionate despite typical sibling rivalry.

Ratings

Wizards Beyond Waverly Place debuted with 3.2 million views globally in its first 12 days on Disney+, making it the most-watched series premiere on the platform for Disney Channel. The show ranked as the top streaming series in the U.S. among Kids 6—11, Girls 6—11, Teens, and Adults 18—24 during its first five days. The release of the full first episode on YouTube attracted 1.1 million views, marking the channel's best performance for a new full episode since 2017. Social media activity generated over 125 million impressions and 13 million engagements on platforms including Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook.

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Accolades

In other media

On August 12, 2025, it was announced that Janice LeAnn Brown would reprise her role as Billie in the Disney Channel series Vampirina: Teenage Vampire in a crossover episode titled "First Heartbeat," which premiered on October 24, 2025.

Notes

References

References

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