David Henrie is teasing his reunion with Selena Gomez in the Wizards of Waverly Place revival series.
The actor spoke with Us Weekly about the upcoming sequel series on Disney+, which follows his character, Justin Russo, as he attempts to live a mortal life with his family. When Alex Russo (Gomez) brings a young, powerful wizard named Billie (Janice LeAnn Brown) to Justin’s home for help, he must mentor the wizard-in-training.
“It was awesome. We didn’t want it to end. It was great,” Henrie told the publication of filming with Gomez again more than 10 years after the original series ended. “She’s so good. She has such a quick wit that’s only gotten stronger.”
The Wizards of Waverly Place ran on Disney Channel from 2007 to 2012 and launched the careers of Gomez, Henrie and Jake T. Austin, who portrayed their onscreen younger brother, Max.
Despite having spent so many years apart, Henrie noted that when he and Gomez filmed together again, it felt like they “didn’t miss a day.” He added, “We have a couple scenes that I think will choke up the original fan of the original show, and they’re really touching, and they went really well. So, I’m excited for you to see it.”
Austin may not be returning for the sequel series thus far, but Maria Canals-Barrera and David DeLuise, who portray Russo parents Theresa and Jerry, will be back on Waverly Place.
“It was a joy,” the How I Met Your Mother actor told Us Weekly of filming with his TV dad again. “And we hope to have everyone back throughout the lifetime of the show, and if it’s up to me, as often as possible ‘cause they’re just such a wonderful addition.”
Besides Henrie, the original cast will only be appearing in guest roles, but the new actors in the series are “really, really talented,” he said. “My goal is [to] recreate the heart of the original show so anyone can watch it and go, ‘This is Wizards. This feels like the themes, the values, the world, the comedy.’”
One new theme the revival series will explore is what Justin’s life is like without his powers and how that happened because, at the end of the original run, he still had them, despite Alex becoming the family wizard. He’s working at a school, which he loves, and is married with two kids.
“Giving up his powers may or may not have been against his will,” the actor said. “So, you’re gonna have to see the pilot when it comes out, the first episode and the first few, ‘cause there’s some stuff that’s teased out.”
Other series regulars include Max Matenko (Platonic), who plays Justin’s youngest son, Milo; Alkaio Thiele (Marvel’s Spidey and his Amazing Friends) as his oldest son, Roman; and Mimi Gianopulos (Rutherford Falls) as his wife, Giada.
Jed Elinoff and Scott Thomas (Raven’s Home) penned the pilot and serve as exec producers alongside Gomez, Henrie and Gary Marsh (Descendants: The Rise of Red). Andy Fickman (Race to Witch Mountain) directed and executive produced the pilot and will direct multiple episodes of the series. It began production in April and will premiere this year on Disney Channel and Disney+.
