David Henrie and Selena Gomez had one key goal when working on the reboot of Wizards Beyond Waverly Place: to recreate the close-knit, family-like bond that defined the original Wizards of Waverly Place series.
As Henrie gave PEOPLE a tour of the reboot set, he reflected on the deep connections formed with his original co-stars during the show’s 2007–2012 run. When he and Gomez first pitched the reboot several years ago, their main priority was to foster that same sense of community among the new cast.
“Our cast is so wonderful,” Henrie said of the fresh faces joining Wizards Beyond Waverly Place. “It feels like a season three show, where everyone’s comfortable. There’s a loving atmosphere, and that’s what made the original special—we were a family on and off camera.”
Henrie explained that he and Gomez made it their mission from “day one” to ensure the reboot’s set felt like a family space. “There’s an atmosphere of love, encouragement, and we did that. I think you’re going to feel that on screen.”
The new series picks up after a mysterious incident at WizTech, where an adult Justin Russo, played by Henrie, has left his wizard powers behind to live a normal life with his wife and two sons. His quiet life is upended when a powerful young wizard in need of training arrives, forcing Justin to reconnect with his magical past to protect the Wizard World.
The reboot will introduce new stars, including Janice LeAnn Brown as the young wizard Billie, Alkaio Thiele as Justin’s eldest son Roman, Max Matenko as his youngest son Milo, and Mimi Gianopulos as his wife, Giada.
Thiele praised Henrie for making the new cast members feel at home from the start. “He made it clear that we belong here,” Thiele said. “Even if you make a mistake, we’re all family. And in a family, that’s okay—you can just try again.”
Wizards Beyond Waverly Place premieres Tuesday, Oct. 29 at 8 p.m. ET on Disney Channel.
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