The Russos Reunite: Wizards of Waverly Place Cast Shares Mini-Reunion
Like magic, the Russo family has come back together again! On Friday, January 26th, Selena Gomez delighted fans by posting nostalgic photos with her Wizards of Waverly Place co-stars David Henrie, David DeLuise, and Maria Canals-Barrera on Instagram. The glamorous foursome, who played the eccentric wizarding Russo clan on the hit Disney Channel series from 2007 to 2012, posed with radiant smiles in the first cast reunion since the show’s end.
“The Russos ❤️coming back #wizardsofwaverlyplace @wizardspod,” Gomez captioned the photos, referencing the Wizards of Waverly Pod podcast hosted by DeLuise and Jennifer Stone. Canals-Barrera also posted more dazzling snaps on her own page, writing, “You guys are gonna LOVE the new Wizards show!” Naturally, the photos caused a major stir amongst Waverly Place fans, garnering over 2 million likes on Gomez’s post alone.
As it turns out, the nostalgic reunion aligns with an exciting announcement made earlier this month that a Wizards of Waverly Place sequel series has been greenlit by Disney. According to Deadline, Gomez will guest star in the pilot, which centers on Henrie reprising his role as the eldest Russo sibling, Justin. The concept revolves around Justin’s adult life with a wife and children of his own, showing how he has left magic behind…until events pull him back into the world of wizardry once more.
The sequel pilot has added fresh young talent to the mix alongside the original cast as well, including Janice LeAnn Brown, Alkaio Thiele, and Mimi Gianopulos. On Henrie’s Instagram, he shared another sweet photo with Gomez and the new child stars, writing, “The Russo’s have grown ;)”
During a 2023 appearance on the Wizards of Waverly Pod podcast, Gomez wistfully reflected on her days working on the original Disney series. “I can’t imagine it any other way,” she confessed. “I remember being nervous, but as long as David [DeLuise] was there, I was like, ‘Okay, I’m good.’ At the beginning, I was like, ‘Well, I just don’t want a new family.’ I felt like I bonded with everyone.”
Indeed, the Russos felt like a real family both on and off-screen. From the show’s premiere in 2007 all the way through the final episode in 2012, fans delighted in the escapades of the eccentric Russos, falling in love with each family member’s unique charms along the way.
With a sequel series in the works, it seems the magical world of Waverly Place has even more surprises up its wizard sleeves. As Canals-Barrera teased, fans are surely going to “LOVE the new Wizards show!” If the chemistry between the reunited cast is any indication, we have an enchanting new chapter ahead.
