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Watching Selena Gomez play Alex Russo in the year of 2024 feels so surreal — and it’s all thanks to Wizards Beyond Waverly Place. The Disney Channel spinoff debuted on Oct. 29, 2024, and has Selena and her Wizards of Waverly Place costar David Henrie reprising their Russo family characters, as well as serving as executive producers! Following the show’s first episode premiere, fans are wondering how much of Alex Russo we’ll be seeing in future episodes. Keep reading for everything we know:
How Many Episodes Is Selena Gomez in ‘Wizards Beyond Waverly Place’?
It appears Selena will only be appearing in the very first episode of the series, which is expected to have a total of 10 episodes.
When asked whether there were discussions to keep Selena around a little longer, David told The Wrap that there were “debates around absolutely everything.”
However, the biggest part for both actors was to honor the original series and welcome in the next generation of fans.
“There’s a whole new generation of kids that have no idea what Wizards of Waverly Place is,” he explained. “So for us, that was always kind of the most important objective. And then it really is more contingent on Selena’s schedule and when we could fit things in.”
“Everyone is very busy. So it’s like, how can we do what we really want to do, which is create these memorable experiences for a new generation of kid, but at the same time, respect the old?”
What Is ‘Wizards Beyond Waverly Place’ About?
The spinoff to the iconic Disney Channel show follows a grown-up Justin Russo and his family living an ordinary human life, until Alex brings along a troubled yet powerful witch named Billie, played by Janice LeAnn Brown — who’s honestly giving Alex Russo vibes.
“Selena and I sat around for so many years, just talking about what the characters would be doing with no expectation that we’re doing a sequel show or a reboot or anything like that,” David told J-14 Magazine exclusively, explaining that he and Selena stayed good friends since the Wizards of Waverly Place‘s final episode in 2012.
“Then, she became good friends with my wife, and so the three of us would be sitting around talking about it, having a glass of wine,” he recalled. “And then eventually it got to the point where we were like, ‘You know what? We should just go sit and have the same conversation in front of Disney, ’cause I think we got something,'” he said, adding with a laugh: “Obviously no wine, but we should sit in front of them and have this conversation and pitched them a show.”
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