Wizards Beyond Waverly Place premiered at the iconic El Capitan Theatre, and it was like stepping back in time. All our favorite Disney stars were there to celebrate the launch of the new series, which debuts tonight on Disney Channel, with the first nine episodes dropping on Disney+ this Wednesday.
Table Of Content
I genuinely enjoyed the two episodes screened that were screene. And since it’s executive-produced by Gomez and Henry, it’s to be expected. Seeing the original cast come back as adults feels like a warm hug from my childhood. It’s as if we’ve all grown up together, and that continuity makes the show feel so genuine. Rather than being just a remake, we actually get to see what happened to our favorite characters—we’re essentially growing up alongside them.
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Selena even makes a guest appearance, and in one emotional scene, she returns to Waverly Place and says, “I missed this place.” That line really hit home; you can feel in her voice that she missed it, and so did we. Get ready for some tears!
2000’s Wizards Nostalgia
We had over 100 episodes with the original series, so there’s a lot to live up to. But even in the first episode, there are countless moments that transport you right back, even though the characters now call Staten Island home. Watching Selena and David together again brings back that same charm and fun I loved so much.
What I really appreciate is how well the show captures the classic vibe we grew up with—from the audience’s laughter following those cheesy jokes to the lightheartedness of each scene, and even the set design, with familiar fall colors and pieces from the original. This is exactly how you bring a show back. Sure, some jokes might be cheesy, but they had me laughing out loud, and that’s the magic of it all. It’s fantastic that we can enjoy this revival together, whether with our kids or with friends who remember the original. It’s also the perfect way to share that joy with a new generation.
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New Cast Reaction
While we have Justin back and Alex making a special appearance, we have to talk about Janice LeAnn Brown as Billie—she truly shines. Her character brings such vibrant energy to the screen, and she’s the perfect wizard to guide us through this new chapter. She captures that same sense of wonder we felt back in the day, and it feels like she belongs in this magical world.
The addition of Alkaio Thiele as Roman Russo, Max Matenko as Milo Russo, and Mimi Gianopulos as Giada Russo makes the Russo family feel complete again. These fresh faces share such a striking resemblance to the original cast, and the chemistry between them is so natural that it’s as if they were always part of this world. Seeing them all together, you really feel like the Russos never left—they’re just diving into a new adventure, and it’s so heartwarming.
And let’s not forget Taylor Cora as Winter—she’s that friend everyone wishes they had! Her character brings such an inviting, down-to-earth vibe that you can’t help but feel like you’d want to hang out with her in real life.
The show will be loved, I can’t lie though I do miss teh days when we had mor episodes!
