'Wizards Of Waverly Place' Cast Then and Now: Selena Gomez and David Henrie to reunite for sequel's pilot
Here's what's up with the cast of 'Wizards of Waverly Place'
'Wizards of Waverly Place' fans were over the moon when Disney Channel announced a sequel of the much-loved sitcom, which premiered in October 2007 and ran for four seasons, encompassing 106 episodes. On Thursday, January 18, it was announced that former cast members Selena Gomez and David Henrie would feature in the reboot's pilot episode, reprising their roles as the brother-sister duo Alex Russo and Justin Russo, as per Deadline. Let's have a look at what the 'Wizards of Waverly Place' cast is up to as fans wait for the sequel to air.
Selena Gomez as Alex Russo
While Selena Gomez initially appeared as a child actor on 'Barney & Friends,' she had her breakthrough performance on 'Wizards of Waverly Place', where she portrayed the lead character, Alex Russo, a teenager with magic powers. Ever since the Disney series concluded, Gomez has continued to act in movies, such as 'Spring Breakers' (2012) and 'Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising' (2016), alongside finding success as a singer. She has also voiced Mavis Dracula in the animated 'Hotel Transylvania' film series. Later, she appeared on the highly regarded Hulu series 'Only Murders in the Building', for which she was nominated for an Emmy Award.
David Henrie as Justin Russo
In the popular Disney Channel series, David Henrie portrayed Justin Russo, the oldest sibling. Although 'Wizards of Waverly Place' is to date his most significant work, he did star as one of Ted Mosby's children on 'How I Met Your Mother.' Additionally, Henrie was a part of 'Walt Before Mickey' (2015) and 'Reagan' (2023). Moreover, he directed his first feature film, 'This Is the Year', in 2020. Since 2017, Henrie has been married to former Miss Delaware Maria Cahill and the couple shares three children, as per PEOPLE Magazine.
Jake T Austin as Max Russo
Max Russo, the youngest sibling, was mischievous, bewildered, and always good for a joke. Jake T Austin has since appeared in the drama series 'The Fosters' from 2013 to 2015. In addition, he has had success lending his voice to characters in movies like 'Rio' (2011), 'Rio 2' (2014), 'The Emoji Movie' (2017), and the TV series 'Justice League Action'.
Maria Canals-Barrera as Theresa Russo
Maria Canals-Barrera portrayed Theresa Russo, a woman who married a wizard and has to deal with three magical children. After the 'Wizards of Waverly Place', Canals-Barrera went on to play the lead in 'Cristela' and has starred in guest roles on shows such as 'Last Man Standing', 'The Big Bang Theory', and 'Fuller House.' She is married to actor David Barrera, and they share two children, Bridget and Madeleine.
David DeLuise as Jerry Russo
David DeLuise portrayed Jerry Russo, the father and magical training instructor of the three Russo siblings. He has landed several notable guest roles since the show ended, but is best known for his roles in 'Wizards of Waverly Place' and '3rd Rock from the Sun'. Having said that, DeLuise has starred in shows like 'The Mentalist', 'Grey's Anatomy', 'Hawaii Five-0', 'NCIS', 'Shameless', and 'This Is Us'. DeLuise and his former co-star, Jennifer Stone, launched the 'Wizards of Waverly Pod' podcast in 2023. The actor shares two children, Riley and Dylan, with his ex-wife, Brigitte.
Jennifer Stone as Harper Finkle
Jennifer Stone's character, Harper Finkle, was always willing to lend her support to her best friend, Alex. After 'Wizards of Waverly Place', she was seen in Nickelodeon's 'Deadtime Stories.' Moreover, Stone co-wrote and starred in the indie film, 'The In-Between', which was released in 2019. Taking a break from acting, she worked as a registered nurse during the COVID-19 pandemic in California.
