First trailer for "Wizards Beyond Waverly Place" released

In 2007, Disney Channel debuted the fantasy teen sitcom series, Wizards of Waverly Place, where the world was introduced to the Russos, a family of wizards. As Apple TV explains in the official synopsis of the original series, "Alex Russo and her brothers Justin and Max come from a long line of wizards and now must master their newly learned powers or lose them forever."

 The show was a massive success, winning the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Children’s Program in 2010 and garnering positive ratings and reviews. 

It also introduced the world to actress and singer, Selena Gomez. The original series ended in early 2012 but the world of wizards returns to Disney Channel with a new spin-off and sequel called Wizards Beyond Waverly Place. 

The new series, as the official synopsis says, “follows an adult Justin Russo, who has chosen to lead a normal, mortal life with his family, Giada, Roman and Milo. When Justin’s sister Alex brings Billie to his home seeking help, Justin realizes he must dust off his magical skills to mentor the wizard-in-training while also juggling his everyday responsibilities — and safeguarding the future of the Wizard World.”

David Hernie reprises his role from the original series, once again playing Justin Russo, only now as an adult. Selena Gomez will return as well as a guest star in the first episode, once again playing Alex Russo. 

As Variety lists, the cast includes, “Janice LeAnn Brown (as Billie), Alkaio Thiele (as Roman Russo), Max Matenko (as Milo Russo), Taylor Cora (as Winter) and Mimi Gianopulos (as Giada Russo)."

The series follows the ups and downs of Justin training the young wizard in Billie, which isn't as easy as it seems. As Alex Russo says in the trailer, "Billie is a powerful wizard, but she's rebellious," to which the scene changes to Billie retorting, " I know you didn't just say that."

She has a tendency to, "cast first and ask questions later," to which even in the face of the struggle of teaching a new young wizard, Justin tells her in the trailer, "You’re a powerful wizard. Some people see that as a threat...But I promise, I’m not gonna let anything happen to you.”

Billie is seen casting spells and attending school, similar to how Wizards of Wavery Place played out.

 With that being said, this is not the first time that Disney has explored the idea of diving into past successful series and creating a spin off. 

That’s So Raven, the popular fantasy teen sitcom that followed Raven-Symoné’s character of Raven Baxter who has hidden psychic abilities was a hit for Disney, receiving high ratings, Emmy nominations, and critical acclaim. 

The original series aired on Disney Channel from 2003-2007 and generated two spin-offs: Cory in the House from 2007-2008 featuring the character of Kyle Massey’s Cory Baxter, Raven’s brother from the original series, and Raven’s Home that aired from 2017 to 2023, which follows Raven’s life as an an adult with her preteen twins. 

The Suite Life of Zack & Cody, which aired from 2005-2008 and featured Dylan and Cole Sprouse as the Martin twins who live in a hotel suite, generated the creation of the spin-off The Suite Life on Deck, which aired from 2008-2011, where the twins study abroad on a ship at sea. 

Disney also continued the Boy Meets World franchise from the 1990s with Girl Meets World, a series that followed Riley Matthews (Rory Blanchard), daughter of Cory (Ben Savage) and Topanga (Danielle Fishel) from the original series and her friends, one of which was played by Sabrina Carpenter as Maya. It was on the air from 2014-2017. 

It looks to be an overall winning formula to produce a spin-off or sequel series based on a popular Disney Channel franchise. Having actors from the original series return is also a huge plus. Here’s to a successful run for Wizards Beyond Waverly Place, the latest in Disney Channel sequels and spin-offs.