In the current age of Hollywood, it seems like everything is getting some sort of legacy sequel or reboot. Disney Channel children’s programming is no exception. 2017 gave us Raven’s Home, a revival series to That’s So Raven in which the titular Raven (Raven-Symoné) returns to the silver screen parenting her own clairvoyant son. Now, in 2024, the beloved Disney Channel original series Wizards of Waverly Place is getting the same treatment. In Wizards Beyond Waverly Place, an adult Justin Russo (David Henrie) must become a mentor figure to the rebellious new co-lead Billie (Janice LeAnn Brown), a wizard-in-training who’s in desperate need of a teacher after being kicked out of all other wizarding schools.
The set-up of Wizards Beyond Waverly Place echos Justin’s experience in the original series, wherein his father trained him in magic alongside his spirited and rebellious sister, Alex (Selena Gomez). Wizards of Waverly Place was structured around preparing for the family wizarding competition, determining which of the three Russo children would retain their magic into adulthood. Alex, a notorious troublemaker but a talented wizard, won the competition, and her uptight and disciplined brother was allowed to also keep his magic after being named headmaster of a prestigious wizarding school. Yet, it seems that Justin did not hold that position long after the conclusion of the Disney show.
Wizards Beyond Waverly Place‘s pilot episode begins with Selena Gomez making a guest star appearance as Alex, shepherding Billie to Justin’s suburban home in Staten Island, New York. Justin has left the wizarding world entirely behind after marrying a mortal woman, Giada Russo (Mimi Gianopulos), having two sons of his own, and becoming the vice principal of a middle school. Alex manages to get to the root of Justin’s anxieties about wizarding and how his past in the world of magic reminds him of his failures. After some tough persuading, she convinces Justin to train Billie by reminding him of his talent as an instructor and as a supportive presence in her life.
David Henrie, Janice LeAnn Brown, & Selena Gomez in ‘Wizards Beyond Waverly Place’ courtesy of Disney
Both Selena Gomez and David Henrie settle into their respective roles as Alex and Justin with a comfortable familiarity. Though they have both matured since they were teenagers on Disney Channel, the two remain true to the core of their sibling characters. Gomez continues to bring a carefree, sarcastic attitude and defiant spirit to the screen, and Henrie still manages to balance Justin’s stickler attitude with the goofy physicality of the role. Justin is a major character in this sequel series, as the narrative focuses on ways for him to step out of his mortal life and build his confidence as a mentor figure.
The newer cast members in Wizards Beyond Waverly Place have great chemistry with each other. Justin’s family is characterized similarly enough, but there are also enough differences in personalities to allow a good comedic back-and-forth between them. The show itself is an enjoyably breezy watch and very episodic in nature, with each episode containing a strong Disney moral at the center of it. It’s silly enough for children without seeming too off-putting for adults, with a healthy mix of jokes targeted towards all age ranges.
The main characters of Wizards Beyond Waverly Place are in middle school, an aged-down demographic from its predecessor series. Additionally, just like Raven’s Home, the setting has shifted from urban to suburban, an unfortunate loss in the program’s uniqueness. The set design for the new Russo home is very cookie-cutter, save for the wizarding lair, which is almost an exact recreation of the original show.
David Henrie, Janice LeAnn Brown, & Max Matenko in ‘Wizards Beyond Waverly Place’ courtesy of Disney
Wizards Beyond Waverly Place leans into being a fish-out-of-water story. Billie is from a wizarding world that features different customs, holidays, and animals from those of mortals. Not only must she learn how to better and more responsibly use her magical skills, but she must also learn how to fit in. It’s a cute premise, and newcomer Janice LeAnn Brown plays off well against Justin’s two sons, Roman (Alkaio Thiele) and Milo Russo (Max Matenko). Roman is very similar in nature to his father, and Milo is younger and subsequently goofier, so together, the trio share a similar dynamic to the siblings of the original Disney series. The only difference is that Milo and Roman Russo are not learning magic.
Now, it’s unreasonable to expect the lore of a Disney Channel show to be consistent and unyielding. By nature, each program is designed to be satisfying only in thirty-minute periods rather than a long arc, which is why emotionally resonating discoveries rarely have much bearing in following episodes. That being said, it is very strange that after discovering that Justin Russo is a wizard, his children never consider if this means that they are wizards, too. Justin’s father was not the family wizard, and yet he and his two siblings inherited magic. Perhaps it’s because Justin’s mother was a mortal, and he married a mortal as well, but this is never discussed in the first four episodes of the show.
Hopefully, this inconsistency will be touched upon in later episodes because it seems like a huge oversight. One cannot help but wonder what Wizards Beyond Waverly Place would look like if the overarching story followed all three kids as Roman and Milo taught Billie how to be mortal and Billie taught them how to be wizards. However, as it stands, Wizards Beyond Waverly Place is a delightful addition to Disney Channel’s original programming. It’s a wonderful family sitcom, with both parents and children finding something to get a chuckle out of. Though it has been aged down to become more appealing to pre-teens, the comedy still maintains the sarcastic, dry wit of its original in the right places.
Disney’s Wizards Beyond Waverly Place doesn’t quite recreate what made Wizards of Waverly Place so special. Nonetheless, this new series casts a comforting magic of its own.
Rating: 4 out of 5.
The first two episodes of Wizards Beyond Waverly Place premiere on October 29 on Disney Channel. The first eight episodes will then be available to stream on Disney+ the next day!
Created by Jed Elinoff & Scott Thomas.
Based on Wizards of Waverly Place by Todd J. Greenwald.
Executive Producers: David Henrie, Selena Gomez, Jed Elinoff, Scott Thomas, Andy Fickman, & Gary Marsh.
Main Cast: David Henrie, Janice LeAnn Brown, Mimi Gianopulos, Alkaio Thiele, Max Matenko, Taylor Cora, Selena Gomez, Maria Canals-Barrera, David DeLuise, & Jake T. Austin.
Episode Count: 21 (Season 1).
Credit: discussingfilm.net
