Wizards Beyond Waverly Placeis the much-anticipatedsequel to Disney Channel’s hit showWizards of Waverly Place, which launched the careers of Selena Gomez and Jake T. Austin, who play two of the Russo siblings opposite David Henrie. Austin’s character, Max Russo, was the mischievous youngest sibling of the bunch, and the sibling who ultimately lost hispowers in the family wizard competition at the original show’s conclusion, instead inheriting the family business.Now, Alex is a member of the Wizard World Tribunal, and Justin is a middle school vice principal,husband, and father of two on Staten Island, New York.
The original show followed the Italian-Mexican Russo family living in New York City’s East Village and running a sandwich shop modeled after a subway car while living double lives as wizards. While theWizards of Waverly Placefinale saw Alex and Justinmanage to strike a unique deal that allowed them both to maintain their powers, Max went on to live his life as a mortal. In the premiere ofWizards Beyond Waverly Place,Max is revealed to be a billionaire after successfully franchising the family business.
Wizards Beyond Waverly Place Reveals Max Russo Is Now A Billionaire
Max Was A Slacker Who Preferred The Simplicity Of Mortal Life
ThroughoutWizards Of Waverly Place,Max is the youngest Russo siblingand often serves as the family’s comic relief. A mischievous boy who often uses magic as the easy way out of life’s daily trials and tribulations, Max often uses his magic for pranks and to impress his crushes. As evident throughout the show, Max’s eccentricities are still abound outside his wizardry, andhe is not devastated upon losing the family wizard competition.
Selena Gomez’s New Wizards Of Waverly Place Update Perfectly Sets Up 1 Missing OG Character’s Return
One missing original character from the Wizards of Waverly Place sequel could be set up to return, according to new images released by Selena Gomez.
Jerry and Teresa Russo (David DeLuise and Maria Canals-Barrera) planned on leaving the family sub-sandwich shop to whichever of their children lost the competition. Max ultimately inherited the family business, and appeared to be happy to do so, as he worked there as a teenager andoverall enjoyed mortal life over the complications of being a wizard. InWizards Beyond Waverly Place,it is revealed that Max successfully managed to expand the business and has become a wealthy restaurateur.
Is Jake T. Austin Returning As Max In The Wizards Of Waverly Place Reboot?
His Return Remains Unconfirmed
Thus far, the first four episodes ofWizards Beyond Waverly Placeare streaming on Disney+, and Jake T. Austin is yet to reprise his role as Max. Following his time onWizards of Waverly Place, Austin starred as Jesus inThe Fosters, before taking a break from acting in 2015. The actor stated that he needed a break because he was “running with the wrong crowd, making some bad choices and also not taking the work seriously”(viaFlaunt).
Austin did return to acting in the 2017 indie filmThe ValleyoppositeOne Tree HillandNorthern Exposurestar Barry Corbin, and later in the 2020 crime thrillerAdverse,where he starred opposite Sean Astin, Mickey Rourke, and more. Austin has not returned to acting in the last four years, and it remains unclear whether he will guest star inWizards Beyond Waverly Place.However, Henrie did confirm via Instagram that he hopes to reunite as many members of the original cast as possible (viaPEOPLE).
Wizards Beyond Waverly Place
Cast
Wizards Beyond Waverly Place follows adult Justin Russo, who leads a normal life until his sister Alex asks for help with a young wizard-in-training. Justin must revive his magical skills to mentor the trainee while balancing his family life and safeguarding the Wizard World’s future.
