Selena Gomez SaysWizards of Waverly Place'Gave Me Everything I Have Today': 'I'll Never Forget Where I Started'

Mar. 15, 2025

Selena Gomez at the premiere of ‘Wizards Beyond Waverly Place’.Photo:Steve Granitz/FilmMagic

Steve Granitz/FilmMagic

Selena Gomezis happy to be returning to her roots!Speaking at the premiere ofWizards Beyond Waverly Placeon Monday, Oct. 28, the actress and singer, 32, opened up about reprising her role asAlex Russoin the Disney series — a spin-off of the belovedWizards of Waverly Place— and how she’s grateful for the start it provided her.“It’s the best feeling in the whole world to be able to bring this back for you and to all the people who have never seen it before,” Gomez says, adding of her little sisterGracie, 11, who was present at the screening, “My sister included. I’ve made her watch it. I don’t think she’s that into it, but I was so genuinely happy to be able to just bring the nostalgia back.““This is what gave me everything that I have today, and I’ll never forget that this is where I started,” Gomez adds of the show, which aired from 2007 to 2012.As for how she thinks her character has evolved since the original show, Gomez tells PEOPLE, “I personally think we kind of picked up where we left off and it shows a very established Justin and also a very established Alex and you’re still curious about what they’re going through, but it kind of felt like a rhythm we got back into.““Easily,” notes Gomez’s costarDavid Henrie,who plays Gomez’s big brother Justin Russo. “My character’s a father now. I have children and I am in real life too, so it was a very organic maturation process in the show.“Selena Gomez and David Henrie in ‘Wizards of Waverly Place’.Craig Sjodin/Disney Channel via GettyThe PEOPLE Puzzler crossword is here! How quickly can you solve it? Play now!“We want this show to be a love letter to you, a big warm hug, but also an invitation to pass the wand to a whole new generation,” Henrie, 35, added during an introduction at the screening.The new show, which has nine episodes, follows Justin who has decided to “lead a normal, mortal life with his family” when Alex suddenly shows up at his door. Alex brings with her young wizard Billie (Janice LeAnn Brown), hoping to get Justin to come out of retirement and mentor her.Henrie’s character “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,” the official synopsis reads.David Henrie, Janice LeAnn Brown and Selena Gomez at the premiere of ‘Wizards Beyond Waverly Place’.Steve Granitz/FilmMagicNever miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.Gomez has had a busy career sinceWizards of Waverly Placeended. In addition to building her discography and repertoire as a singer, she has featured in movies likeThe Dead Don’t Die,Dolittleand most recently inEmilia Perez.She’s also carved out her role as Mabel inOnly Murders in the Buildingacross four seasons, launched her cosmetics lineRare Beautyand started theRare Impact Fundto bolster access to youth mental health resources.Wizards Beyond Waverly Placepremieres with two episodes on Tuesday, Oct. 29, at 8:00 p.m. ET on Disney Channel. The first nine episodes will be available to stream on Disney+ and Disney Channel On Demand the next day.

Selena Gomezis happy to be returning to her roots!

Speaking at the premiere ofWizards Beyond Waverly Placeon Monday, Oct. 28, the actress and singer, 32, opened up about reprising her role asAlex Russoin the Disney series — a spin-off of the belovedWizards of Waverly Place— and how she’s grateful for the start it provided her.

“It’s the best feeling in the whole world to be able to bring this back for you and to all the people who have never seen it before,” Gomez says, adding of her little sisterGracie, 11, who was present at the screening, “My sister included. I’ve made her watch it. I don’t think she’s that into it, but I was so genuinely happy to be able to just bring the nostalgia back.”

“This is what gave me everything that I have today, and I’ll never forget that this is where I started,” Gomez adds of the show, which aired from 2007 to 2012.

As for how she thinks her character has evolved since the original show, Gomez tells PEOPLE, “I personally think we kind of picked up where we left off and it shows a very established Justin and also a very established Alex and you’re still curious about what they’re going through, but it kind of felt like a rhythm we got back into.”

“Easily,” notes Gomez’s costarDavid Henrie,who plays Gomez’s big brother Justin Russo. “My character’s a father now. I have children and I am in real life too, so it was a very organic maturation process in the show.”

Selena Gomez and David Henrie in ‘Wizards of Waverly Place’.Craig Sjodin/Disney Channel via Getty

Craig Sjodin/Disney Channel via Getty

The PEOPLE Puzzler crossword is here! How quickly can you solve it? Play now!

“We want this show to be a love letter to you, a big warm hug, but also an invitation to pass the wand to a whole new generation,” Henrie, 35, added during an introduction at the screening.

The new show, which has nine episodes, follows Justin who has decided to “lead a normal, mortal life with his family” when Alex suddenly shows up at his door. Alex brings with her young wizard Billie (Janice LeAnn Brown), hoping to get Justin to come out of retirement and mentor her.

Henrie’s character “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,” the official synopsis reads.

David Henrie, Janice LeAnn Brown and Selena Gomez at the premiere of ‘Wizards Beyond Waverly Place’.Steve Granitz/FilmMagic

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

Gomez has had a busy career sinceWizards of Waverly Placeended. In addition to building her discography and repertoire as a singer, she has featured in movies likeThe Dead Don’t Die,Dolittleand most recently inEmilia Perez.She’s also carved out her role as Mabel inOnly Murders in the Buildingacross four seasons, launched her cosmetics lineRare Beautyand started theRare Impact Fundto bolster access to youth mental health resources.

Wizards Beyond Waverly Placepremieres with two episodes on Tuesday, Oct. 29, at 8:00 p.m. ET on Disney Channel. The first nine episodes will be available to stream on Disney+ and Disney Channel On Demand the next day.

source: people.com