7 Shocking Secrets About The Wizards Beyond Waverly Place Cast: Who’s Back & Who’s The New Lead?
The magic is officially back, but the Russo family looks very different now! As of late 2024 and early 2025, the highly anticipated Disney Channel sequel series, Wizards Beyond Waverly Place, has not only premiered but is already generating massive buzz, with a second season confirmed and streaming on Disney+. This new chapter picks up years after the original, focusing on a grown-up Justin Russo, who has traded his wizard powers for a normal, mortal life with his own family. The series successfully blends nostalgia with fresh faces, introducing a new generation of the Russo clan and a powerful young wizard whose destiny will shake up Justin's quiet life.
The core curiosity of every fan revolves around the cast: which original stars are returning, and who are the talented new actors taking on the mantle of the next generation of wizards? This article dives deep into the complete cast list, offering detailed biographies of the new leads and confirming the exciting, albeit limited, roles of the original fan-favorites like Alex Russo and Jerry Russo. The show’s premise—Justin Russo (David Henrie) suddenly having to mentor a young, powerful wizard named Billie—sets the stage for a new magical era, complete with a new wife, new children, and a whole new set of magical problems.
Wizards Beyond Waverly Place: Full Cast Biography & Character Profiles
The new series centers on Justin Russo’s mortal life with his wife and two sons in the non-magical world of New York. His life is upended when a powerful young wizard, Billie, needs his help. Below is a complete profile of the main cast, detailing their roles and key biographical facts.
David Henrie as Justin Russo
- Role: Justin Russo, the former Russo family wizard competition winner who chose a mortal life with his family. He now works as a teacher and is forced back into the magical world to mentor Billie.
- Born: July 10, 1989 (Age 36 as of late 2025)
- Career Highlights: Best known for his original role as Justin Russo in Wizards of Waverly Place. He also had a recurring role as Ted Mosby's future son in How I Met Your Mother. He is also an Executive Producer on the new series.
Janice LeAnn Brown as Billie
- Role: Billie, a powerful young wizard who is brought to Justin by Alex Russo. She is the new series lead and a central figure in the continuing magical storyline.
- Born: Circa 2010 (Age 15 as of late 2025)
- Career Highlights: A rising star, Brown is best known for her guest roles on other Disney Channel shows like Just Roll With It and Bunk'd. Her role as Billie is her first major lead role in a Disney series.
Mimi Gianopulos as Giada Russo
- Role: Giada Russo, Justin’s mortal wife and the mother of Roman and Milo. She is a grounded, non-magical presence in the family, unaware of the full extent of the wizarding world until Billie arrives.
- Born: May 12, 1989 (Age 36 as of late 2025)
- Career Highlights: Gianopulos is known for her supporting role in the film What to Expect When You're Expecting (2012) and her television work, including a role on the ABC Family sitcom Baby Daddy.
Alkaio Thiele as Roman Russo
- Role: Roman Russo, Justin and Giada's oldest son. He is a key member of the new Russo family generation.
- Born: May 23, 2010 (Age 15 as of late 2025)
- Career Highlights: Thiele is an actor, singer, and voiceover artist. Before joining the Disney sequel, he appeared in the TV series Call Me Kat and provided voice work for *The Wingfeather Saga*.
Max Matenko as Milo Russo
- Role: Milo Russo, Justin and Giada's younger son, completing the new Russo nuclear family unit.
- Born: December 31, 2012 (Age 12 as of late 2025)
- Career Highlights: Matenko has television credits including a recurring role as Simon in the series *The Big Door Prize*. His role as Milo Russo is his most prominent to date.
Taylor Cora as Winter
- Role: Winter, a new character who is a friend or associate of the Russo family.
- Born: Circa 2011 (Age 14 as of late 2025)
- Career Highlights: This marks Taylor Cora’s first series regular role. She previously appeared in the true-crime docuseries American Gangster: Trap Queens and landed her debut commercial with My Little Pony.
The Return of Original Wizards: Selena Gomez and David DeLuise
The excitement for Wizards Beyond Waverly Place reached a fever pitch with the confirmation that original cast members would reprise their iconic roles. While the series focuses on Justin Russo's new life, the presence of his family provides the crucial link to the beloved original series, Wizards of Waverly Place.
Selena Gomez as Alex Russo
Selena Gomez is back, but not as a series regular. Her involvement is multifaceted and crucial to the sequel's plot. Gomez serves as an Executive Producer for the series, ensuring the new show maintains the spirit and tone of the original. In terms of her character, Alex Russo, she appears in a guest role in the pilot episode and is expected to make further guest appearances throughout the first season. It is Alex who brings the young wizard Billie to her brother Justin, setting the entire new magical adventure in motion. This setup establishes Alex as the catalyst for the new story, while Justin becomes the main magical mentor, a surprising role reversal from the original series' dynamic.
David DeLuise as Jerry Russo
Another beloved original cast member, David DeLuise, has also been confirmed to return as the patriarch, Jerry Russo. Fans were thrilled to learn that the Russo siblings' dad would be reprising his role, even if for a guest appearance in the first season. Jerry Russo's return is highly anticipated, as it opens up the possibility of him interacting with his grandchildren, Roman and Milo, and further exploring the family's legacy. His appearance serves as a strong nod to the original show's heart and humor, reminding viewers of the family’s roots in the wizarding world.
Plot Details and The New Russo Family Dynamic
The premise of Wizards Beyond Waverly Place is built on a massive shift in Justin Russo’s life. After winning the Wizard Competition and becoming the family wizard, Justin made the surprising choice to give up his powers for a normal, mortal life. He is now married to Giada and raising their two mortal sons, Roman and Milo, in a quiet, non-magical life.
The tranquility is shattered when Alex Russo arrives with Billie, a powerful young wizard whose future is at stake. Billie is not just any wizard; she is a significant magical entity who needs serious training. Justin, despite having given up his powers and his connection to WizTech, is the only one Alex trusts to teach her. This forces Justin to confront his past and re-embrace the wizarding world he left behind, creating a compelling new narrative.
New Entities and LSI Keywords for Topical Authority
To deepen the magical universe, the new series introduces a range of new entities and concepts that expand the original lore. The central conflict involves the young wizard Billie, who is being protected from a powerful new villain, Lord Morsus, who is revealed to be her grandfather. This revelation adds a high-stakes, dramatic element to Billie’s storyline, making her training with Justin a matter of survival, not just competition. The show utilizes familiar terms like WizTech but grounds the story in a new family setting, blending the fantastical elements with relatable family sitcom tropes.
- Lord Morsus: The new main antagonist and Billie's grandfather.
- Giada Russo: The mortal wife, representing the non-magical side of Justin's life.
- Roman and Milo Russo: Justin’s sons, who will likely be introduced to the magical world.
- Wizard Competition: A core concept from the original series that provides context for Justin's current status.
- Sequel Series: The official designation for the new show, differentiating it from a mere reboot.
- Disney Plus/Disney Channel: The platforms where the new series is streaming and airing.
The introduction of the new Russo family—Giada, Roman, and Milo—allows the series to explore themes of parenthood, sacrifice, and the difficulty of balancing a normal life with extraordinary responsibilities. The dynamic between the highly responsible Justin Russo, the free-spirited Alex Russo, and the powerful, untrained Billie is the engine of the new show, promising a mix of comedy, heart, and high-stakes magic for a new generation of fans.
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