Avery Kelley 
A childhood favorite has made its way back to our screens! Now streaming on Disney+ is the new reboot of the ICONIC “Wizards of Waverly Place” with a spin-off called “Wizards Beyond Waverly Place”.
The new show is a twist on the hit classic, focusing on the story of the Russo sibling’s oldest and wisest – Justin Russo. Now, living a modern family life, he hides his secret of his witch past from his family. Until newcomer Billie comes to shake things up, bringing the magic back into their home. The new series, which is executive produced by Selena Gomez (Alex Russo) and Daniel Henrie (Justin Russo), is the perfect blend of nostalgia, comedy, and surprise, as old characters return to the Witch Lair, and new characters begin their journeys.
Janice LeAnn Brown, who plays the role of Billie (the new witch on the block), is a force to be reckoned with. Her character comes to shake things up amongst the Russo crew, searching for a teacher to handle all of her talent, sarcasm, and constant shenanigans. Billie is heavily inspired by the Disney icon Alex Russo who was portrayed by Gomez in the show’s original series. But, even though her character has a nostalgic touch, Brown continues to bring her own personality to her role.
“I think I also just add a little bit of myself in there… it was kind of like organic because in a way I kind of knew how she [Billie] would feel in some situations… and then I would kind of ask myself, ‘Well, how would you feel if you were in this situation?’ and then I went and added some of those feels into my performance,” said Brown about her acting technique for her role.
Newcomers Taylor Cora (Winter), Alkaio Thiele (Roman Russo), and Max Matenko (Milo Russo) are also making their big debut to the Disney screen, portraying the roles of Justin Russo’s sons and their best friend. Being huge fans of the show, the three young stars were beyond excited when the opportunity came for them to join the show’s franchise. Matenko, who plays Justin’s youngest son, shares his experience on when he first learned he booked the part. “I had just gotten home from school… it was my first big role. I had never been a series regular before and I just got the call and I was screaming! You could hear me from across the street, and they said, ‘Oh you’re going to be working with Selena Gomez and David Henrie,’ and I was like, ‘How did my life just change in a matter of what, five minutes?’”
Even with all of the new characters, we have the chance to learn more about the lives of the original witches. Alex Russo, who (Original series spoiler warning!!) has gained the title Family Wizard, now works to teach the Wizards of the future. As Justin, who no longer has his powers, put his life of teaching magic behind him to focus on his family. But as the series progresses, so do the spells.
David Henrie, who was a part of both the original and the spin-off series as a main character, is looking forward to stepping into his executive producer role to introduce the stories of the Russo family to an entirely new audience. “I’ve gotten to meet so many fans all over the world… and when you’re making a show you just don’t realize the impact that it has on people. Now for these past 17 years I’ve gotten to understand what’s made the show special. So as an executive producer, both myself and Selena, we really wanted this show, especially the first episode, to feel like a warm hug to the original fan, but also an invitation to bring a younger person in your own life to get to watch together and experience.”
Catch “Wizards Beyond Waverly Place” streaming now on Disney+! For more interviews with the cast members visit our True Star Media YouTube page.
By Avery Kelley
Instagram: @askaveryk / Twitter: @averykels
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