Although Wizards Beyond Waverly Place brought back some familiar faces before casting its final spell, not all of the Russo family was around for the finale.
Jake T. Austin, who played youngest sibling Max Russo in the original Disney Channel series, expressed “how disappointed” he was not to be included in the Wizards of Waverly Place sequel series, which released its third and final season this week.
“To all the Wizards fans, just wanted to say for the record how disappointed I am to have not been included in the spinoff,” he wrote on his Instagram Story. “I was asked back in 2020 if I was interested in reprising my role and said that I was 100% in.”
Austin continued, “Unfortunately, the powers that be decided to take the show in a different direction and my character wasn’t part of the equation. Even though I wasn’t involved, I still have nothing but love for my former castmates and wish them continued success. Thank you to all the fans who watched over the years. The show wouldn’t be what it is without your endless support.”
David Henrie, who reprised his role as Justin Russo for the continuation’s three-season run, claimed that his former onscreen brother was offered a return on the show. “He definitely was. Yeah. He’s busy. He’s got a lot going on in his life. We love him and wish him all the best with everything that he’s got going on in his life,” he told TV Insider.
Premiering in 2024, Wizards Beyond Waverly Place followed Justin’s life with his wife and two sons in Staten Island, when younger sister Alex Russo (Selena Gomez) asks him to help train young wizard Billie (Janice LeAnn Brown).
While Gomez recurred throughout the sequel series, as did David DeLuise and Maria Canals-Barrera as their parents Jerry and Theresa, Austin was the only Russo not to reprise his character. In the first season, it’s explained that Max has turned the Waverly Sub Station into a billion-dollar franchise, and he’s living on yacht.
Meanwhile, DeLuise agreed there was a lack of Russo family magic in the sequel series. “It would not be over if the OG wizards were really there. Missed opportunity,” he wrote in an Instagram comment.
Despite Austin’s absence from the show, the final season saw the return of Gregg Sulkin as Alex’s childhood sweetheart Mason Greyback and Jennifer Stone as Alex’s best friend Harper Finkle.
