David Henrie is giving us a behind-the-scenes look at his lifelong bromance—uh, sibling-ship—with Selena Gomez. You know, the duo that made sibling rivalry look fun on Wizards of Waverly Place back in the day? Well, it turns out their magical bond didn’t disappear with the show’s final curtain. They’re back and ready to conjure up some nostalgia with the new sequel series, Wizards Beyond Waverly Place.
“We Go Way Back—Like, Pre-Success and Bad Hairstyles”
Henrie, now a suave 35-year-old actor and director, spilled his guts about his friendship with Selena (32 and still rocking it). “It’s been wonderful,” he told People, with the kind of sincerity that makes you wonder if they’ve found the secret to friendship somewhere in the Wizard World.
“Despite all her massive successes—and I mean, c’mon, she’s basically queen of everything—our relationship has survived because we keep it real,” David explained. “No Hollywood nonsense. No phony vibes. Just two former teen stars chatting like regular humans. I tell her what’s up, and she appreciates that I don’t sugarcoat anything. I’m like, ‘Sel, you cannot pull off bangs,’ and she’s like, ‘Respect.’”
A Wizards Reunion… Over Wine
David let it slip that the idea for the new Wizards sequel bubbled up over, you guessed it, a couple glasses of wine. (Disney must love that detail.) “Selena and I stayed tight after the show ended. She became good friends with my wife, and every time we’d hang out, somehow the conversation would drift back to Wizards. We’d be like, ‘So, what’s Justin up to now? Still wearing weird vests?’ It just kinda spiraled from there.”
And then—plot twist—life got real. “One day, I realized, dang, it’s been 17 years since the show first aired. I told Selena, ‘Let’s take this conversation—minus the wine—and pitch it to Disney.’” Spoiler alert: Disney was totally into it. No wine needed.
Justin and Alex Russo Are Back, Baby!
David will reprise his role as Justin Russo, the overachieving, sweater-wearing older brother, while Selena makes a guest appearance as Alex Russo, the iconic slacker sister. “We’re basically slipping back into these roles like we never left,” David quipped. “Except now, Justin’s probably stressed out about mortgages instead of potions.”
The magic officially returns NEXT Tuesday, October 29, on Disney Channel. Grab your popcorn and prepare for a dose of nostalgia—with a side of sibling banter, of course.
Wizards, wine, and a sprinkle of Disney magic? We’re SO ready. ✨
