LOS ANGELES:

Production has formally resumed on the third and concluding season of ‘Wizards Beyond Waverly Place’, with original stars Selena Gomez and David Henrie returning to reprise their iconic roles in what is being billed as the franchise’s final chapter.

The revival, a continuation of the popular Disney series ‘Wizards of Waverly Place’, began filming this week, with Henrie confirming the development through a social media post featuring the two actors seated in director’s chairs on set.

“Back at our happy place. Can’t wait for you to see what we have in store for season 3!” he wrote, underscoring anticipation surrounding the project.

Gomez, now 33, is not only returning as Alex Russo but is also directing the season’s opening episode, marking a notable expansion of her creative role behind the camera.

The announcement follows last week’s confirmation that she would reprise the character, despite narrative developments in the previous season that led many viewers to believe Alex’s storyline had concluded.

Henrie, 36, will once again portray Justin Russo, Alex’s elder brother, as the series moves toward its finale under the subtitle ‘One Last Spell’. Both actors are also serving as executive producers, signalling their continued influence over the direction of the reboot.

The upcoming season is expected to bring back several familiar faces, including Jennifer Stone as Harper Finkle and Maria Canals-Barrera as the Russo family matriarch, further reinforcing the show’s connection to its original ensemble.

Stone, who stepped away from acting to pursue a nursing degree and later worked as a nurse during the COVID-19 pandemic, previously appeared in all 106 episodes of ‘Wizards of Waverly Place’, along with both films, making her one of the most recognisable characters in the franchise.

Variety has confirmed that she will guest star in the third and final season, reprising her role as the fan-favourite Harper, loyal best friend to Alex Russo. Her return marks her first credited onscreen role since 2019.

‘Wizards Beyond Waverly Place’, which revisits the beloved wizarding family years after the original series ended, is scheduled to premiere in summer 2026, drawing to a close a story that has spanned more than a decade of television history.

The official logline for Season 3 is: “Billie (Brown), still reeling from losing Alex at the end of Season 2, discovers that the only way to rescue her mother is to reunite with her long-lost father. As her family bands together to find Alex, Billie realises that their combined power is the only way the Russos can defeat the evil plaguing them.”