David Henrie and Selena Gomez's 'Goal' Was to 'Recreate' the Sense of 'Family' on Wizards Reboot (Exclusive)

David Henrie and Selena Gomez had one non-negotiable when it came to finding a new cast for Wizards Beyond Waverly Place.

While showing PEOPLE around the set of the Disney Channel reboot, Henrie recalled all the memories he made while filming the original Wizards of Waverly Place series with his former colleagues from 2007 to 2012.

Over the years, the cast has become a family, and when he and Gomez greenlit the reboot after pitching it “three, four years ago,” their biggest hope was to recreate that sense of community with a whole new group of young actors.

“The cast is so wonderful to us,” he says of his new cast. “It feels like the third season of the series [where] everyone is comfortable. There is an atmosphere full of love, there is a great culture on the set. And that’s what made the original series special because we were a family on and off camera.”

Cast of ‘Wizards Beyond Waverly Place’.

Eric McCandless/Disney

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From “day one,” explains Henrie, “it was mine and Selena’s goal from day one to recreate that culture first and foremost in the workplace where everyone can feel like family.”

“There is an atmosphere of love, encouragement and we did that. And I think you will feel that on the screen,” he adds.

According to the official synopsis, the series “begins after a mysterious incident at WizTech, where an adult Justin Russo has left his wizarding powers behind, opting for a normal, human life with his wife and two sons. But he’s surprised when a powerful young wizard in need of training shows up at his door… and Justin must embrace his past to secure the future of the Wizarding World.”

Selena Gomez and Justin Henrie in ‘Wizards Beyond Waverly Place’.

Disney Channel/Youtube

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The series will also welcome new stars Janice LeAnn Brown as the powerful, young sorceress Billie, Alkaio Thiele as Justin’s eldest son Roman, Max Matenko as Justin’s youngest son Milo and Mimi Gianopulos as Justin’s wife Giada.

Speaking to PEOPLE, Thiele also shared how Henrie made him and the other child actors feel welcome.

“He made it clear that we belong here,” he recalls. “This is our home, we’re safe here. Even if you make a mistake, we’re all family. And if you make a mistake in the family, it’s okay and you can just try again.”

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Wizards Beyond Waverly Place premieres Tuesday, October 29 at 8:00 PM ET on Disney Channel and will be available to stream on Disney+.

Categories: Trends
Source: HIS Education