David DeLuise slams 'Wizards Beyond Waverly Place' for leaving out original stars

Wizards of Waverly Place actor David DeLuise has criticised the Wizards Beyond Waverly Place finale, saying the Disney+ revival missed an opportunity by not bringing back more members of the original cast.

DeLuise, who portrayed family patriarch Jerry Russo throughout the original Disney Channel series from 2007 to 2012, shared his thoughts in the comments section of an Instagram post as the sequel’s four-part finale premiered on Tuesday.

“It would not be over if the OG wizards were really there. Missed opportunity,” DeLuise wrote. His comment quickly gained attention from fans, receiving more than 1,100 likes.

Although DeLuise appeared as Jerry Russo in two episodes of the revival, he suggested that a larger reunion featuring the original cast would have provided a more fitting conclusion to the Russo family’s story.

Premiering in 2024, Wizards Beyond Waverly Place follows an adult Justin Russo, played by David Henrie, who has left the magical world behind to raise a family. Selena Gomez, who reprises her role as Alex Russo in several episodes, also serves as an executive producer and directed the first episode of the four-part finale.

The finale included appearances from returning fan-favourites Jennifer Stone as Harper Finkle and Gregg Sulkin as Mason Greyback, but several key stars from the original series did not return.

Reflecting on the end of her journey as Alex Russo, Gomez recently described filming her final scene alongside Stone as an emotional experience, saying it felt like the perfect way to say goodbye to the beloved character.

The complete Wizards Beyond Waverly Place finale is now available to stream on Disney+ after concluding the revival series.