Does Max Show Up inWizards Beyond Waverly Place? All About Jake T. Austin's Potential Return

Mar. 15, 2025

Jake T. Austin as Max Russo on ‘Wizards of Waverly Place.’ ; Jake T. Austin attends the premiere of Sony Pictures' “Bloodshot” on March 10, 2020 in Los Angeles, California.Photo:Bruce Birmelin/Disney Channel via Getty; Amy Sussman/Getty

Bruce Birmelin/Disney Channel via Getty; Amy Sussman/Getty

Wizards Beyond Waverly Placesaw the return ofSelena GomezandDavid Henrieas wizards over 10 years afterWizards of Waverly Placeended, butJake T. Austinwas missing so far.

The revival of Disney Channel’s hit 2007 showWizards of Waverly Placepremiered on Oct. 29. The series revisits the eldest Russo sibling, Justin Russo (Henrie), who has left his craft behind and attempted to live a normal life with his new family — until his sister Alex (Gomez) shows up asking her brother to take on a new student, Billie (Janice LeeAnn Brown).

So does Max show up inWizards Beyond Waverly Place? Here’s everything to know about how the series addressed his absence in the premiere and whether he plans to make an appearance.

Does Max show up inWizards Beyond Waverly Place?

David Deluise, Maria Canals Barrera, Jake T. Austin, Selena Gomez and David Henrie in ‘The Wizards Of Waverly Place.'.Disney Channel/Kobal/Shutterstock

Disney Channel/Kobal/Shutterstock

Despite Austin’s absence as Max in the initial episodes, his return hasn’t been ruled out.

In January 2024, Henrie shared a photoon Instagramwith his on-screen family, notably missing the youngest Russo sibling. Although he missed the family affair, Austin reposted the image to his Instagram Stories, adding, “Wow! Am looking forward to getting together with my Wizards family."

After starring inWizards of Waverly Place,Austin went on to act inThe Fostersfor two seasons before stepping away from the show in 2015 and taking time away from Hollywood.

He later reflected on his exit in an interview withFlauntmagazine in February 2019, explaining that he had fallen into “the trap of being in Hollywood.” The actor elaborated that he was “running with the wrong crowd, making some bad choices and also not taking the work seriously.”

Austin continued that he had “lost sight of who I was as a person” after years of being “really enveloped in the characters I was playing and connected to them.”

But he still fondly remembers his time on the Disney Channel show and appreciates the “doors it opened for him.”

“It was a huge learning experience, getting to be on such a successful groundbreaking show at such a young age,” he told Flaunt. “Probably one of the most educational experiences of my life.”

Austin has since returned to Hollywood, starring inTheEmoji MovieandAdverse— and possibly making a guest appearance down the line inWizards Beyond Waverly Place, though nothing has been confirmed.

How didWizards Beyond Waverly Placeexplain Max’s absence?

‘Wizards Beyond Waverly Place.'.Disney

Disney

In the first episode of the revival, Max’s absence isbriefly addressedwhen Billie, a young wizard, shows up with Alex on Justin’s doorstep and asks him if he is the “billionaire” sibling who owns all of the sandwich shops.

“Uh, no, that would be Max,” Justin told her. “I’m a middle school vice principal, which some would say is much cooler than being a billionaire.”

This aligns with how the originalWizards of Waverly Placeseries ended: The Russo siblings competed to determine which one of them would get to keep their powers and become the family wizard.

In a turn of events, Alex and Justin both kept their powers, while Max inherited the family sandwich shop — the Waverly Sub Station.

“So, Alex and Justin get to be wizards, and I get the family Sub Station?” he asked his dad. “That’s awesome!”

What have Selena Gomez and David Henrie said about Jake T. Austin’s return?

‘Wizards Beyond Waverly Place.'.Eric McCandless/Disney

Eric McCandless/Disney

Henrie expressed his plans for the series, replying in a comment, “We definitely plan on bringing back the original cast for the series order 🙌❤️.”

While Gomez hasn’t commented directly on Austin’s return, she’s shared that she and her on-screen little brother have kept a friendship over the years.

In a September 2024Vanity Fairvideo, Gomez joked, “Jake, why don’t you ever answer my texts?”

“He got a little handsome. He had all the girls, I remember that,” she continued, before clarifying, “I’m complimenting you.”

Which other original cast members will return forWizards Beyond Waverly Place?

Jake T. Austin, David Henrie and Selena Gomez in ‘Wizards of Waverly Place.'.Danny Feld/Disney Channel/Courtesy Everett

Danny Feld/Disney Channel/Courtesy Everett

Although Henrie will be the only series regular, many other original cast members will also come back.

David DeLuise, who played the Russo patriarch Jerry Russo, appeared in episode 7 of the first season.

Meanwhile, Maria Canals-Barrera, who portrayed the Russo matriarch Theresa, shared a photo onInstagramin January with the caption, “You guys are gonna LOVE the new Wizards show!”

She told PEOPLE at the series premiere that she was proud of Gomez and Henrie for “passing the wand and keeping it going.”

As for the Russos’ family and friends, Harper Finkle (Jennifer Stone) and Mason Greyback (Gregg Sulkin) have bothteased potential returns.

In September 2024, Henrie shared a photoon X(formerly Twitter) with Sulkin, with the caption, “Guess who visited settttttttttt 🐺?”

“I think to make a sequel or revival successful, you have to tie in the original that people fell in love with and then create its own thing and kind of interweave those together, so it will be interesting to see how he pulls it off and I’m excited to see what he does with it,” Stone said.

source: people.com