The actor said he told producers he was “100% in” when asked about returning in 2020 but ultimately wasn’t part of the sequel series
Credit: Craig Sjodin/Disney Channel via Getty; Albert L. Ortega/Getty
NEED TO KNOW
- Jake T. Austin says he was “disappointed” not to be included in Wizards Beyond Waverly Place despite previously saying he was “100% in” to return
- The actor said he was asked in 2020 about reprising his role as Max Russo but the series ultimately “went in a different direction”
- Austin’s comments come after fellow original cast member David DeLuise also criticized the sequel series for not featuring more of the original Wizards of Waverly Place stars
Jake T. Austin is sharing his disappointment over not returning for Wizards Beyond Waverly Place.
The actor, who played Max Russo on the original Wizards of Waverly Place, said he was “100% in” when he was asked in 2020 if he wanted to reprise the role but was ultimately not included in the sequel series.
“To all the Wizards fans, just wanted to say for the record how disappointed I am to have not been included in the spinoff,” Austin, 31, wrote on his Instagram Stories.
Credit: Jake T. Austin/Instagram
“I was asked back in 2020 if I was interested in reprising my role and said that I was 100% in,” he continued.
“Unfortunately, the powers that be decided to take the show in a different direction and my character wasn’t part of the equation,” Austin wrote. “Even though I wasn’t involved, I still have nothing but love for my former castmates and wish them continued success. Thank you to all the fans who watched over the years. The show wouldn’t be what it is without your endless support.”
Austin portrayed the youngest of the Russo siblings, alongside David Henrie’s Justin Russo and Selena Gomez’s Alex Russo in the original Disney Channel series.
Credit: Albert L. Ortega/Getty
His comments come after Wizards Beyond Waverly Place concluded with its four-part finale, which premiered Aug. 4 on Disney Channel and Aug. 5 on Disney+.
The sequel series, which debuted in October 2024, follows Justin as he lives a normal life with his wife, Giada, and their sons, Roman and Milo, until Alex unexpectedly brings Billie, a wizard-in-training, to his doorstep, hoping Justin will mentor the teen.
The revival serves as a continuation of Wizards of Waverly Place, which aired for four seasons from 2007 to 2012. The original series also spawned Wizards of Waverly Place: The Movie in 2009 and The Wizards Return: Alex vs. Alex in 2013.
Gomez, 34, was among the original Wizards of Waverly Place stars who returned for the sequel series, reprising her role as Alex in the four-part finale. She also stepped behind the camera to direct the first episode of the show’s final chapter.
Austin wasn’t the only original cast member to publicly express disappointment about the sequel series’ ending.
David DeLuise, who portrayed family patriarch Jerry Russo in the original series and appeared in two episodes of the revival, criticized the finale for not featuring more original cast members.
Credit: Disney/Eric McCandless
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Responding to an Entertainment Tonight Instagram post about the show’s third and final season, DeLuise wrote, “It would not be over if the OG wizards were really there. Missed opportunity.”
PEOPLE has reached out to Jake T. Austin for comment but did not immediately hear back.
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