'Wizards of Waverly Place' Craziest Behind-the-Scenes Facts

Wait … what was Wizards of Waverly Place almost titled?! The Disney Channel show has so many crazy behind-the-scenes facts, and J-14 compiled a list of all of them! Keep reading for all of the mind-blowing Wizards of Waverly Place set secrets.

Wizards of Waverly Place was and remains one of the best Disney Channel shows on the network, period. The show lasted for four seasons from 2007 to 2011, and starred Selena Gomez as Alex Russo, David Henrie as Justin Russo, Jake T. Austin as Max Russo, Maria Canals-Barrera as Theresa Russo, David DeLuise as Jerry Russo, Jennifer Stone as Harper Finkle and Gregg Sulkin as Mason Greyback.

The show followed the magical Russo family in New York City, who were all competing to become the Family Wizard while also balancing school and the drama that comes with being a teenager.

If you didn’t know, the original idea of the show was pretty different than what it ended up being! For example, the pilot was titled “The Amazing O’Malley’s,” and instead of the Russo family sub sandwich shop, it took place in the O’Malley’s magic store. Oh, and Selena’s character was named Julia, and was a twin to David’s character, instead of his younger sister. Could you imagine?!

It’s also since been revealed that the show, which remains Disney Channel’s longest running series, almost spawned a spinoff! Jennifer revealed that Disney wanted to make a show that focused on Alex and Harper during an episode of her and former Wizards costar David DeLuise’s “Wizards of Waverly Pod” podcast in June 2023.

“I was told that it was pitched to Selena to do a Harper-Alex spinoff and she said no because she had a lot of other things going on,” Jennifer recalled, explaining that she thinks Harper and Alex having their own apartment in season 4 was to help setup the new show.

The Disney alum went on to say that she understood why Selena decided to reject the show at the time.

“I get it. She had a million other things going on and she wanted to move forward,” Jennifer added. “And, honestly, at the time I wanted to move forward too. Looking back, it would have been great. But the thing is, where we both were at that time, we just wanted to explore other things.”

Scroll through our gallery to uncover more of the wildest Wizards of Waverly Place behind-the-scenes facts!

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There Was Almost a Spinoff!

“I was told that it was pitched to Selena to do a Harper-Alex spinoff and she said no because she had a lot of other things going on,” Jennifer shared during the “Wizards of Waverly Pod” podcast in June 2023, explaining that she thinks Harper and Alex having their own apartment in season 4 was to help setup the new show. However, Selena rejected the series.

Alex Russo’s Sexuality, Revealed

During a March 2023 episode of the “Wizards of Waverly Pod” podcast, the showrunner behind Wizards, Peter Murrieta, discussed Alex’s sexuality, and her relationship with a character name Stevie.

“I wished we could have played more with what was quite obvious to a lot of us; the relationship between Stevie and Alex,” Peter revealed on the podcast. “But we weren’t able to in that time. It was pretty clear to all of us what that relationship was. That would have been fun.”

Stevie Nichols was a character played by Hayley Kiyoko, who guest starred in season three of the series. Stevie immediately forms a bond with Alex after meeting in detention.

“We got as close as we could,” Peter said on their possible queer romance. “It was pretty much right there.”

David Henrie Was Almost Replaced!

The “Wizards of Waverly Pod” is dishing all the tea! The hosts brought on the casting director for the show, Ruth Lambert, to give some exclusive BTS info in March 2024.

She revealed, “[I was hired] to replace Matt [McCoy] and to replace David Henrie. And we were really surprised about that because David was so good in that pilot, and David was always just such a good kid actor, and so talented, and that face, and, you know, gifted really, at comedy.”

Well as history shows, David made the final cut anyways! Despite having “so many people in to” take his place, nobody could play Alex’s brother quite like him.