8 Biggest Things That Happened Between Wizards Of Waverly Place's Series Finale & The Sequel Show

The first 9 episodes of Wizards Beyond Waverly Place, the highly-anticipated Wizards of Waverly Place spin-off series, are now streaming on Disney+, and these are the 8 biggest reveals from the show’s new episodes. Wizards Beyond Waverly Place focuses on Justin Russo, the oldest of the Russo siblings, although there are a number of Russo family members among Wizards Beyond Waverly Place’s cast of characters. The reboot is set about 15 years after Wizards of Waverly Place, based on Justin Russo’s age in Wizard’s Beyond Waverly Place.

Given this major jump forward in time, numerous significant changes have taken place in the Russo family. While many of these changes have happened to Justin as the protagonist of the spin-off show, there were several surprising updates to the Russo family revealed in the show’s first 9 episodes. Of all the reveals so far, these 8 represent the biggest.

8 Jerry Russo Began Working For SPELLP

The Russo Siblings’ Dad Returns When Billie Calls The SPELLP-Line

Like Selena Gomez’s Alex Russo, the dad of the Russo siblings, Jerry Russo (David DeLuise), is only going to be a guest star in Wizards Beyond Waverly Place. The beloved Disney Channel dad has already had his first cameo in the spin-off show. Episode 7, “We’re Gonna Need a Bigger Float,” reveals that, since Wizards of Waverly Place, Jerry began volunteering with SPELLP, an organization that helps wizards find information (although, it isn’t meant to be used for homework, which is precisely why Billie ends up calling the “SPELLP-Line”).

Jerry jokes that Theresa Russo, his wife and the mother of the Russo kids, took up tennis, and Jerry proved to be a poor tennis partner. Instead, he began volunteering with SPELLP while Theresa plays tennis—confirmation that the two are now true empty nesters. Along with this news came the revelation that Jerry and Justin Russo had previously stopped speaking about magic with one another altogether due to some unfortunate events in Justin’s life.

7 Justin Russo And Juliet Van Heusen Broke Up

The Beloved Wizards Of Waverly Place Couple Called It Quits Off Screen

Justin Russo had multiple relationships in Wizards of Waverly Place, including with Rosie, who turned out to be an angel of darkness (although she eventually became a guardian angel once more). Justin’s most popular relationship in Wizards of Waverly Place was easily with Juliet, however. Like her namesake, Juliet Capulet from William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, Juliet Van Heusen (Bridgit Mendler) in Wizards of Waverly Place found herself in a star-crossed lovers dynamic with Justin, as their families had opposing restaurants.

Juliet was also revealed to be a vampire in Wizards of Waverly Place, which, although it initially added a layer of complication to their relationship, ultimately helped Juliet and Justin bond over their complex experiences with their non-mortal identities. In part because of this, and because Mendler was wonderful in the role, Juliet became a very popular character, and audiences loved their relationship. In the Wizards of Wavery Place finale, Juliet and Justin were still together.

Sadly, Wizards Beyond Waverly Place confirms that Juliet and Justin broke up at some point following Wizards of Waverly Place. In the reboot, Justin is married to a mortal woman named Giada. Although it is sad—both because the couple was popular and because it means Bridgit Mendler almost certainly won’t have a cameo—it makes sense. Justin was still quite young at the end of Wizards of Waverly Place (Juliet’s age was more complicated, as a vampire), and it stands to reason that things could have changed in the years since.

6 Justin Russo Married Giada

Justin Married A Mortal Woman

As mentioned, Wizards Beyond Waverly Place reveals that Justin Russo, now 34 years old, has married a mortal woman named Giada since Wizards of Waverly Place ended. Although many viewers may be disappointed to know Juliet and Justin didn’t end up together, Giada is a charming character, and it’s clear Justin and Giada truly love each other. Giada also proves to be a good match for Justin, teasing and pushing him when necessary but also clearly supporting him.

The exact details of Justin’s romantic history haven’t been revealed yet in the show. The first 9 episodes don’t touch upon what happened between Justin and Juliet, and that information may never come. The episodes also don’t give all that much information about how Justin and Giada met or what their relationship has looked like in the years since, but that seems more likely to be coming in future episodes of the show or perhaps in a possible Wizards Beyond Waverly Place season 2.

5 Justin Russo Had Two Sons, Roman And Milo

Justin’s Sons’ Powers Haven’t Been Fully Revealed Yet

In addition to marrying Giada, Justin has had two children since Wizards of Waverly Place, sons Roman (the older) and Milo (the younger). Although this new Russo family only has two children, whereas there were three siblings in Wizards of Waverly Place, Roman, Milo, and the young wizard Billie have a very similar dynamic to that of Justin, Alex, and Max Russo. Like Justin, Roman is the rule-following, anxious older brother, and, like Max, Milo is the sweet but at times troublesome younger brother. Billie fills the Alex Russo role, as a brilliant, powerful, but very sarcastic teenage wizard.

One of the most interesting things about Milo and Roman thus far is that the extent of their powers hasn’t yet been revealed. Towards the end of the show’s first 9 episodes, Roman began experimenting with magic, but that is as far as either brother has gotten. Given how genetic magic clearly is in Wizards of Waverly Place, it seems likely both Milo and Roman will become powerful wizards, but that remains to be seen.

4 Justin Concealed His Magical Abilities From His Family

At The Beginning Of Wizards Beyond Waverly Place, His Identity Is Still A Secret

One of the biggest surprises in Wizards Beyond Waverly Place has been that, for years, Justin has been concealing his powers from his wife and sons. In addition to this being a questionable decision no matter the circumstances, this is a shock in light of the character Justin is. He was always depicted as the honest, wise, and responsible sibling of the three in Wizards of Waverly Place, and this decision seems antithetical to that. In fact, Alex directly comments on this, telling him she’s “so proud” that he’s been lying.

Not only did Justin not tell his wife or sons that he is a wizard, but also, Giada, Roman, and Milo have no idea that wizards and magic are real at the beginning of Wizards Beyond Waverly Place. This comes to a head quickly in the show when Alex shows up with Billie, at which point Justin has to finally come clean. Giada forgives Justin’s lying by omission incredibly quickly given the years of Justin concealing this information, but it’s clear that, for at least a decade, Justin was suppressing this side of himself and the truth.

3 Alex Russo Joined The Tribunal

Alex Is Now Part Of Wizard Law Enforcement

The biggest Alex Russo news in Wizards Beyond Waverly Place so far has been that, since Wizards of Waverly Place, Alex has joined the Wizard Tribunal. Wizards of Waverly Place revealed that the Tribunal handles crimes against the Wizard Law, effectively meaning Alex has begun working as Wizard law enforcement. This role suits Alex, who has always been a brilliant and powerful wizard and would want a thrilling, action-packed job such as this one.

At present, little is known about Alex’s job, and it remains to be seen how much more will be shown. Alex will have guest appearances, but she isn’t a regular character on the show. However, Wizards Beyond Waverly Place also revealed that the fate of the world hinges upon Billie and her training with Justin. Episode 9, “Wiz-Taken Identity,” also revealed that some evil being is orchestrating events in the shadows, which will presumably require involvement from the Tribunal at some point.

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2 Justin Russo Was Fired From WizTech

Justin Had A Mysterious “Unicorn Incident” That Cost Him His Job

One of the more surprising revelations about Justin Russo in Wizards Beyond Waverly Place has been that, at some point between Wizards of Waverly Place and Wizards Beyond Waverly Place, Justin Russo was fired from WizTech. WizTech was introduced in Wizards of Waverly Place as a wizard school that Justin, Alex, and Max attended at various points throughout the show. By the end of Wizards of Waverly Place, Justin had taken over as headmaster of WizTech, following the Russo Family Wizard Competition.

The exact circumstances surrounding Justin being fired from WizTech remain a mystery. At one point, Alex refers to a “unicorn incident” resulting in Justin losing his job, but the exact details aren’t clear. It seems likely this will be explored in upcoming episodes of the show, given how significant an event it was, which will prove interesting. Justin is consistently a reliable, competent character, so uncovering what exactly caused him to be fired will be fascinating.

1 Justin Stopped Using His Magic

After Being Let Go, Justin Abandoned The Life Of A Wizard

The biggest change that took place between Wizards of Waverly Place and Wizards Beyond Waverly Place is that Justin walked away from magic completely between the two shows. This was no doubt in part a result of Justin being let go from WizTech. Clearly, that was a devastating event in Justin’s life, and it makes sense that it would have caused Justin to take a break away from magic for a while. The revelation that Justin had gone years without magic was nevertheless shocking, though.

With Justin concealing his magical abilities from his wife and children entirely, it’s also possible that Justin directly gave up magic to live a ‘normal’ life with his mortal wife and potentially mortal children. That can’t completely explain Justin’s decision to walk away from magic, however, as it’s clear this was a touchy subject. As mentioned, Justin and Jerry had stopped speaking about magic in any capacity, which suggests Justin’s family wasn’t the only reason.

It’s safe to say Justin is returning to the life of a true wizard in Wizards Beyond Waverly Place. Not only has Justin agreed to train Billie, but also, he quickly became jealous of Alex’s status as part of the Wizard Tribunal. Clearly, Justin is ready to embrace magic once again. It will be thrilling to see Justin continue to reconnect with his magical side, and many more revelations are sure to come in upcoming episodes of Wizards Beyond Waverly Place.

Wizards Beyond Waverly Place follows adult Justin Russo, who leads a normal life until his sister Alex asks for help with a young wizard-in-training. Justin must revive his magical skills to mentor the trainee while balancing his family life and safeguarding the Wizard World’s future.

Character(s)

Justin Russo , Billie , Roman Russo , Milo Russo , Winter , Giada Russo , Alex Russo

Release Date

October 29, 2024

Seasons

1

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