Selena Gomez on Creating ‘Wizards Beyond Waverly Place’ With David Henrie

Selena Gomez‘s career took off as she took on the iconic role of Alex Russo in the beloved Disney Channel series “Wizards of Waverly Place” — and now she’s paying it forward with her TV brother David Henrie.

For years, the two friends would have wine nights and discuss what their characters would be up to as they grew up. “We kept talking about it!” Gomez tells Variety at the “Wizards Beyond Waverly Place” premiere in Los Angeles.

“It was so organic. We never felt any pressure,” Henrie says. “The original fan should know there was never a mandate to be like, ‘We have to make this show, now’s the time to make the show.’ It just came to a point where we were like, ‘Maybe we got something here.’”

The two brought their revival idea to Disney and the full-fledged reboot, “Wizards Beyond,” received a 21-episode order for its first season. Gomez and Henrie executive produce (alongside Jed Elinoff, Scott Thomas, Andy Fickman and Gary Marsh), and both stars are acting — with Henrie starring and Gomez making guest appearances.

The show’s cast all share that Gomez and Henrie have been excellent role models and created a behind-the-scenes culture based on family. “I talk a lot about Selena’s humility to the cast — if she can do it, anyone can do it — and that’s a way to get success in your personal life and in your professional life. It’s the best attitude,” Henrie says.

For Gomez, who previously called the show her “childhood gift,” she says, “Part of that journey is definitely having people like David in my life that are honest and can care and love me for me. I just want to provide that for the next generation.”

In the show’s premiere, Gomez’s Alex meets again Henrie’s Justin, bringing him the powerful young wizard Billie (Janice LeAnn Brown), who needs training. Justin takes Billie, the series’ leading lady, under his wing, and the Russos become Billie’s “found family.” The revival stars Justin, Billie, his two sons Milo (Max Matenko) and Roman (Alkaio Thiele), his wife Giada (Mimi Gianopulos) and Billie’s friend Winter (Taylor Cora).

Billie mirrors Alex in many ways, and Gomez hopes fans embrace LeAnn Brown’s character like they embraced her. “What’s wonderful is that it’s actually so separate from me, but it ties so closely to Alex. And I think there’s something really unique about that. She provides something I couldn’t,” Gomez says.

A lot of creating the reboot was about “passing the wand to a new generation,” Henrie says. “I really want this show to be a big, warm hug to the original fans, so they know they’re loved and understood for all the years they’ve been watching the show, but at the same time, it’s an invitation [to new viewers].”

“We wanted it to be collectively for everyone,” Gomez says, adding, “We want it to be fresh.”

Several actors from hit Disney franchises made appearances on the carpet, including former “Wizards of Waverly Place” stars Gregg Sulkin (who “can’t confirm or deny” if Mason will make an appearance in the reboot) and Maria Canals-Barrera, “Hannah Montana” actors Jason Earles, Anna Maria Perez de Tagle and Cody Linley, and “High School Musical” alums Corbin Bleu and Monique Coleman.

Sulkin says that the new child stars are in good hands with Henrie, whom he calls his “best friend.” “I’m really happy for them, that they have David on set every day, because I think he’s a really, really good role model, and I think that he’s kept his feet on the ground whilst also remaining extremely driven and ambitious,” he says.

Sulkin also had some words of wisdom for the new “Wizards” stars: “It’s really important to be surrounded by a good infrastructure, whether that’s family, whether that’s good management teams, whether that’s good friends — friends that genuinely have your best interest in heart, not because you’re on a television show,” he says. “If you manage yourself correctly, Los Angeles is the best place in the world to live. If you don’t manage yourself correctly, it can bring some obstacles your way, but also obstacles sort of shape you as a human being. And so I would just say to them, enjoy the moment, keep your feet on the ground and always be kind to every cast and crew member.”

“Boy Meets World” and “Girl Meets World” star Danielle Fishel, who knows a thing or two about a successful revival, directed two episodes of “Wizards Beyond.” “What makes a reboot very successful are adult leaders who make a safe space for the children who are on the show to really shine and to make a name for themselves and to find their own instincts and their own characters. Thankfully for this cast, David, Selena, Mimi, the adults on this show, are doing absolutely that. And the kids, you can tell, they’re shining,” she says.

Fishel says she got in on directing a couple episodes of “Wizards Beyond” because Gomez and Henrie “are two icons who I’ve absolutely looked up to.” “Although I’m significantly older than both of them, I look up to them and their careers, and so knowing that I was going to be able to work with them on a set as leaders, was like, ‘That’s something I really want to do,’” Fishel says. “So the minute I heard they were rebooting, I was like, ‘Hey, how do I get my name dropped into a hat there?’”

Fishel knows that Disney shows can launch careers, and she’s watching her former “Girl Meets World” co-star Sabrina Carpenter flourish in music right now. “I’m not at all surprised, not even the tiniest bit. I knew from literally, truly the moment I met her, I knew every dream she had was going to come true, and it was just a matter of when, and so the fact that it happened now, it’s no surprise to me, but I couldn’t be more proud of her,” Fishel says. “She is so kind and she is so funny, and she is so thoughtful, and so the fact that the world has gotten just a little bit more of a glimpse into who she really is has made me so happy.”

“Wizards Beyond Waverly Place” premieres Tuesday on Disney Channel and streams on Disney+ and Disney on Demand starting Wednesday.