99 Fun Facts About Wizards of Waverly Place

In which New York City neighbourhood is Waverly Place, home of the Russo family?

Greenwich Village: Waverly Place is a real street forming the north edge of Washington Square Park, and the show plants the Russo home on a fictionalized version of it.

What kind of business do Jerry and Theresa Russo run on the ground floor of their building?

A subway-themed sandwich shop: the Waverly Sub Station is built to look like a subway station, and in the finale Jerry decides to pass it on to Max.

In Wizards of Waverly Place, who gives the three Russo children their daily wizard lessons?

Their father: Jerry gave up his own powers long ago, yet he still runs the lessons in the family's secret lair, drilling the kids to use magic responsibly.

Who wins the family wizard competition in the Wizards of Waverly Place series finale?

Alex wins the competition in 'Who Will Be the Family Wizard'; Justin keeps his powers too after being made headmaster of the wizard school, so only Max ends up mortal.

Which best friend of Alex's moves in with the Russos in season three of Wizards of Waverly Place?

Harper Finkle, played by Jennifer Stone, moves into the Russos' basement in season three so she can stay in New York when her own family moves away.

In Wizards of Waverly Place, Alex's boyfriend Mason is what kind of creature?

A werewolf: Mason, played by Gregg Sulkin, once dated Justin's vampire girlfriend, and Sulkin came back to the role for the sequel's final season in 2026.

In Wizards of Waverly Place, what is the boarding school for young wizards that Justin ends up running as headmaster?

WizTech is the wizard boarding school the Russos first visit in the season-one two-parter 'Wizard School'; becoming its headmaster in the finale lets Justin keep his powers.

In Wizards of Waverly Place, what name does Max take after a season-four spell turns him into a young girl?

Maxine: Alex and Justin's crossed spells in 'Three Maxes and a Little Lady' turn Max into a little girl, and he stays that way for six episodes until 'Back to Max' undoes it.

Who created Wizards of Waverly Place, having previously worked on the first season of Hannah Montana?

Todd J. Greenwald created the series after writing on Hannah Montana's first season; it premiered on Disney Channel on 12 October 2007.

When executive producer Peter Murrieta joined the project, what was the show's working title?

The kids were named Brooke, Sully and Max O'Malley at that stage, then Alexa, Aaron and Max Esposito, before Murrieta changed the surname to Russo.

In the unaired pilot of Wizards of Waverly Place, the wizard family ran what kind of business?

A magic store: creator Todd J. Greenwald's unaired pilot also gave the family only two children, Jordan and Julia, whom he named after his own kids.

Selena Gomez's unaired Disney pilot 'Arwin!' was a spin-off of which show?

The Suite Life of Zack & Cody: 'Arwin!' built a sitcom around Brian Stepanek's Tipton Hotel character with Gomez in the cast, and when Disney passed on it she landed Wizards instead.

Wizards of Waverly Place's theme song, sung by its star Selena Gomez, has what title?

'Everything Is Not What It Seems' was sung by Gomez for the whole run, and a new version was recorded when season four revamped the opening titles.

Which Wizards of Waverly Place cast member also wrote two episodes, including season three's 'Alex's Logo'?

David Henrie wrote 'Alex's Logo', which his on-screen father David DeLuise directed, and came back to script a second episode in season four.

How many viewers watched the one-hour series finale, 'Who Will Be the Family Wizard?', in January 2012?

9.8 million viewers watched the finale on 6 January 2012, at the time the most-watched series finale in Disney Channel history; the 2007 premiere had drawn 5.9 million.

Wizards of Waverly Place won Outstanding Children's Program in 2009 and 2012 at which awards?

Primetime Emmys: the series won in 2009 and again in 2012, months after its finale had aired, and its TV movie took the same Emmy in 2010.

Where was Wizards of Waverly Place: The Movie filmed on location?

San Juan, Puerto Rico stood in for the Russos' Caribbean vacation, and Gomez was on familiar ground: she had filmed Princess Protection Program there a year earlier.

In Wizards of Waverly Place: The Movie, which magical object can reverse any spell or grant any wish?

The Stone of Dreams: street magician Archie, a former wizard, enlists the Russos to find it, only for his girlfriend Giselle to snatch it once they do.

In The Wizards Return: Alex vs. Alex, the Russos travel to which country for a family reunion?

Italy: the family gathers in Tuscany for a Russo reunion, where a spell meant to purge Alex's selfish side instead creates an evil double she has to fight.

In Wizards Beyond Waverly Place, set fifteen years on, where does Justin Russo live a normal life with his wife and sons?

Staten Island: Justin settles there with his mortal wife Giada and sons Roman and Milo, having given up magic after he was fired from the wizard school he ran.

In Wizards Beyond Waverly Place, what does the second-season finale reveal about young wizard Billie?

She is Alex's daughter: Alex and Damien hid her at a wizard school and erased every memory of her to protect her from her paternal grandfather.

Who plays Billie in Wizards Beyond Waverly Place?

Janice LeAnn Brown plays Billie, the powerful young wizard Alex brings to Justin's door, which pulls him back into the magic he had given up.

Under what working title did Disney first order the sequel pilot in January 2024?

'Wizards' was the pilot's title in January 2024, with Henrie a series regular and Gomez a recurring guest; the full name Wizards Beyond Waverly Place was announced in May 2024.

Selena Gomez began her acting career on which children's television series?

Barney & Friends: Gomez joined in 2002 and shared its seventh and eighth seasons with Demi Lovato, another child in the cast who grew into a Disney Channel star.

Selena Gomez founded which cosmetics company, valued at about $2 billion in 2024?

Rare Beauty, launched in 2020 and named after Gomez's album Rare, sends one percent of its sales to the Rare Impact Fund for young people's mental-health services.

On How I Met Your Mother, David Henrie played whose future son?

Ted Mosby's: Henrie played Ted's son Luke, and the children's scene for the series finale was filmed back in 2006 so the teenage actors would not have aged by the end.

Before Wizards of Waverly Place, Jake T. Austin voiced which Nickelodeon animated hero?

Diego: Austin was the title character's first voice on Go, Diego, Go!, and later played Jesus on The Fosters until the role was recast with Noah Centineo.

Jennifer Stone, who played Harper, stepped back from acting to qualify in which profession?

Nursing: Stone finished nursing school in December 2019 and began work as a registered nurse in April 2020, joining the front lines of the pandemic.

In 2010 Jennifer Stone played the title role in a film based on which children's book?

Harriet the Spy: Stone played Harriet in the 2010 TV movie Harriet the Spy: Blog Wars, which aged Louise Fitzhugh's 11-year-old heroine up to a teenager.

What is the name of the rewatch podcast David DeLuise and Jennifer Stone launched in 2023?

Wizards of Waverly Pod launched in February 2023 on Christy Carlson Romano's PodCo network, with Selena Gomez among its very first guests.

Wizards of Warna Walk, a 2019 remake of Wizards of Waverly Place, was made in which country?

Malaysia: three Malaysian children beat hundreds of hopefuls to lead the 14-episode remake, which aired on Disney Channel across Southeast Asia in 2019.

Although the Russos live in New York, in which city was Wizards of Waverly Place actually filmed?

Los Angeles: the show was shot at Hollywood Center Studios, the lot where Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz rented a stage in 1951 to film their sitcom before a live audience.

Which Wizards of Waverly Place guest character, played by Hayley Kiyoko, did producer Murrieta later call a potential love interest for Alex?

Stevie was the one; Murrieta said the team intended Alex to be openly bisexual but could not make it explicit at the time.

Who plays Theresa Russo, the mortal mother of Alex, Justin and Max?

Maria Canals-Barrera plays Theresa, the mortal Jerry gave up his powers to marry, and she returned as the Russo matriarch for the sequel's final season in 2026.

On which Disney Channel series did Selena Gomez play Mikayla before Wizards of Waverly Place?

Hannah Montana: Gomez's Mikayla is a rival pop star who trades compliments with Hannah on a talk show, then tells her during the commercial break that she despises her.

What was the subtitle of the second Nintendo DS game based on the show, released in November 2010?

Spellbound: Wizards of Waverly Place: Spellbound, the second Nintendo DS game, arrived in November 2010, a year after the first DS title.

How far into the show's run does Alex finally let Harper in on the family secret?

In the second year: Alex tells Harper in the season-two episode 'Harper Knows', though wizards still had to stay hidden from the wider mortal world.

As Wizards of Waverly Place enters its final season, Alex and Justin are tricked into exposing wizards to whom?

Government officials and reporters: the whole crisis turns out to be a test set by the wizard authorities, and both siblings are demoted to level one of the family competition.

In which US state was Selena Gomez born?

Texas: Gomez was born in Grand Prairie, near Dallas, to parents who loved Tejano star Selena Quintanilla's music and named their daughter after her.

Which 2024 film earned Selena Gomez a Cannes Film Festival award as part of its ensemble?

Emilia Pérez: Gomez plays Jessi, the wife left behind when a cartel boss vanishes to begin a new life as a woman, and shared Best Actress with her three co-stars.

Who is the cowboy-obsessed principal of Tribeca Prep, the Russo kids' school?

Mr. Laritate, played by Bill Chott, decks Tribeca Prep in Old West style, and Justin later gives his own eldest son the middle name Laritate.

In Wizards of Waverly Place: The Movie, what does Alex's angry wish accidentally change about history?

Her parents never met: Alex blurts out the wish after being grounded on vacation, and the siblings begin losing their memories as they race to undo it.

Which actress played Juliet van Heusen, Justin's vampire girlfriend?

Bridgit Mendler played Juliet van Heusen, who turns out to be an old flame of Alex's boyfriend Mason, before Mendler went on to lead Good Luck Charlie.

To whom were Jerry Russo's powers transferred when he gave them up to marry Theresa?

His brother Kelbo, played by Jeff Garlin, got the powers because wizards may not marry mortals, a choice their sister Megan still holds against Jerry.

Selena Gomez has said she modelled Alex Russo's mannerisms on which Friends star?

Jennifer Aniston: Gomez called her the whole reason she started her show, mannerisms included, and said her legs shook when they first met.

Who played the girl version of Max in the fourth season of Wizards of Waverly Place?

Bailee Madison played Max's girl form for six episodes of season four, during which Jerry dotes on his new daughter so much that Alex grows jealous.

Selena Gomez once filmed an unaired spin-off pilot as the younger sister of Miranda from which Disney series?

Lizzie McGuire: the pilot would have followed Miranda Sanchez's family, with Lalaine back as Miranda, but Disney never picked it up.

Which best friend of Justin's ends up dating Harper in Wizards of Waverly Place?

Zeke Beakerman, played by Dan Benson, speaks a made-up alien language with Justin and only learns the Russos are wizards in the final season.

What behind-the-scenes role did Selena Gomez take on The Wizards Return: Alex vs. Alex?

Executive producer: Gomez took the credit on the 2013 special, which Victor Gonzalez directed and which went ahead without David Henrie's Justin.

According to Wizards of Waverly Place, Alex Russo was born in what kind of New York City vehicle?

A taxi cab, number 804, was Alex Russo's birthplace. When the cab is retired in the episode 'Taxi Dance', she magically repairs it and accidentally brings it to life.

Billie Eilish and Finneas have linked the Wizards of Waverly Place theme song to which of her hit singles?

Bad Guy was partly inspired by the sitcom's theme, a connection the siblings acknowledged in a December 2019 Rolling Stone interview.

Which future Oscar winner played the evil teacher Dr. Evilini in the first season of Wizards of Waverly Place?

Octavia Spencer played Dr. Evilini, who schemes to drain Justin's powers during a wizard-school tournament. Her breakthrough in The Help later won her the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress.

Which future star of the biopic Elvis appeared in season three of Wizards of Waverly Place as bandleader George?

Austin Butler played George, the school bandleader Alex has a crush on in the episode 'Positive Alex'. To win him over she casts a spell that turns her relentlessly cheerful.

What props were Selena Gomez and her on-screen brothers allowed to keep when Wizards of Waverly Place ended?

Their wands went home with all three Russo siblings after filming wrapped. The writers had kept the finale's winner secret from the cast until the episode was being shot.

In The Wizards Return: Alex vs. Alex, the villain installs his spell machine atop which famous European landmark?

The Leaning Tower of Pisa is where Dominic hides a spell replicator meant to trap every mortal in tiny beads. Alex gives up her powers to destroy the machine, then earns them back.

Which Hollywood action star appears as himself when Max Russo fakes an illness in Wizards of Waverly Place?

Dwayne Johnson shows up to offer sympathy after Max invents a disease that supposedly stops him seeing the colour orange. Misty May-Treanor is taken in too, until her niece exposes the lie.

Juliet van Heusen's father in Wizards of Waverly Place has a first name that spells which famous name backwards?

Dracula, reversed, gives Alucard, the name of Juliet's father. He and his wife Cindy open a business that competes with the Russos' own.

Which future Pretty Little Liars star played Miranda, Justin Russo's goth girlfriend in Wizards of Waverly Place?

Lucy Hale played Miranda in two first-season episodes, including the one where Justin keeps fumbling his first kiss. Her breakthrough as Aria Montgomery came in 2010.

Wizards of Waverly Place: The Movie had Disney Channel's second-biggest movie premiere, behind only which film?

High School Musical 2 had set the record two years earlier with 17.2 million viewers. The Wizards movie's 11.4 million still made it cable's top scripted telecast of 2009.

Which pop star guest-starred as herself in a season-three Wizards of Waverly Place episode named after her?

Shakira appears in 'Dude Looks Like Shakira', where the Russo children's uncle arrives to babysit in the singer's form. He confesses he made her up years ago, despite a wizard law against using magic for fame.

Selena Gomez later starred as Mabel Mora alongside Steve Martin and Martin Short in which comedy mystery series?

Only Murders in the Building began in 2021, with Gomez also serving as an executive producer. She has compared Mabel to an older version of Alex Russo.

The actress who plays Juliet van Heusen went on to lead which Disney Channel sitcom as big sister Teddy Duncan?

Good Luck Charlie ran for four seasons from 2010, with the former Juliet as Teddy, who films a video diary of advice for her baby sister.

The actress who plays Theresa Russo also played Connie Torres opposite Demi Lovato in which Disney Channel movie?

Camp Rock cast her as the mother of Demi Lovato's character in 2008, a year after Wizards began, and she returned for the sequel The Final Jam.

Theresa Russo's side of the family in Wizards of Waverly Place traces its heritage to which country?

Mexico is the heritage of Theresa Russo, which is why Alex gets a quinceañera in season one. Selena Gomez shares the same family background as her character.

Away from magic, Alex Russo of Wizards of Waverly Place shows real talent and career ambition in which field?

Art is the one subject where Alex excels, and she hopes to become an artist. In season two she is chosen to paint a mural for her school.

Disney cited I Dream of Jeannie and which other 1960s sitcom as influences on Wizards of Waverly Place?

Bewitched was named as an influence by programming executive Adam Bonnett, and critics later compared the two shows for their magical elements.

Which crossover character does Justin Russo briefly date aboard a teen cruise by pretending to be a doctor?

London Tipton falls for Justin when he poses as a doctor, then dumps him after he fails to help a choking passenger. Alex performs the rescue instead.

Before Wizards of Waverly Place: The Movie, which other Selena Gomez film was shot on the same Caribbean island?

Princess Protection Program, co-starring Demi Lovato, was filmed there first. Both movies premiered in summer 2009, and the full Wizards trailer first aired during its premiere.

Which English actor plays Mason Greyback, Alex Russo's boyfriend from season three of Wizards of Waverly Place?

Gregg Sulkin made his Hollywood debut as Mason after leading the Disney Channel UK comedy As the Bell Rings. He returned for the 2013 special and the sequel series' final season.

In Wizards of Waverly Place: The Movie, street magician Archie wants to turn which pet back into his girlfriend Giselle?

A parrot is the form Giselle is stuck in, and Archie needs the island's legendary treasure to change her back. She is the real schemer, though, and steals it for herself.

In The Wizards Return: Alex vs. Alex, a spell to shed her bad traits creates Alex's evil double inside what object?

A mirror holds the evil reflection only briefly before she escapes and flees abroad. Alex cast the spell to prove she was no longer an irresponsible wizard.

In the first episode of Wizards of Waverly Place, Alex Russo's magical clone can't talk and makes what sound instead?

The clone only barks like a dog, thanks to a slip in the duplication spell. Alex made her so she could skip wizard class for a ten-minute clothing sale.

Which Wizards of Waverly Place character, Alex Russo's rival since early childhood, hosts an annual tea party?

Gigi, whose real name is Gertrude Hollingsworth, uses her tea party to crown a guest the biggest loser. In the first episode she hides the jacket Alex wants at a sale.

Which car-loving classmate becomes Alex Russo's boyfriend in season two of Wizards of Waverly Place?

Dean Moriarty fixes up her father's old junk car at Alex's request, then enters it in a classic-car race. After he moves away she keeps dating him inside his dreams, then ends it.

Which elderly headmaster, a nod to Albus Dumbledore, runs the wizard school attended by Alex and Justin Russo?

Professor Crumbs, played by Ian Abercrombie, once suspends Alex's powers for hiding a failing report card. Justin talks him out of removing them for good.

In Wizards of Waverly Place, what is the name of the rival business opened next door by the vampire Van Heusen family?

Late Nite Bite starts stealing the Russos' customers, so Justin is sent over to spy. He falls for the owners' daughter instead.

Which Curb Your Enthusiasm star plays the Russo children's fun-loving wizard uncle in Wizards of Waverly Place?

Jeff Garlin plays the carefree uncle, whose running gag is a prank phone call after the credits of every episode he appears in.

The actress behind Theresa Russo voiced which superhero in the animated series Justice League?

Hawkgirl, also known as Shayera Hol, was her role in Justice League and Justice League Unlimited. She also voiced Sunset Boulevardez in The Proud Family.

Jake T. Austin, who plays Max Russo, went on to play teenager Jesus in which ABC Family drama series?

The Fosters cast him as Jesus, one of the twins adopted by a two-mother family. He was the original actor in the role, joining the cast in 2013.

Before playing Justin Russo, David Henrie had a recurring role as Larry on which Disney Channel sitcom?

That's So Raven featured him as Cory's friend Larry before his breakthrough role as Justin came along in 2007.

Wizards of Waverly Place premiered in October 2007 on the same night as which Disney Channel Original Movie sequel?

Twitches Too led into the new sitcom, which drew 5.9 million viewers. The movie was part of Disney Channel's Halloween Month.

In The Wizards Return: Alex vs. Alex, the villain Dominic is revealed as the nephew of which earlier Russo family enemy?

Gorog, leader of the Angels of Darkness, was destroyed by the three Russo siblings in the final season. Dominic first appears as one of Justin's assistants, delivering a message to the family.

In the Wizards of Waverly Place episode 'Curb Your Dragon', Alex buys Justin a dragon disguised as which dog breed?

A beagle is the disguise, though the pet can still fly and breathe fire. Alex buys it out of guilt for losing Justin's dog nine years earlier.

In the Wizards of Waverly Place episode 'Quinceañera', Alex Russo magically swaps bodies with which relative?

Her mother, Theresa, never had a quinceañera because her family could not afford one. Alex makes the swap so that Theresa can enjoy the party she planned.

Which guardian angel becomes Justin Russo's girlfriend in the final season of Wizards of Waverly Place?

Rosie, played by Leven Rambin, turns out to be an Angel of Darkness sent to lure Justin to the dark side. Rambin later played Glimmer in The Hunger Games.

After mastering his 5,000th spell in Wizards of Waverly Place, Justin Russo signs up for which course?

Monster hunting is the course Justin signs up for in season three. He then reports three unregistered monsters on Waverly Place, forgetting that his own girlfriend's family is among them.

In the Wizards of Waverly Place episode 'Retest', Jerry Russo turns out to have which unmentioned sister?

Megan still holds a grudge against Jerry and refuses to retake the family wizard test. Alex is compared to her all episode, until Justin points out that Alex can apologise.

On a crossover cruise, Alex Russo dodges trouble by telling Mr. Moseby she is which real-life celebrity?

Ashley Olsen is the name Alex gives after cheating at tug-of-war. Asked again later, she forgets her own lie and says Ashley Simpson.

Giada Russo's TV news station in Wizards Beyond Waverly Place has which call letters, a nod to the original show?

WOWP News employs Giada as an investigative reporter, and the letters are the initials of Wizards of Waverly Place. She is a mortal who married into the family.

In the final season of Wizards Beyond Waverly Place, Mason Greyback returns to help Alex in what form?

As a ghost, Mason comes back because he died at some point between the two series. The franchise's creator publicly objected to the decision to kill the character off.

Which star of the 1990s sitcom Boy Meets World directed episodes of Wizards Beyond Waverly Place?

Danielle Fishel, who played Topanga, made her directing debut on Girl Meets World in 2016 and has since directed several Disney Channel series.

In the original Wizards of Waverly Place opening credits, Harper points to her shirt themed on which fruit?

Watermelon is the theme of the shirt Harper shows Alex at the front door. That title sequence ran for three seasons before a new one set in the wizard lair replaced it.

Which Saturday Night Live alum plays the future, grown-up Harper in Wizards of Waverly Place?

Rachel Dratch plays a Harper who has travelled back in time and, as author H.J. Darling, turned the Russos' lives into a best-selling book series.

Which supermodel guest-starred in the Wizards of Waverly Place episode 'Fashion Week' as Bibi Rockford?

Cindy Crawford appears when a designer's double-booked fashion show is moved to the Russos' shop. Magic is down for the day, leaving Alex unable to fix a ruined one-of-a-kind dress.

Which future Shake It Up star played Nancy Lukey, Max Russo's secret girlfriend in Wizards of Waverly Place?

Bella Thorne played Nancy, whom Max hides from his family to avoid embarrassment. She dumps him after he tells her he is a wizard and the Russos cover it with more lies.

Which song did Selena Gomez cover for Wizards of Waverly Place: The Movie, reaching number 61 on the Hot 100?

Magic, first a hit for the Scottish band Pilot, was her promotional single for the soundtrack. Its video mixed her performance with clips from the movie.

David DeLuise, the father in Wizards of Waverly Place, had a recurring role as Pete Shanahan in which sci-fi series?

Stargate SG-1 featured him as Pete Shanahan before he became Jerry Russo. He later directed numerous Wizards episodes, starting with 'My Tutor, Tutor'.

Which actor plays Conscience, Max Russo's inner voice brought to life in season three of Wizards of Waverly Place?

Moisés Arias plays Conscience, who becomes a real person and, once separated from Max, starts developing a conscience of his own.

In a 2009 Disney Channel crossover, Justin Russo wins a teen cruise to Hawaii through what kind of competition?

An essay contest earns Justin the trip, and Max and Alex tag along. Alex is only allowed aboard once she learns the ship has a school.