Selena Gomez to Star in new Wizards of Waverly Place Movie!

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Good news for all you fans of wizardry! Selena Gomez will reprise her role as Alex in a new Wizards of Waverly Place movie. Also serving as executive producer, Gomez began filming the new Disney Channel Original Movie this October in Los Angeles, CA for an early 2013 release.

Disney Channel president and Chief Creative Officer Gary Marsh realized that fans of the Wizards of Waverley Place franchise were not ready to say goodbye after the show’s finale received incredible ratings and over 10 million viewers. Previous co-stars Jake T. Austin, Jennifer Stone, Maria Canals-Barrera, David DeLuise and Gregg Sulkin will join Selena for another round of zany magic in the beautiful Tuscan countryside. David Henrie, who plays Alex’s older brother Justin, will not reprise his role due to scheduling conflicts.

In the new Wizards of Waverly Place: The Movie, the Russo family and their friends travel to Tuscany, Italy to visit distant relatives.  As usual, Alex wants to prove that she’s a top notch wizard, but ends up conjuring a spell that creates both a good and evil Alex. She then gets tangled in a handsome young wizard’s plan to take over the world. The “good” Alex has to find a way to save her family, which leads to a battle between the two versions of herself on the iconic Leaning Tower of Pisa. Alex’s steady boyfriend Mason will definitely have his hands full competing for Alex’s affections. Turns out the casting call for the evil young wizard named Dominic specifically requires the actor to be mysterious and handsome!

The first Wizards of Waverly Place movie also aired on the Disney Channel in August 2009. Filmed mostly in San Juan, Puerto Rico, the movie had over 11.4 million viewers, making it the second most viewed Disney Channel Original Movie at that time behind High School Musical 2.  In the movie, the entire Russo family escapes to a Caribbean island, where Alex gets in a fight with her parents and makes a wish that they had never met while holding a spell book and wand. When the wish is granted and her parents don’t recognize each other or their children, Alex must set off to find the Stone of Dreams and reverse her spell before she and her brothers disappear forever. Overall the movie received excellent ratings which likely helped Disney decide to make a sequel.

It’s nice to see a Disney starlet who appreciates her roots with the company. Selena Gomez definitely has the Wizards of Waverly Place franchise to thank for her celebrity status. After starring on the hit television series for four seasons, Gomez became a favorite of fashion designers and is dating Justin Bieber, one of the biggest pop stars on the planet. She parlayed her acting talent and exposure through Disney into mainstream roles in movies like Monte Carlo, Another Cinderella Story and Spring Breakers. Playing Alex on the Disney show was a perfect opportunity to show the world that she is a versatile actress who can do both comedy and drama. Assuming the role of executive producer for Wizards of Waverly Place: The Movie gives Selena an opportunity to prove that she’s more than just a pretty face in front of the camera. Her intelligence and strong work ethic can open doors into the business side of films.

Will the new movie be another hit for The Disney Channel?  Fans will have to wait until 2013 to find out. So far, Selena Gomez has proven to be one of the most bankable, young stars in Hollywood. With her on board, Wizards of Waverly Place: The Movie is sure to be a fan favorite and commercial success.

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One Comment

1. 

   david b conway

   November 1, 2012 at 1:53 am

   no comment by me just do,nt what to hurt any more with walt disney company and to selena gomez as it is now ok , love david conway

   Reply