Wizards of Waverly Place’s Jake T. Austin broke his silence on being left out of the revival, and his story doesn’t match what fans were told. The original Max Russo actor addressed his Wizards Beyond Waverly Place absence and revealed conflicting details about what happened behind the scenes.
Jake T. Austin explains why he wasn’t part of Wizards Beyond Waverly Place
Jake T. Austin recently shared his frustration over being excluded from Wizards Beyond Waverly Place. The actor portrayed Max Russo across all four seasons of the original Disney Channel series. He also appeared in the 2009 TV movie and the 2012 special The Wizards Return.
Following the revival’s Aug. 4 finale, Austin posted a statement on his Instagram Story. “Just wanted to say for the record how disappointed I am to have not been included in the spinoff,” he wrote. Austin revealed that producers approached him in 2020 about reprising his role. “I was asked back in 2020 if I was interested in reprising my role and said that I was 100% in,” he continued. However, he said the decision-makers took the show in a different creative direction.
Austin’s account appears to conflict with comments from his former co-star David Henrie. Henrie, who also served as a producer on Beyond, recently spoke with TV Insider about Austin’s absence. He claimed Austin was indeed asked to return but attributed his absence to a busy schedule. Henrie expressed love for his former castmate and wished him well with his endeavors.
Despite the situation, Austin maintained a gracious tone throughout his public statement. “Even though I wasn’t involved, I still have nothing but love for my former castmates,” he wrote. He also thanked fans directly and credited their endless support for the show’s legacy. Meanwhile, David DeLuise also criticized the revival’s handling of original cast members before the finale. DeLuise played the Russo siblings’ father and guest-starred in Beyond’s first season.
Selena Gomez made several special appearances across the revival’s three-season run alongside Henrie. Representatives for Wizards Beyond Waverly Place did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
