David Henry believes that he and Selena Gomez have remained friends since their teenage years because of their honesty towards each other. Having spent their childhood days on the set of Disney Channel’s Wizards of Waverly Place, the two have formed a strong bond regardless of Gomez’s international fame.
“It’s been amazing. Despite all the great successes he and I have had, our relationship has weathered it all because, I don’t know, we’re real with each other,” she told People.
Henry explained that their friendship has endured over the years because it has never been fake and they were friends long before either of them were famous. She reflected on her genuine bond with the rare beauty mogul, saying, “I think there’s a freedom in it that’s hard to achieve.”
Henry and Gomez, in addition to their friendship, will also be reuniting professionally for a new series that will be a sequel to their original series, Wizards of Waverly Place, titled Wizards Beyond Waverly Place, which will be released on October 29 . The television series will revolve around Justin Russo (Henry), the brother of Gomez’s iconic character, Alex Russo, who is trying to live a normal life with his family. However, she is drawn back into the magical realm when her sister Alex (Gomez) meets a young wizard, Billie (Janice Lynn Brown), who needs help.
According to Henry, the idea for the sequel series emerged during informal dinner-table conversations he had with Gomez over the years. The two showed a close camaraderie and they appreciated the brother-sister duo in the original show and they also thought about the future prospects of their respective characters. Ultimately, he decided to pitch the idea to Disney and was pleased that the network immediately accepted the proposal and greenlit the series.
The new series aims to focus in such a way that it appeals not only to old fans but also to new fans. Henry explained that fans should expect a lot of references to the previous series but with new roles and storylines.
David Henry and Selena Gomez also serve as executive producers on the project. Wizards Beyond Waverly Place arrives on Disney Channel and Disney+ on October 29.
Also read: Selena Gomez reflects on the feeling of nostalgia during the filming of the Wizards of Waverly Place spinoff starring David Henry; Call Reboot ‘Childhood’s Gift’
