Jake T. Austin has said he was disappointed not to be included in Disney’s Wizards of Waverly Place revival, despite having expressed interest in returning as Max Russo in 2020. His comments matter because they conflict with co-star David Henrie’s suggestion that Austin had been invited back but was too busy to take part.

Austin said the programme’s makers chose a different direction and omitted his character, while stressing that he supports his former castmates. Wizards Beyond Waverly Place launched in 2024, ran for three series and ended on Tuesday; Selena Gomez and Henrie returned as the Russo siblings and executive producers, alongside David DeLuise and Maria Canals-Barrera. The revival explained Max’s absence by saying he had turned the family sandwich shop into a billion-dollar franchise and now lived on a yacht.