History Series / WizardsOfWaverlyPlace

''Wizards of Waverly Place'' (2007-2012) is a Creator/DisneyChannel sitcom created by Todd J. Greenwald about three siblings -- Alex (Music/SelenaGomez), Justin (Creator/DavidHenrie), and Max (Creator/JakeTAustin) Russo -- growing up in New York and dealing with the typical problems all teenagers go through. The catch? [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin They're wizards]]. [[HilarityEnsues Hijinks ensue]] as they try to deal with being wizards while not exposing magic to the normal world.

In 2010, the show became one of only six [[Franchise/DisneyChannelLiveActionUniverse live-action Disney shows]] to have a fourth season ordered[[note]]the others being ''Series/ThatsSoRaven'', ''Series/HannahMontana'', ''Series/GoodLuckCharlie'', ''Series/AustinAndAlly'' and ''Series/{{JESSIE}}''[[/note]]. A month after the renewal, it was announced that this season would be the show's last, reportedly so that Gomez could pursue more mature roles. The season finished airing on January 6, 2012, with the series finale centering around the Family Wizard Competition, which decides which of the three Russo siblings would become the family wizard.

The show received a [[TheMovie made-for-TV movie]] in 2009 (simply titled ''Wizards of Waverly Place: The Movie''), in which the Russo family vacation in the Caribbean, Alex makes a wish that goes awry due to magic, and she must team up with her siblings to reverse the effects. It also won two UsefulNotes/{{Emmy Award}}s in 2009 and 2012 for Outstanding Children's Program, and is Disney's longest-running live-action series, with 106 episodes by production order. (Only ''WesternAnimation/PhineasAndFerb'', which runs episodes in an 11-minute format[[note]]and ran three more years, from 2007-2015[[/note]], has more on the network.) Several of the show's main characters, including the Russo siblings, also participated in a Massive {{Crossover}} Event titled ''Wizards [[Series/TheSuiteLifeOnDeck On Deck]] with Hannah Montana''.

* HappyEndOverride: Justin and Juliet end the series together, but the reboot reveals Justin has a new wife. This combined with Bridgit Mendler essentially retiring from acting means Juliet is unlikely to be seen again.

On January 18, 2024, a {{revival}} series was announced to be in the pilot phase; after the pilot was filmed on February 1, it was ordered to series on March 22. The series, simply titled ''Wizards'', will center around an adult Justin (played by a returning Henrie), who has "left his wizard powers behind" in favor of a normal life with a wife and kids, being called back into action by a powerful young wizard. Gomez is slated to guest star as well as executive produce along with Henrie. No other original cast members have signed on to return at this time, though Henrie stated prior to the show being picked up that a full series order could make such returns a possibility.

On January 18, 2024, a {{revival}} series was announced to be in the pilot phase; after the pilot was filmed on February 1, it was ordered to series on March 22. The series, simply titled ''Wizards'', will center around an adult Justin (played by a returning Henrie), who has chosen to give up his wizarding life to live a normal life with a wife and kids, being called back into action by a powerful young wizard. Gomez is slated to guest star as well as executive produce along with Henrie. No other original cast members have signed on to return at this time, though Henrie stated prior to the show being picked up that a full series order could make such returns a possibility.

On January 18, 2024, a {{revival}} series was announced to be in the pilot phase; after the pilot was filmed on February 1, it was ordered to series on March 22. The series, simply titled ''Wizards'', will center around an adult Justin (played by a returning Henrie), who has chosen to move on from his wizarding past to live a normal life with his wife and kids, being called back into action by a powerful young wizard. Gomez is slated to guest star as well as executive produce along with Henrie. No other original cast members have signed on to return at this time, though Henrie stated prior to the show being picked up that a full series order could make such returns a possibility.

In 2010, the show became one of only six [[Franchise/DisneyChannelLiveActionUniverse live-action Disney shows]] to have a fourth season ordered[[note]]the others being ''Series/ThatsSoRaven'', ''Series/HannahMontana'', ''Series/GoodLuckCharlie'', ''Series/AustinAndAlly'' and ''Series/{{JESSIE}}''[[/note]]. A month after the renewal, it was announced that this season would be the show's last, reportedly so that Gomez could pursue more mature roles. The season finished airing on January 6, 2012, with the series finale centering around the Family Wizard Competition, which decides which of the three Russo siblings will become the family wizard.

A one-hour TV special called ''The Wizards Return: Alex [[VersusTitle vs.]] [[TrailersAlwaysSpoil Alex]]'', reuniting the main cast of the show, was broadcasted in 2013. Gomez not only returned to her role but [[DirectedByCastMember was also an executive producer of the movie]]; Henrie did not reprise his role, citing various reasons.

On Janurary 18 2024, a revival was announced to be in the pilot phase, starring Justin and his wife and kids with Gomez slated to guest star as well as executive produce along with David Henrie. No other cast members have signed onto return at this time, though Henrie has stated it's possible others may show up if the show is ordered to series.

* {{Catchphrase}}:

* TheChampion: Justin, for Alex.
** And Alex for Justin, whenever he happens to turn into a wolf or goes [[BrainwashedAndCrazy crazy]].

On Janurary 18 2024, a revival was announced starring Justin and his wife and kids with Gomez slated to guest star. No other cast members have signed onto return at this time.

* GrowingUpSucks: Only one of the Russo kids (the one who's found to be the most experienced) will get to keep their magic when they reach adulthood. Has potential for ChekhovsGun when combined with "Wizards cannot marry non-wizards" - Justin or Alex are going to be (a) non-wizard(s).

** After Riley breaks up with Alex for being a Clingy Jealous Girl, Alex brings a mannequin to life and pretends to date him to make Riley jealous. Sure enough, she wins him back.

* OOCIsSeriousBusiness: The family mentions that Alex seems to have a LackOfEmpathy regarding others' pain, including her own, and that tends to fuel a lot of her thoughtless actions. Therefore, if there is an episode where she performs a selfless act, worries about others, or starts ''crying'', her parents and brothers know something is up and go to ask her about what is wrong. Case in point, she did all she could to warn Alex that Evilini wanted to drain his magic, though it would make her the family wizard and eliminate the competition, because while she will tease Justin and prank him, she doesn't want him badly hurt. In fact, she goes through a lot of effort before Justin believes her since he understandably thinks it's another prank, and he is shocked when she risks Evilini's wrath to expose the woman. In another case, when learning that her werewolf boyfriend once dated Justin's vampire girlfriend and Mason blurts out he still loves Juliet, Alex is shocked. She spends a few days in her room crying, and actually deigns to accept a comforting hug from her mother. When talking with Mason about, Alex points out that she ''knows'' that she screws up a lot of things, but she wouldn't mess with the heart of someone she loves. When Jerry tries to cheer her up with a prank of giving a customer prune juice instead of soda, you know that she's really hurting when she admonishes him for it instead of laughing.
-->'''Alex''': Oh, that poor man. What did he ever do to you, Dad?

While the show [[FollowTheLeader shares]] qualities with other wizardry-centered media (e.g. ''Manga/SallyTheWitch'', ''Series/SabrinaTheTeenageWitch'', ''Series/{{Bewitched}}'', ''Series/Charmed1998'', ''Film/HarryPotter movies''), it managed to distinguish itself with clever writing, as well as a [[ContinuityCreep strong focus on continuity]] in later seasons.

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* SpiritualSuccessor: To ''Series/PhilOfTheFuture'', in the sense that it's Disney's current show with supernatural/magical elements.
** It also seems that ''Series/LabRats'' is starting to take this role for ''Wizards.'' Both share the same director as well as some of the crew, and both are also about a family keeping special powers a secret while trying to fit into normal lives and occasional adventures.
** To ''WesternAnimation/AmericanDragonJakeLong'' as well. Both series takes place in New York City, have a supernatural/fantasy theme, their big secret is their supernatural powers, and have some of the same writers.

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[[caption-width-right:327:PowerTrio...[[DysfunctionalFamily at]] [[SiblingRivalry first]] [[BlatantLies glance]].]]

* FatalAttractor: Justin. So far there's been a vampire, a werewolf, and an angel of darkness. He's also been out with a centaur and a half-elf, which aren't so much as dangerous as they are [[AnythingThatMoves weird]].