Tag Archives: Mimi Gianopulos

Selena Gomez Reveals Name of “Wizards of Waverly Place” Spinoff

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Selena Gomez is going above and beyond Waverly Place…

The 31-year-old has announced that the new Wizards of Waverly Place spinoff will be titled Wizards Beyond Waverly Place.

Selena Gomez, Wizards Beyond Waverly PlaceDuring Disney’s upfront on Tuesday, Gomez also shared two first-look images.

The photos give fans a glimpse at grownup Alex and Justin Russo, played by Gomez and David Henrie, who are reprising their roles.

A secondary image introduces the spinoff’s new characters: Billie, portrayed by Janice LeAnn Brown, and the Russo family, played by Mimi Gianopulos (Giada Russo), Alkaio Thiele (Roman Russo) and Max Matenko (Milo Russo).

Selena Gomez, Wizards Beyond Waverly PlaceIn addition, Taylor Cora will join the series’ regular cast in the role of Winter, Billie’s bubbly, quirky and oversharing best friend.

Wizards Beyond Waverly Place follows an adult Justin Russo, who has chosen to lead a normal, mortal life with his family, Giada, Roman and Milo. When Justin’s sister Alex brings Billie to his home seeking help, Justin realizes he must dust off his magical skills to mentor the wizard-in-training while also juggling his everyday responsibilities — and safeguarding the future of the Wizard World.

From Disney Branded Television, the series is slated to premiere on Disney Channel and Disney+ later this year.

Jed Elinoff and Scott Thomas serve as writers and executive producers, along with Gary Marsh, Gomez and Henrie. Andy Fickman directed and executive-produced the pilot and will direct multiple episodes.

Selena Gomez to Executive Produce & Guest Star in Disney’s “Wizards of Waverly Place” Sequel

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Selena Gomez is heading back to the place it all started…

One of Disney’s signature comedies, Wizards of Waverly Place, which helped turn the 31-year-old Mexican American actress/singer into a household name, is getting a sequel.

Selena GomezDisney Branded Television has ordered a pilot for the follow-up, which is executive produced by original stars Gomez and her small screen sibling David Henrie.

Gomez will guest star in the pilot for Disney Channel as the character that helped launch her career, Alex Russo, with Henrie reprising the role of Justin Russo as a series regular.

They’ll be joined by new cast members Janice LeAnn Brown, Alkaio Thiele and Mimi Gianopulos.

The revival pilot comes from writers and executive producers Jed Elinoff and Scott Thomas who are behind another Disney Channel comedy spinoff, Raven’s Home.

It picks up after a mysterious incident at WizTech, where an adult Justin Russo has left his wizard powers behind, opting for a normal, human life with his wife and two sons. But he gets a surprise when a powerful young wizard in need of training shows up at his door… and Justin must embrace his past to ensure the future of the Wizard World.

The powerful young wizard Billie, whom Justin takes under his wing, will be portrayed by series lead Brown. Thiele will play Roman Russo, Justin’s oldest son; Gianopulos will play Justin’s wife, Giada.

In addition to Gomez, Henrie, Elinoff and Thomas, Gary Marsh and Andy Fickman will also executive produce, with Fickman directing.

Marsh was the former longtime top Disney Channel creative executive who was the driving force behind Wizards of Waverly Place and was instrumental in getting Gomez on the network after she was discovered during an open casting call in Dallas.

Created by Todd J. Greenwald, the original series, which ran from 2007-2012, followed the Russo family, where three siblings navigated the challenges of adolescence while mastering their magical abilities. The cast also included Jake T. Austin, Jennifer Stone, Maria Canals-Barrera and David DeLuise, all of whom (minus Henrie), reunited for the TV special The Wizards Return: Alex Vs. Alex in 2013.

The pilot order caps years of online chatter about a potential Wizards Of Waverly Place revival or reboot. It also fits into Disney Branded Television’s strategy of beefing up Disney Channel’s lineup of multi-camera sitcoms.

Gomez is currently in the Disney family as a star and executive producer of the hit Hulu/20th Television comedy series Only Murders In the Building.

Cabral Cast in ABC Family’s “Continuing Fred” Pilot

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Angelique Cabral has landed her next role…

The 33-year-old part-Latina actress has signed on to star opposite Mimi Gianopulos in ABC Family’s half-hour comedy pilot Continuing Fred.

Angelique Cabral

The project centers on twentysomething Winifred “Fred” Harris (Gianopulos), a newly graduated slacker with an overbearing family who surprisingly finds purpose when she begins to teach at a local elementary school.

Cabral will portray an East Coast transplant living with her husband’s mom.

Cabral, whose character was cut from the Devious Maids pilot after the show’s pick up by Lifetime, has a recurring role on ABC’s Don’t Trust The B—- in Apartment 23. Her other television credits include The Glades, Happy Endings and Two and a Half Men, as well as roles on the soap operas All My Children, One Life to Live and Guiding Light.