Jake T. Austin shares brutal reason he didn't return for Wizards of Waverly Place reboot
Reboots of fan favourite shows are often a let down for viewers who hope to see all of the original cast, and one recent spin-off is missing a main character.
There was a recent disappointment for the Hannah Montana anniversary reunion, and now fans of Wizards of Waverly Place have been left wanting, too.
One of the stars of the show, Jake T. Austin, was missing from screens for the new spinoff, called Wizards Beyond Waverly Place.
Austin played the role of Max Russo in the original show, the youngest of the Russo siblings.
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He starred alongside David Henrie as Justin Russo and Selena Gomez as Alex Russo in the original Disney Channel series.
Fans had been wondering why he wasn't involved seeing as he had such a major role, and many assumed he had turned it down or had since moved on.
The star has shared an update to social media, and it's a brutal reason.
He confessed he was originally asked to be involved in 2020 and was '100% in', but then something changed...
Austin shared on his Instagram story: “To all the Wizards fans, just wanted to say for the record how disappointed I am to have not been included in the spinoff."
"I was asked back in 2020 if I was interested in reprising my role and said that I was 100% in," he admitted.
"Unfortunately, the powers that be decided to take the show in a different direction and my character wasn’t part of the equation. Even though I wasn’t involved, I still have nothing but love for my former castmates and wish them continued success," the star added, before stressing his gratitude again.
"Thank you to all the fans who watched over the years. The show wouldn’t be what it is without your endless support.”
The spin-off series features Justin Russo trying to live a normal life with his wife, Giada, and their sons, Roman and Milo.
It's all going well until Selena Gomez's Alex turns up with a young wizard-in-training.
Gomez returned to revive her role of Alex for the four-part finale, and even directed the first episode of the final series.
Wizards of Waverly Place originally aired for four seasons from 2007 to 2012.
As well as the TV show, there was two films, 2009's Wizards of Waverly Place: The Movie in 2009 and 2013's The Wizards Return: Alex vs. Alex.
It seems Austin wasn't the only one who missed out though.
David DeLuise, who played the dad, Jerry Russo, only appeared in two episodes of the revival and hit out at the showrunners for not including more of the original cast members, at least for the finale.
DeLuise wrote, “It would not be over if the OG wizards were really there. Missed opportunity.”
Topics: TV And Film, Disney Plus, Selena Gomez, Entertainment
Jen Thomas