Jake T. Austin’s Absence and Potential Return in ‘Wizards Beyond Waverly Place’

Jake T. Austin, known for his role as Max Russo in the popular Disney Channel series ‘Wizards of Waverly Place,’ has not appeared in the initial episodes of the sequel series ‘Wizards Beyond Waverly Place,’ which premiered on October 29, 2024. Despite his absence, there is ongoing speculation about his potential return to the show.

Austin’s character, Max Russo, was the youngest sibling in the original series and often provided comic relief. In the finale of ‘Wizards of Waverly Place,’ Max lost the family wizard competition and inherited the family’s sub-sandwich shop. In ‘Wizards Beyond Waverly Place,’ it is revealed that Max has successfully expanded the business and become a billionaire restaurateur.

Since his time on ‘Wizards of Waverly Place,’ Austin has had a varied career, including roles in ‘The Fosters‘ and films like ‘opposite The Valley’ and ‘Adverse.’ However, he has not acted in the last four years. Austin had previously taken a break from acting due to personal issues, including running with the wrong crowd and not taking his work seriously.

David Henrie, who plays Justin Russo in the series, has expressed hopes to reunite as many members of the original cast as possible, which has fueled speculation about Austin’s potential return. Selena Gomez, who plays Alex Russo, has also hinted at the possibility of Max’s return through recent updates.

The new series follows Justin Russo as he attempts to live a mortal life with his family while being drawn back into the wizarding world to mentor a young wizard-in-training. The show has already generated significant excitement, with its trailer setting a record for Disney Channel.