Selena Gomez may have gotten her start on Barney & Friends but it was with Wizards of Waverly Place that Gomez became a Disney Channel household name. While there were other shows on at the time that appeared on the surface to be similar to Wizards of Waverly Place, fans of the show recognized something different about it.

There was still the over-the-top acting that Disney was known for, but WWP was more relatable to fans. It was funny because it was one of the only shows at the time to use sarcastic humor. Wizards of Waverly Place was also a hit because of Gomez and her chemistry with her co-stars, David Henrie and Jake T. Austin.

When the news broke in 2024 that Wizards of Waverly Place was coming back for a revival, fans of the series wondered if Gomez and the original cast were going to be involved. There was an incentive: Gomez would increase her net worth by appearing on Wizards of Waverly Place. Other cast members could revitalize their careers.

Be it behind the scenes or in front of the camera, there was a desire to have the original cast be a part of the reboot. However, given how long it had been since WWP was filmed and with Gomez, specifically being involved in another television show and her music, it was unclear how the logistics would work out to make this happen.