‘Wizards of Waverly Place’ star Jake T. Austin breaks silence on absence from revival

Austin, who portrayed Max Russo in the original series, stated he was available to participate in the new revival but was not invited. The actor publicly characterized his exclusion as a snub, noting he had been prepared to return to the role. This disclosure follows online discourse regarding the absence of original cast members in the production.

David Henrie addressed the situation, stating that efforts were made to include Austin in the project. Meanwhile, David DeLuise publicly criticized the production for the omission of original stars from the show's finale. Coverage from outlets including Variety, TVLine, and Entertainment Weekly details the discrepancy between Austin's expressed willingness to return and the casting decisions made by the production.

The situation has generated backlash among audiences, as noted by IMDb, regarding the absence of legacy characters. While Austin has voiced his disappointment, current coverage does not specify any future plans to integrate the actor or other absent cast members into the ongoing series.