Wizards of Waverly Place may have ended its four-season run back in Jan. 2012, but as we saw on the March 14 reunion special — The Wizards Return: Alex Vs. Alex — some things never change. Justin (David Henrie) will always be the Russo family’s golden child, even when he’s not around; Max (Jake T. Austin) will always be delightfully stupid, and Alex’s (Selena Gomez) spells will ALWAYS blow up in her face.

‘The Wizards Return: Alex Vs. Alex’

Tired of being criticized for being inadequate, Alex magically cast out all of her “bad parts” into an evil version of herself on the highly anticipated special. But Evil Alex was trapped in a mirror, so nothing bad could happen, right? Wrong. With a little help from Dominic (Beau Mirchoff) – a charming “friend” of Justin’s from Wiz Tech — Evil Alex was set free.

Evil Alex zipped off to Italy, where the entire Russo clan — minus Justin — was enjoying a nice family reunion, and strategically trapped everyone inside her magic charm bracelet. She even trapped Mason (Gregg Sulkin), who already wasn’t a fan of Dominic, as the well-groomed wizard seemed determined to split him Alex up.

That’s when Good Alex discovered Dominic’s big secret: He’s actually the nephew of Gorog — leader of the Angels of Darkness — and he planned to rid the entire world of mortals! In order to get her family back, Good Alex agreed to power up Dominic’s evil machine, which landed her behind bars. Literally.

A surprisingly judgmental group of giant crystals sentenced Alex to death — way harsh! — for her misdeeds, but just when Alex thought all hope was lost, a wolf’d-out Mason sprung her from her cell.

Are Alex’s Wizard-ing Days Over?

A wild battle between the Alexes ensued in Times Square — not unlike my daily scuffles with the costumed Elmos during my commute to work — but it was no use. The only way for Alex to destroy her evil doppelgänger, along with Dominic’s machine, was to also destroy her powers completely.

And in true Wizards fashion, the entire messy ordeal was neatly taken care of in the final moments. Though defeating Evil Alex wasn’t enough to earn her powers back, her friendship with Harper (Jennifer Stone) was!

The crystals gave her Alex one last chance to be good, and she promised they’d be seeing her again someday soon. (Can you say sequel?)

HollywoodLifers, what did you think of the new Wizards movie? Drop us a comment with your personal review!

— Andy Swift

Follow @AndySwift

More ‘Wizards Return’ coverage on HollywoodLife.com:

1. ‘The Wizards Return’ Video: Alex Creates An Evil Version Of Herself
2. ‘Wizards Return’ Video: Selena Gomez’s Big Fight Scene Revealed
3. Jake T. Austin Talks Transitioning From ‘Wizards’ To ‘Fosters’

The Russos are back! The Wizards Return: Alex Vs. Alex brings the magical TV family together for the first time since Wizards of Waverly Place ended in Jan. 2012, and you’ll be happy to know that very little has changed — including Max’s dangerously low I.Q. Jake T. Austin, who portrays the youngest Russo, stopped by HollywoodLife.com to give us all the behind-the-scenes scoop on the major TV event.

“Max has been trying to be as responsible as he can without his powers,” Jake told me. “He’s steered clear of most trouble, but he dives into some mischief in the special. He has to take responsibility more head-on in saving his sister.”

In addition to the usual mischief we’ve come to expect from the Russo clan, The Wizards Return also features a surprising amount of fighting, mostly from Selena Gomez, who pulled double-duty as an executive producer on the special.

“Selena did a great job, both on-camera and off-camera,” Jake said. “A lot of the stunt work was choreographed, and to make it look natural was not easy. Incorporating magic and comedy and a lot of elements into the show very difficult. But like the series, we were able to pull it off, so hopefully fans are able to get what they want.”

Will There Be More ‘Wizards Of Waverly Place’ Specials In The Future?

And while I had Jake’s ear, of course I had to ask if there could be more Wizards movies in his future. (Spoiler alert: The special has a bit of an open ending.)

“Hopefully we can get another opportunity to work together again,” he said. “This was something I was definitely eager for. I think it was essential for the end of the show.”

Watch my interview with Jake below, and be sure to catch The Wizards Return: Alex Vs. Alex when it premieres March 15 at 8 p.m. on Disney Channel!

— Andy Swift

Follow @AndySwift

More Wizards Return coverage on HollywoodLife.com:

1. ‘The Wizards Return’ Video: Alex Creates An Evil Version Of Herself
2. ‘Wizards Return’ Video: Selena Gomez’s Big Fight Scene Revealed
3. Selena Gomez’s ‘Wizards Return’ Trailer Released — Watch

We all know Selena Gomez can act; we all know she can sing; but can she fight? That’s what we’ll find out when the Disney Channel star shows off her killer moves in The Wizards Return: Alex Vs. Alex, premiering March 15 at 8 p.m. And now, thanks to this behind-the-scenes clip from the Mouse-owned network, we can see how Selena and the rest of the Wizards gang pulled off every high-flying stunt.

“I think it’s the best we’ve ever done,” Selena says, seated proudly on the Wizards set.

Along with Selena’s highly anticipated fight scene, this new behind-the-scenes video also gives us our first look at Awkward star Beau Mirchoff as wicked wizard Dominic, and Gregg Sulkin as Mason in all his wolfish glory.

How Selena Trained For Her Action-Packed Role

“There’s a really cool fight scene where Selena fights herself that I’m really excited to see,” Jennifer Stone says.

That’s right, there’s fighting. In fact, The Wizards Return involves more action than pretty much every Wizards of Waverly Place episode combined, so Selena had to do quite a bit of training to prepare for battle.

“I did a whole martial-arts fight sequence with myself,” Selena says. “I spent a day in between takes learning how to fight myself, so having to learn one choreography to the other side. That took us a long time to shoot, so I’m really happy with it. I think it’ll look really cool.”

Watch the behind-the-scenes video below, then drop a comment: Will you be checking out The Wizards Return on March 15?

— Andy Swift

Follow @AndySwift

More Wizards Return coverage on HollywoodLife.com:

1. ‘The Wizards Return’ Video: Alex Creates An Evil Version Of Herself
2. Jake T. Austin Talks Transitioning From ‘Wizards’ To ‘Fosters’
3. Selena Gomez’s ‘Wizards Return’ Trailer Released — Watch

The wait is almost over! Selena Gomez will reunite with her Wizards of Waverly Place family March 15 for an all-new special, The Wizards Return: Alex vs. Alex — and HollywoodLife.com has an exclusive first look at how all of Alex’s troubles begin.

Tired of being known for only doing bad things, Alex decides to magically cast out all of her negative qualities, leaving only a perfect shell behind. Unfortunately, Alex’s negativity manifests itself into an evil version of herself, which proceeds to wreak havoc on her friends and family.

Some things never change; Alex may have secured the title of Russo Family Wizard on the show’s Jan. 2012 series finale, but her spells are still blowing up in her face.

Adding to the madness of The Wizards Return, the Russos take a trip to Tuscany, where they meet Jerry’s (David DeLuise) family — and Evil Alex comes along for the ride. The hour-long special finds the two Alexes feuding internationally, culminating in one final battle atop the Leaning Tower of Pisa. Because, hey, why not?

More ‘Wizards Return’ Plot Details

Though David Henrie — who played Selena’s on-screen brother, Justin — won’t be appearing in The Wizards Return, the rest of the original cast will be returning: David and Maria Canals Barrera as Alex’s parents, Jerry and Theresa; Jake T. Austin as Alex’s powerless little brother Max; Jennifer Stone as Alex’s fashion-challenged BFF Harper; and Gregg Sulkin as Alex’s werewolf boyfriend Mason.

There’s also a new, yet familiar, face joining the Russos: Awkward star Beau Mirchoff will play Dominic, a strapping young wizard whose intentions might not be as pure as they seem. (Spoiler alert: they’re definitely not as pure as they seem.)

HollywoodLifers, are you excited for The Wizards Return this Friday? Watch our exclusive first-look clip below, then be sure to come back March 15 at 9 p.m. EST for our full recap!

Click here to view the embedded video.

— Andy Swift

Follow @AndySwift

More Wizards Return coverage on HollywoodLife.com:

1. Selena Gomez’s ‘Wizards Return’ Trailer Released — Watch
2. Jake T. Austin Talks Transitioning From ‘Wizards’ To ‘Fosters’
3. ‘Wizards Of Waverly Place’ Reunion Premiere Date Revealed

After playing the youngest member of the Russo family for four seasons on Wizards Of Waverly Place, Jake T. Austin is preparing to hang up his wizard hat — again — when Disney Channel airs The Wizards Return: Alex Vs. Alex on March 15. But don’t expect Jake, 18, to poof into thin air for long; he’ll be back on your TV this summer when The Fosters premieres on ABC Family, and he told HollywoodLife.com why he’s so excited about his “amazing” new gig.

“It was an amazing feeling to know I was handpicked by [executive producer Jennifer Lopez] for the show,” he told us Feb. 7 at Teen Vogue and Aeropostale’s celebration of Chloë Grace Moretz‘s Sweet 16 in NYC. “She’s really involved with it. My character is Jesus Foster, one of the kids adopted by a lesbian couple.”

And it sounds like Jake can’t wait to get back to work.

“For me, it’s just about being on a call sheet, a new environment and a new set,” Jake continued. “I haven’t been in the business for long — not longer than 9 years — which is a lot for some, but I still have a lot of time ahead of me.”

What’s ‘The Fosters’ All About?

The Fosters is one of two new dramas premiering this summer on ABC Family, along with the appropriately titled Twisted, which tells the story of a 16-year-old kid (Avan Jogia) accused of murdering a girl.

Described by ABC Family as “a one-hour drama about a multi-ethnic family mix of foster and biological kids being raised by two moms,” The Fosters stars Meet The Parents‘ Teri Polo and In Treatment‘s Sherri Saum as the mothers.

Watch the trailer for the upcoming Wizards movie below, then drop a comment with your thoughts on Jake’s new show, The Fosters! Will you be checking it out this summer?

— Reporting by Courtney Dunn, Written by Andy Swift

Follow @AndySwift

More Jake T. Austin on HollywoodLife.com:

1. ABC Family Picks Up New Dramas ‘The Fosters’ & ‘Twisted’
2. Jake T. Austin On The End Of ‘Wizards’: Why I’ll Miss Selena Gomez
3. Jake T. Austin Talks ‘Wizards Of Waverly Place’ Reunion & Selena Gomez

With the Wizards Of Waverly Place reunion movie airing in just a few weeks, fans will have to prepare to say goodbye to the Russo family all over again — something Selena Gomez‘s on-screen little brother, Jake T. Austin, is all-too-familiar with. “Selena was very cool, definitely going to miss her,” Jake told HollywoodLife.com on Feb. 7 at Teen Vogue and Aeropostale’s celebration of Chloë Grace Moretz‘s Sweet 16 in NYC.

“I learned a lot from her about the branding and technical sides of the business,” he explained. “I’ll definitely miss Selena.”

At least fans will get one more chance to watch Jake and Selena’s characters in action when The Wizards Return: Alex Vs. Alex premieres March 15 on Disney Channel. The movie serves as a reunion for the cast — the series aired its final episode in Jan. 2012 — as Selena’s character, Alex, must battle an evil version of herself atop the Leaning Tower of Pisa.

“It’s really about Disney just continuing the show,” Jake said. “They really want to keep it going.”

But don’t worry about Jake being out of work after Wizards; he’ll already be back on your TV this summer when his Jennifer Lopez-produced drama, The Fosters, premieres on ABC Family!

HollywoodLifers, do you hope there are more Wizards of Waverly Place movies in Jake and Selena’s future? Drop us a comment and let us know!

— Written by Andy Swift, Reporting by Courtney Dunn

Follow @AndySwift

More from Jake T. Austin on HollywoodLife.com:

1. ABC Family Picks Up New Dramas ‘The Fosters’ & ‘Twisted’
2. Selena Gomez Is ‘Very Sad’ ‘Wizards Of Waverly Place’ Is Over, Says Co-Star
3. Jake T. Austin Talks ‘Wizards Of Waverly Place’ Reunion & Selena Gomez

Selena Gomez will be kicking some butt in the Wizards of Waverly Place reunion special: The Wizards Return: Alex Vs. Alex, as the new trailer, released on Jan. 28, shows her looking fierce in a sexy black catsuit! The Wizards reunion special will make its debut on Disney on March 15, but get a sneak peek now!

‘The Wizards Return: Alex vs. Alex’ Trailer

The Wizards Return: Alex vs. Alex looks like it will be an exciting movie, where Selena’s character Alex faces a dilemma with magic since she has become the Russo family wizard. The Russo family travel to Pisa, where Alex “faces herself in her biggest battle yet.” Dun dun dun!

Alex struggles to control her urges to use dark magic, so she decides to “cast out everything bad”, which results in her creating an evil version of herself who wears a black catsuit and has a sexy grey streak in her hair. They battle it out in an epic showdown, where evil Alex says “This is gonna be fun”. It sure is!

Also, the new trailer shows Selena cozying up to her hot co-star Gregg Sulkin. We hope Justin Bieber isn’t watching!

This reunion special has been long awaited by fans, and evil Alex is a dramatic turnaround from the wholesome Alex that Selena is used to playing.

What do YOU think HollywoodLifers? Are you excited for The Wizards Return: Alex vs. Alex?

WATCH: ‘The Wizards Return: Alex vs. Alex’ Trailer

– Eleanore Hutch

More Wizards Of Waverly Place News:

1. ‘Wizards Of Waverly Place’ Reunion Premiere Date Revealed
2. Selena Gomez: Sexy In ‘Wizards’ Poster — Justin Bieber Jealous?
3. Selena Gomez Shows Justin Bieber What He’s Missing In ‘Wizards’ Pic

Selena Gomez starred in and executive produced the Wizards of Waverly Place reunion special: The Wizards Return: Alex Vs. Alex, which will make its debut on Disney on March 15.

According to Disney’s press release, in The Wizards Return: Alex Vs. Alex, the Russo family and friends travel to Tuscany, Italy, to meet their long lost relatives… but when Alex (Gomez) tries to prove she’s more than a seemingly carefree young Wizard, she inadvertently conjures a spell that creates a Good Alex and an Evil Alex. When Evil Alex gets roped into a charming young wizard’s foreboding plan to take over the world, Good Alex must find a way to save her family and humankind, which leads to a monumental battle between the two versions of herself – all atop the Tower of Pisa.

“I wanted to do it really badly,” says of of the reunion. Selena plans to give her fans an extremely enjoyable reunion, as she says “I want to make sure I promise the cast and the fans a really, really good hour-long event that they can enjoy and will leave them feeling good.”

The special stars Jake T. Austin, Jennifer Stone, Maria Canals-Barrera, David DeLuise, Gregg Sulkin and Beau Mirchoff, but unfortunately, David Henrie will not be in the movie.

The Wizards Return: Alex vs. Alex will first debut March 8 on Disney Channel On Demand. The special will be available for iTunes download starting Tuesday, March 19.

Are you excited for the Wizards of Waverly Place reunion, HollywoodLifers?

— Chris Rogers

Follow
@ChrisRogers86
More Selena News:

1. Selena Gomez Wants A Sexy Man, Not A Boy After Justin Bieber Split
2. Justin Bieber’s New Album Will ‘Answer All The Questions’ — Selena Gomez?
3. Justin Bieber Gets Nearly Naked On Stage — Tempting Selena Gomez?