Selena Gomez Gave This Piece of Advice to Her YoungerWizardsReboot Costar Janice LeeAnn Brown (Exclusive)

Mar. 15, 2025

Janice LeAnn Brown (left) and Selena Gomez.Photo:Disney/Richard Harbaugh; Taylor Hill/FilmMagic

Disney/Richard Harbaugh; Taylor Hill/FilmMagic

Before she joined the wizarding world,Janice LeAnn Brownreceived an important piece of advice fromSelena Gomez.After taking PEOPLE around the new set ofWizards Beyond Waverly Place, Brown opened up about the words of wisdom she received from the former Disney Channel star, 32, ahead of her debut as Billie in the highly anticipated reboot.“Selena gave us a lot,” she recalled. “[She] basically just told us to be confident in it. She basically just told us to just be confident in ourselves, don’t listen to any negative things that anyone is saying towards us.“Selena Gomez and Janice LeeAnn Brown.DisneyAt the end of the day, Brown said Gomez reminded her that “the people here, we are family, and we always have each other’s backs,” adding that she encouraged her “not to give up” even during tough moments on set.According to an official synopsis,Wizards Beyond Waverly Place“picks up after a mysterious incident at WizTech, where an adult Justin Russo has left his wizard powers behind, opting for a normal, human life with his wife and two sons. But he gets a surprise when a powerful young wizard in need of training shows up at his door… and Justin must embrace his past to ensure the future of the Wizard World.”The series starsDavid Henrie, who reprises his role as Justin Russo, Brown as the powerful, young wizard Billie, Alkaio Thiele as Justin’s eldest son Roman, Max Matenko as Justin’s youngest son Milo andMimi Gianopulosas Justin’s wife Giada.(L-R) Alkaio Thiele, Janice Lee Ann Brown, Selena Gomez, Max Matenko, Mimi Gianopulos and David Henrie.Eric McCandless/disneyGomez also reprises her role as Alex Russo and returns to the series as a guest star and executive producer.In his own conversation with PEOPLE, Henrie shared why it was important for him and Gomez to foster a sense of community and family in the new series.“Our cast is so wonderful,” he said of his new costars. “We feel like a season 3 show [where] everyone’s comfortable. There’s a loving atmosphere, it’s a great culture on set. And that’s what I think made the original show special was we were a family on camera and off camera.“From “day one,” Henrie explained, “it was my goal and Selena’s goal from day one to recreate that culture first and foremost in the workplace where everyone can feel like family.““There’s an atmosphere of love, encouragement and we did that. And I think you’re going to feel that on screen,” he added.Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.Wizards Beyond Waverly Placepremieres Tuesday, Oct. 29 at 8 p.m. ET on Disney Channel and will be available to stream on Disney+.

Before she joined the wizarding world,Janice LeAnn Brownreceived an important piece of advice fromSelena Gomez.

After taking PEOPLE around the new set ofWizards Beyond Waverly Place, Brown opened up about the words of wisdom she received from the former Disney Channel star, 32, ahead of her debut as Billie in the highly anticipated reboot.

“Selena gave us a lot,” she recalled. “[She] basically just told us to be confident in it. She basically just told us to just be confident in ourselves, don’t listen to any negative things that anyone is saying towards us.”

Selena Gomez and Janice LeeAnn Brown.Disney

Disney

At the end of the day, Brown said Gomez reminded her that “the people here, we are family, and we always have each other’s backs,” adding that she encouraged her “not to give up” even during tough moments on set.

According to an official synopsis,Wizards Beyond Waverly Place“picks up after a mysterious incident at WizTech, where an adult Justin Russo has left his wizard powers behind, opting for a normal, human life with his wife and two sons. But he gets a surprise when a powerful young wizard in need of training shows up at his door… and Justin must embrace his past to ensure the future of the Wizard World.”

The series starsDavid Henrie, who reprises his role as Justin Russo, Brown as the powerful, young wizard Billie, Alkaio Thiele as Justin’s eldest son Roman, Max Matenko as Justin’s youngest son Milo andMimi Gianopulosas Justin’s wife Giada.

(L-R) Alkaio Thiele, Janice Lee Ann Brown, Selena Gomez, Max Matenko, Mimi Gianopulos and David Henrie.Eric McCandless/disney

Eric McCandless/disney

Gomez also reprises her role as Alex Russo and returns to the series as a guest star and executive producer.

In his own conversation with PEOPLE, Henrie shared why it was important for him and Gomez to foster a sense of community and family in the new series.

“Our cast is so wonderful,” he said of his new costars. “We feel like a season 3 show [where] everyone’s comfortable. There’s a loving atmosphere, it’s a great culture on set. And that’s what I think made the original show special was we were a family on camera and off camera.”

From “day one,” Henrie explained, “it was my goal and Selena’s goal from day one to recreate that culture first and foremost in the workplace where everyone can feel like family.”

“There’s an atmosphere of love, encouragement and we did that. And I think you’re going to feel that on screen,” he added.

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

Wizards Beyond Waverly Placepremieres Tuesday, Oct. 29 at 8 p.m. ET on Disney Channel and will be available to stream on Disney+.

source: people.com