Selena Gomez Reveals Disney Spinoff Rejections Before Wizards Success

Selena Gomez revealed that before landing her breakthrough role as Alex Russo on Disney Channel's Wizards of Waverly Place, she starred in three pilots that were not picked up by the network. These included spinoffs from popular shows Lizzie McGuire and The Suite Life of Zack & Cody, titled What's Stevie Thinking? and Arwin!, respectively, both of which were completed but never aired. Gomez described feeling "at her wits' end" after these setbacks but remained positive, eventually achieving her dream when Wizards was greenlit and aired for four seasons, winning a Primetime Emmy Award. She expressed pride in her Disney Channel roots and the impact the channel had on her generation. Gomez also highlighted the challenges of growing up in the public eye but continues to embrace her Disney high school experience. Currently, the reboot series Wizards Beyond Waverly Place has premiered its second season, with Gomez reprising her role as Alex Russo.