‘Wizards Beyond Waverly Place’ Star Mimi Gianopulos Admits It Was “Intimidating” Joining The Reboot: “You Want The Original Fans To Be Happy”

When David Henrie announced that Wizards of Waverly Place would be getting a reboot series, fans immediately wondered who would be playing his wife — and, more importantly, whether Justin Russo (Henrie) and his vampire girlfriend Juliet Van Heusen (Bridget Mendler) were endgame. Well, Wizards Beyond Waverly Place confirms that the teen lovers did not make it to marriage and that, instead, Justin follows a similar path as his father in marrying a mortal woman with great fashion named Giada, who is played by the fabulous Mimi Gianopulos.

As just a normal gal from Staten Island, Giada begins the series completely unaware that she’s married to a wizard. But as the episodes go on and she ultimately learns the truth, she quickly proves that she has what it takes to join the slate of the iconic Disney moms who came before her. Unlike some of them, this fashion-forward mom is one who “puts on lipstick to go get the mail,” Gianopulos told DECIDER.

“It’s so fun. It’s like a big game of dress-up. I truly love everything,” she added.

It’s not lost on Gianopulos that Wizards of Waverly Place holds such an important place in Disney Channel history, which is why she knew it would be “intimidating” to join the reboot. But the actress — who watched the original series when it was airing — promised that Wizards Beyond Waverly Place has “something for everyone.”

“Being part of something that is so beloved, it’s intimidating because you want the original fans to be happy,” she said. “But I think what they’re going to take from it is that it has all the heart and humor of the original show and then a little extra special new magic, too.”

We caught up with Gianopulos over Zoom, where she dished on working with Henrie, David DeLuise’s cameo, and the Halloween episode. Check out the full interview below.

DECIDER: This show is so exciting. Did you watch the original Wizards of Waverly Place when it was airing? And what does it mean to you to be on the reboot?

MIMI GIANOPULOS: I did watch. I have two little sisters who were obsessed with the show. It was really nice because it was something that we could all watch together. Some of the other kids TV at the time, I was like, “No, no.” And they’d be like, “Okay, let’s watch Wizards.” I’d be ike, “Yes! Wizards!” So I loved it. It’s nostalgic for me in two ways. I love the original show, and it’s really exciting to be on this continuation, but also because it’s memories with my siblings.

It’s really an honor. It’s so exciting. Being part of something that is so beloved, it’s intimidating because you want the original fans to be happy. But I think what they’re going to take from it is that it has all the heart and humor of the original show and then a little extra special new magic, too. So there’s definitely something for everyone. 

I think your character is so much fun and her fashion is totally giving Teresa Russo. Did you take any inspiration from Maria’s character and incorporate it into Giada? 

You know what’s funny? I didn’t really have an image of what Giada was going to look like. And then when I was cast, I got to talk to all the producers and the writers and Cameron Dale, who’s our amazing wardrobe designer, and they were like, “This is a woman who wears a head-to-toe look.” I was like, “I love it. Let’s do it.” It’s very funny that it is in Teresa’s, sort of, same style. But yeah, it was something that they felt strongly about. The more I came to know and understand the character, the more I was like, “Yeah, this girl puts on lipstick to go get the mail.” She was serious. It’s so fun. It’s like a big game of dress-up. I truly love everything. 

You get to work really closely with David, as you play his wife. What was the best part of working with him? 

David’s wonderful. He’s just wonderful. He’s a wonderful human. He is so kind. He is so lovely with the kids. He’s just a really, really great person. And that is so wonderful to start there, but then on top of that, he’s also hilarious and so, so good as Justin. So we just have the best time. I feel really lucky. He and Selena were both really intentional about wanting the set to be one that is filled with joy and laughter and fun. There are four kids in our main cast. They wanted them to feel supported and also like kids. He’s a dad. He’s very intentional about that. It’s just a great environment. And that really does come from David and Selena. 

Is there something about David or Selena you learned from working with them that people might not know/might be surprised to hear?

You know, it’s funny. They have such a rhythm. It’s like they finished the last series last week. They really do feel like siblings. And it was so helpful for us. When you’re on a show like this, you’re an instant family. It’s like, “Hi, everybody meet everybody. Now you’re related.” They came to the show with so much history together, so many memories, so many stories. That first moment when – they released a thing where you watch them walking on to the set for the first time, they said they felt home, and you could tell they’re so at home with one another that it made it easier for all of us to find our groove and our place in the family and the dynamic. It’s really cool. Their relationship is awesome. 

The Disney Channel Halloween episodes were such a big part of my childhood so I was so excited that the third episode of Wizards Beyond Waverly Place had a Halloween theme. How excited were you to join that legacy? Did you have any favorite Disney Halloween episodes growing up?

I was a Lizzie McGuire girl through and through, so those were always a fave. You know, it’s funny, we actually shot that episode out of order, a little sooner than we would have just because of the way the dates worked out. It was one of our first few episodes, and it’s such a dynamite episode. They all are, but I really, really love our Halloween episode. It was a really great bonding experience because we were still pretty new working with each other. It’s a very funny storyline, at least for my character. I mean, for all of them, but I especially loved mine. She’s convinced, because she used to prank houses on Halloween, that she’s going to be pranked. And so she prepares. She’s a prankster prepper. She’s like, “Nobody is going to toilet paper our house.” Her way of dealing with that is to, of course, wear a camo jumpsuit and sneaker high heels and get binoculars to spy on the neighbors. So it was a really fun episode to do. I think fans are really going to like it. 

There are a lot of cameos that have been teased from Selena to David to Maria to Jake and now Greg. Who were you most excited to collab with and why? Is there anyone from the OG show that you would like to work with on the reboot that hasn’t already been a part of it?

Well, cameos are secret, so I can’t share too much about that. But so far we’ve had David come back, David DeLuise, who plays Jerry. It was so special for me to see, especially because Justin’s the dad of the show now so having Jerry Russo come back and seeing the three generations, that dynamic between Jerry and Justin and now Roman, was really special. Really special and really cool. 

What are you most excited for the fans to see in this reboot?

My nails. No, I’m kidding [laughs]. I am most excited for fans to see that the writers have done such a good job of honoring the heart and the humor and the and the soul of the original show, and then bringing it to a new audience, adding new magic. We have really cool new special effects. It keeps all the values of the original series of friendship and teamwork and family. But it’s bringing it to a new audience, and in a way that the old one I think will really like. So I can’t wait for fans to come back to Waverly Place. Well, now we’re in Staten Island, but, you know.

This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

Wizards Beyond Waverly Place is currently streaming on Disney+.