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Pants by BOSS
“The Nyle” Sneaker (Taupe)
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“It’s like going back to college and getting to do it all over again,” shares David Henrie, reflecting on the first year of Wizards Beyond Waverly Place. If you don’t know him by this name—you may recognize him as Justin Russo from the original Wizards of Waverly Place, which premiered nearly two decades ago.

For 2000s babies who never stopped believing in magic, Wizards Beyond Waverly Place has been a full-circle experience of nostalgia. And with season two ((now streaming on Disney+) just on the heels of its release, October has been a buzzing month for fans old and new.

In this Wizards sequel, Henrie stars alongside Selena Gomez yet again. But with both actors eighteen years wiser and Henrie a father of two, they bring new perspectives and responsibilities to convey the value of family. In this recent shoot with PhotoBook Magazine, Henrie sports a lineup of refined suits—each paired with his wedding ring, of course. It's a quiet nod that celebrates the maturity and milestones that he has reached over the years.

Even as Henrie continues to pursue his acting career, he’s also been nose-deep in his role as a creative leader. CEO of Novo Inspire Studios, which he co-founded with his brother Lorenzo, Henrie is dedicated to telling true, good, and beautiful stories—always guided by his curiosity about ‘how the sausage is made.’

Jacket by BARABAS
Sweater by ALLSAINTS
Shoes by Bruno Magli
Pants by Urbane & Gallant

David, you started working regularly in television at just thirteen years old. What do you remember most vividly about that time, and how did it shape your career today?
Flashbacks. I remember I was doing Without a Trace with Anthony LaPaglia…he showed me how to hit my mark. And he said, ‘watch this, kid.’ He itched his eyebrow while looking down to find his mark, then looked up very casually and he was ready to say his line. He taught me these little techniques like that. I remember a lot of different memories with iconic actors like him that helped show me the ropes. I'm flooded with memories like that when I think about working as a young person.

Looking back, what was it like being part of such a defining Disney show at such a young age? What lessons did you take from it?
When I was a kid, I was just so in it that I didn't smell the roses. And now looking back, getting to do it again on this new show—Wizards Beyond Waverly Place—it's like I get a second chance at filling in some gaps that I didn't know were there when I was younger. For instance, now I can really focus on creating a show that has a massive impact on its viewer. But this time, I'm aware of it...now I'm acutely aware of the effect that a show like this can have on a young person. And I take that responsibility really seriously now.

While filming, did you have any idea that Wizards of Waverly Place would cement such a lasting place in pop culture?
No, not at all. The first couple of seasons, I remember we didn't really know if it was going to be a hit or not. We knew the show was working. But at the time, it was like Disney did three seasons and that was it…but the show started to snowball after the second season…we were just having fun. And it found an audience.

**Left:**
Suit by VESTIUM
Shirt by Buck Mason
Tie by Stylist Own
**Right:**
Suit by Le Catou
Shirt by Buck Mason

Now, with Wizards Beyond Waverly, audiences are feeling so nostalgic. What does stepping back into this world years later feel like for you—both as an actor and as an Executive Producer?
It's like a second chance at life here. It's like getting to go back to college and do it all over again. So now I'm really focused on impact and I'm really focused on the legacy of the show. At the time, I was just doing it. It's not that I wasn't appreciative, but I wasn't aware of what it would become. I can really focus on taking the values of the original and representing them to a whole new audience, but at the same time, giving a big warm hug to that original fan.

How did the reboot come about? What made you feel the timing was right?
It was completely organic. Nothing was forced about it. Selena and I were just hanging out, talking about our characters over the years. The years went by. And at a certain point, I was just like, ‘Selena, I think we've talked about this enough. It's a show now.’

And I'm having my second kid. I'm married. I think the time is right. Enough time had passed and we went in and spoke to Disney about it. We put a pitch together and it just came about organically.

What excites you most about Season 2, and how do you balance nostalgia with telling a story that feels fresh for a new generation?
To me, it's not compromising on the theme, because I believe the theme of the original show is what made people really care about it. So, it's representing that theme—but just packaging it in a whole new way.

For instance, the original show is about family. Well, how do you make a new show about family? You flip it on its head. Start the show out where the family members aren't communicating like people remember, and then bring in a character that doesn't understand family at all. So, we brought the family into the show. We brought this new perspective in with Janice LeAnne Brown, who plays Billy. She's a character that doesn't understand family at all. Suddenly, we have this opposite set of values that enters our world. It forces us to relearn the themes and values of the original show that made it special. So, it's a perfect driving engine that can go on for a long time.

Suit by BARABAS
Shirt: Beckham x BOSS
Shoes by Bruno Magli

Selena Gomez is not only back on screen but also working alongside you as an Executive Producer. How has your collaboration evolved since your early days together?
It's been a joy to get to see this side of Selena because we haven't really done much since the show together. To get to actually witness her as a professional has been wonderful. She's crushing it as an Executive Producer: she shows up to meetings she doesn't need to be on, she'll be on marketing calls with fifty people, and then at the end she presents all of her ideas. And they're great ideas. She's influential on every single level of the show, and contributes more than is strictly required. And it's been fun to watch that.

As the CEO of Novo Inspire Studios, you’ve made a shift from actor to creative leader. Were you always interested in all aspects of production—not just acting?What inspired you to start your own company?
Back in the day, starting as a thirteen year old, I was always asking questions. Even on Without a Trace, I was asking them why they put the camera in a certain place, what those tracks were that the camera sits on, or why the lights were pointed a certain way and not another way. I was always curious about how the sausage was made.

So for me, it was inevitable that I'd start going behind the camera—just because that's where my mind kind of leads me. On the original Wizards, I was a writer as a teenager on the show, and then got into directing after that and producing as well. I've always been inclined to figure out how the sausage is made, and then try to make that to create feelings that can entertain and elevate audiences. That's the goal for me. And that's the goal for our company at Novo is to entertain and elevate culture.

How do you decide which stories feel “right” to pursue at Novo and what makes the company stand out to you?
I think there's an underserved audience out there of people that just want good stuff. I think people are a little fatigued from content that might divide. I think they want content that unites. For me, looking for universal themes and values is what's most important in all of our content. Themes that speak to all people, in all places, at all times.

I think for Novo, it's the mission. It's the mission to tell true, good and beautiful stories that can entertain and elevate audiences. Novo means new in Latin—so, we have a real focus on taking classic stories and making them new again. In a lot of ways, that's what we're doing with Wizards. We're taking a classic family story and making it new again.

**Left:**
Suit by VESTIUM
Shirt by Buck Mason
Tie by Stylist Own
**Right:**
Jacket by BARABAS
Sweater by ALLSAINTS
Shoes by Bruno Magli
Pants by Urbane & Gallant

Directing and producing are very different from acting. What has been the hardest thing for you to learn behind the camera?
The technical side of it, for sure. I didn't go to film school. So, understanding the nomenclature and the various tools have been the hardest part for me. That's why it's important for me to hire a good team. But, I think I've learned my strengths and weaknesses now that I've directed a couple films, and multiple short films. I'm really focused on hiring my weaknesses and doubling down on my strengths to try to deliver the best product possible.

You’ve often spoken about how important family is to you. How has becoming a parent changed the way you think about the kinds of stories you want to tell?
It's fired me up to be honest, because I see the stuff my kids are watching. I see the stuff that's out there for kids—and I'm in this space. I get fired up because I can't wait to tell stories that they can watch. I see what my kids are struggling with in their own personal life and they're an avatar for millions of other kids out there. So, I get motivated to tell beautiful stories to them and the world.

Wizards Beyond Waverly connects to so many people’s childhoods. When you think about your legacy, what do you hope people will take away from both your Disney years and the work you’re creating now?
I hope that they'll see that I was a fighter for culture, that I was trying to make the world a more beautiful place through storytelling. And hopefully I can continue to do that for a long time and pass it down.

CREW CREDITS:
Talent: David Henrie
PhotoBook Editor-In-Chief: Alison Hernon
PhotoBook Creative Director: Mike Ruiz
Photographer: Michael Creagh
Fashion Stylist: Alison Hernon at Exclusive Artists
Groomer: Michelle deMilt at TMG
Retoucher: Luka Ukropina
Assistant Fashion Stylist: Sabrina Diaz
Fashion Stylist Intern: Laura Pico
Tearsheets by Daniel López, Art Director, PhotoBook Magazine
Introduction by Brya Sheridan, Assistant to Editor-in-Chief, PhotoBook Magazine
Interview by Eliana Estes, Contributor, PhotoBook Magazine

David Henrie on Reuniting with Selena Gomez and “Giving a Big Warm Hug” to Wizards Fans