Selena Gomez’s upcoming return in the spinoff sequel of the 2007 Disney Channel show Wizards of Waverly Place will meet a record set before by a $1.3 million movie franchise the actress has featured in for over a decade. Gomez started her career with a handful of supporting parts in children’s television shows or movies before rising to prominence as a teen idol for her leading role in Wizards of Waverly Place. The popular TV show, following a tight-knit family of wizards, aired for five years and 106 episodes as one of the longest-running Disney Channel series.

The fantasy sitcom ended in 2012, but Disney Channel is preparing to relive the magic of the franchise with the forthcoming sequel spinoff Wizards Beyond Waverly Place. Alongside original actors David Henrie (Alex Russo), David DeLuise (Jerry Russo), and Maria Canals Barrera (Theresa Russo), Gomez is reprising her role as Alex Russo as well as serving as one of the series’ executive producers. How often Gomez’s character will appear in the new series is unclear, but her return indicates a commitment to the franchise she’s made to only one other franchise before.

Confirmed Wizards Beyond Waverly Place Cast
Wizards Beyond Waverly Place Role

David Henrie
Justin Russo

David Henrie in Wizards of Waverly Place sitting on a couch

Selena Gomez
Alex Russo

Alex Russo In Wizards Of Waverly Place

Janice LeeAnn Brown
Billie

Janice LeAnn Brown looks up in Euphoria

Alkaio Thiele
Justin’s Son

Alkaio Thiele looks on while wearing headphones around his neck

Max Matenko
Justin’s Son

Max Matenko hugs Selena Gomez in Wizards Beyond Waverly Place

Mimi Gianopulos
Giadi

Mimi Gianopulos smirks in What to Expect When You're Expecting

David DeLuise
Jerry Russo

Theresa & Jerry Wizards of Waverly Place

Maria Canals Barrera
Theresa Russo

Maria Canals Barrera smiles while pushing a cleaning cart in the Big Bang Theory

Wizards Of Waverly Place Is Now Tied With Hotel Transylvania For Selena Gomez’s Most Franchise Appearances

Gomez Appeared In Four Installments Of Each Franchise

Wizards of Wavery Place The Russo Family

Wizards of Waverly Place’s success with audiences inspired the series to expand. First with the2009 made-for-television film Wizards of Waverly Place: The Movie, and later with the post-series, hour-long TV special, The Wizards Return: Alex vs. Alex, both of which garnered impressive audience responses, the former raking in 13.5 million total viewers and the latter attracting 5.9 million (per Deadline). Gomez will continue her trend of performing in all the Wizards of Waverly Place installments by reprising her role for Wizards Beyond Waverly Place, meeting Hotel Transylvania’s record of the actress’ most franchise appearances.

Justin and Alex smiling while they are at the top of the balcony in Wizards of Waverly Place

Similarly, the Hotel Transylvania franchise started with a strong initial installment to jump off from, with the first Hotel Transylvania movie earning $378.1 million at the box office worldwide off its $85 thousand budget (via The Numbers). Eventually, Hotel Transylvania burgeoned into a $1.3 billion franchise, containing the films Hotel Transylvania 2, Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation, and Hotel Transylvania 4: Transformania. With Wizards Beyond Waverly Place on the horizon, both franchises are tied for the actress’ most appearances and are, interestingly enough, the only franchises Gomez has pursued throughout her career.

Selena Gomez’s Two Biggest Franchises Also Share Similar Themes & Premises

Gomez’s Franchises Are Family-Friendly And Have A Flare For The Supernatural

The Russo family and Harper in Wizards of Waverly Place

It comes as no surprise that, more than sharing similar expansion successes, Gomez’s two biggest franchises share corresponding themes and premises. In Wizards of Waverly Place, Gomez’s character Alex and her brothers learn to hone their supernatural powers from their parents while also trying to navigate everyday human life. The balance between wizardry and daily living poses a challenge for the Russo children, especially Alex, on whom the series tends to place focus, and each episode of their development takes audiences on fun, family-filled escapades colored with magic.

The original Wizards of Waverly Place is available to stream on Disney+

…instead of a wizard, she voices the role of Mavis, a vampire who also tries to walk the line between the mystical and human worlds.

Likewise, Gomez plays the part of another classic supernatural being in Hotel Transylvania’s group of main characters. However, instead of a wizard, she voices the role of Mavis, a vampire who also tries to walk the line between the mystical and human worlds. When Mavis falls in love with a human named Johnny and has to break the news to her father, Dracula, their worlds collide, resulting in family-filled and family-centered shenanigans based on fantasy, much like Gomez’s first big franchise, Wizards of Waverly Place.