David Henrie on acting with Selena Gomez in ‘Wizards Beyond Waverly Place’: “The magic was there”

October 30, 2024

Disney/Eric McCandless

Everything is not what it seems – unless it’s the premiere of Wizards Beyond Waverly Place.

The Wizards of Waverly Place spin-off drops the first eight episodes of season 1 on Disney+ on Wednesday, one day after its premiere on Disney Channel.

David Henrie, who reprises his role as Justin Russo in the new sitcom, told ABC Audio he wanted fans of the original show to feel like this new series was a warm hug.

“Getting to be Justin again has been so meaningful,” Henrie said. “Selena and I have experienced fans all over the world and some of the feedback has just touched our hearts so much, that the show is there for people when they really needed it.”

Selena Gomez returns as a guest star and executive producer on the series, and Henrie said acting together again after 13 years was emotional.

“We didn’t know what to expect … imagine playing a sport you haven’t played in 13 years. There can be some trepidation. But [I’ll] tell you what, the second they said ‘action,’ we both looked at each other and we were just, ‘Bang.’ Spot on. There was no awkward learning how to ride a bike again feelings. We were just right there. The chemistry was there, the magic was there. And we felt it.”

Gomez returned to play Alex Russo in the pilot episode, but can fans expect more characters from the original show to make an appearance? You bet.

“I’ve said from day one we want absolutely everyone on the show,” Henrie said. “We’ve been really careful to make sure when we are bringing someone back – and there are multiple people – but when we are bringing someone back, it’s in a way that is meaningful to the show.”

Lisa Ann Walter pitches her dream ‘Abbott Elementary’ season 4 plotline

Disney/Pamela Littky

School is officially back in session. Abbott Elementary has returned for its fourth season, with the premiere episode available to stream on Hulu.

Lisa Ann Walter, who plays second-grade teacher Melissa Schemmenti, told ABC Audio what she’d like to see this season at the Disney Upfront event back in May.

“I would love to have Melissa and Ava go in on something together,” Walter said. “Every woman on the show is an alpha … and it’s fun to see them mix it up.”

Walter even pitched an entire storyline.

“Maybe Barbara and Melissa get into a fight and then Melissa and Ava work on something. And then Barbara gets mad,” Walter said, before referencing her season 3 storyline with Chris Perfetti’s Jacob Hill.

“I’m going to tell you, here’s the truth. When the Jacob character moved in with Melissa and I started to become friends with him, Sheryl Lee Ralph started getting snippy. She really did,” Walter said. “She goes, ‘You’re supposed to be my friend.’ I was like, ‘They wrote lines, Sheryl.’”

Another cast member excited for this season is William Stanford Davis, who plays the school janitor, Mr. Johnson. He says he’s looking forward to more of Mr. Johnson’s “opinionated self about everything.”

“I’m hoping to work in more scenes with Quinta [Brunson],” Davis said. “I worked a lot with the guys and with Melissa, so I’m looking forward to especially getting under Barbara’s skin. I hope I can tell the writers that. Cause I’m afraid of Barbara Howard.”

The show is known for having famous guest stars. So, which actor does Davis wish would join the Abbott Elementary family?

“I’ve often told them I wanted Halle Berry to be my love interest,” Davis said. “So, you know, if you know anybody who can make that happen.”

Tom Hanks warns followers about AI-generated ads using his name, likeness and voice

ABC

Tom Hanks is once again issuing a warning to his followers to be vigilant online against artificial intelligence.

The actor shared a “public service announcement” post to Instagram on Thursday, addressing AI-generated ads using him to promote medical products he does not endorse.

“There are multiple ads over the internet falsely using my name, likeness, and voice promoting miracle cures and wonder drugs,” Hanks wrote. “These ads have been created without my consent, fraudulently and through AI.”

“I have nothing to do with these posts or the products and treatments, or the spokespeople touting these cures,” he continued. “I have type 2 diabetes, and I ONLY work with my board certified doctor regarding my treatment.”

Hanks ended the post with a firm message of caution to his followers, saying, “DO NOT BE FOOLED. DO NOT BE SWINDLED. DO NOT LOSE YOUR HARD EARNED MONEY.”

A representative for Hanks told Good Morning America the actor had no additional comment on the matter.

This isn’t the first time the Toy Story actor has spoken out against AI-generated ads using his likeness to promote products.

In October 2023, he warned his followers about an ad for a dental plan using an aged-down version of him, saying, “I have nothing to do with it.”

Not clowning around: ‘Terrifier 3’ tops box office with .3 million debut

Not clowning around: ‘Terrifier 3’ tops box office with $18.3 million debut

Photo of Lauren LaVera courtesy of Santiago Felipe/Getty Images

Terrifier 3 took the top spot at the domestic box office, delivering an estimated $18.3 million in its opening weekend.

The slasher film franchise — which kicked off in 2016 and centers on Lauren LaVera‘s Sienna Shaw, a young woman determined to defeat the mysterious Art the Clown, played by David Howard Thornton — grabbed an estimated $4.8 million overseas, bringing its global tally to $23.1 million.

The Wild Robot landed in second place, grabbing an estimated $13.5 million in its third week of release, bringing its North American box office total to $83.7 million. The animated adventure collected an estimated $24 million internationally for a worldwide tally of $184.4 million.

It was another disappointing week for Joker: Folie à Deux, which earned just $7.1 million domestically, for a third place finish. That brings its domestic haul to $51.6 million and $165.3 million globally.

Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, grabbed fourth place, delivering an estimated $7 million, bringing its North American box office tally to $275 million. Worldwide, the film has grossed a total of $420 million.

Rounding out the top five was Pharrell Williams’ animated biopic Piece by Piece, which tells the legendary artist’s story in Lego form. The film, which also features Neville, Jay-Z, Gwen Stefani, Snoop Dogg and Justin Timberlake, opened with an estimated $3.8 million domestically.

Elsewhere, the Donald Trump biopic, The Apprentice, starring Sebastian Stan as the real estate magnate and former U.S. president, opened in 10th place with an estimated $1.6 million.