The creator of the Disney Channel series Wizards of Waverly Place has addressed a long-held myth regarding Selena Gomez’s character that fans have assumed for years.
In a new interview, Peter Murrieta, the show’s first three seasons’ executive producer, was asked which plotline he wishes they could have explored deeper.
He mentioned adolescent wizard Alex Russo, portrayed by Selena from Only Murders in the Building, and Stevie Nichols, played by singer Hayley Kiyoko.
When Stevie first appeared on the show, viewers observed what they thought was strong connection between her and Alex – and they weren’t wrong.
‘I wished we could have played more with what was quite obvious to a lot of us, which was the relationship between Stevie and Alex,’ Peter said, while speaking on the rewatch podcast Wizards of Waverly Pod.
However, the TV writer added: ‘We weren’t able to in that time, but it was pretty clear to all of us what that relationship was. That would have been fun.’
Co-host Jennifer Stone chimed in to add: ‘If it was just a few years down the line, we maybe could have played with that,’ while co-presenter David DeLuise stated that ‘nowadays that could happen’ on the Disney Channel.
‘Disney Channel has had [LGBT+] characters, and they did it, but we got as close as we could,’ Peter responded. ‘Pretty close. It was pretty much there.’
Several fans were stunned to learn that their suspicions about Alex and Stevie were right, and they were relieved to receive the proof they’d been waiting for.
‘Omg what we could have had,’ one person tweeted, while another wrote: ‘But we all ~felt~ it and that’s what matters.’
‘Gonna rewatch the show with my bi Alex Russo lenses on,’ someone else shared, as another simply put: ‘I KNEW IT.’
During an interview with Them last year, Hayley discussed what it was like to play Stevie before she came out, as well as the influence the character had on fans.
‘At this time, I wasn’t openly queer, and so when I was on Wizards, I think anytime I was doing a show I felt very insecure or exposing myself as a flaming lesbian,’ she said, having starred on the show for four episodes in 2010.
‘But obviously [for] the fans who have watched the show, Stevie is a part of their gay awakening, and I wasn’t able to mask my lesbian energy very much in the character.’
Wizards of Waverly Place is available to watch on Disney Plus.
