Jake T. Austin says he wanted to reprise his role as Max Russo in Wizards Beyond Waverly Place, but the Disney Channel continuation ultimately moved forward without him. His account makes Max the only member of the original Russo sibling trio who never appeared in Wizards Beyond Waverly Place. The Series Made Max a Billionaire Without Bringing Him BackAlthough Austin never appeared, Wizards Beyond Waverly Place established what became of Max after the original series. The original Wizards of Waverly Place ended with Max inheriting the family business after losing the competition that determined which Russo sibling would retain magical powers. The Finale Brought Back Several Other Original CharactersThe four-part finale significantly expanded the sequel’s connections to the original series.