Wizards Beyond Waverly Place finale reveals major character is dead, leaving fans reeling
In a new interview, star and executive producer David Henrie has explained why the Wizards Beyond Waverly Place finale kills off a major character.
If you watched the Wizards Beyond Waverly Place finale expecting a nice nostalgic wrap-up, you might want to sit down (preferably not on a flying carpet). The Disney Channel laid out the last episode on 4 August, and I don’t think anyone had on their bingo card that Mason – yes, the werewolf played by Gregg Sulkin – wouldn't be seeing the end credits roll.
The Shocker: Mason’s Offscreen Demise
The finale’s four-part sendoff put Alex Russo (Selena Gomez) through a maze of alternate universes. In one of them, she actually comes face-to-face with Mason. There’s an awkward moment where he starts to propose... and then abruptly cuts himself off because, as it turns out, he’s not exactly amongst the living. The penny drops for Alex:
Alex says to Mason in the alternate dimension: 'Because you’re dead. You’re gone. That’s why all of this feels weird, it’s not real.'
If you felt blindsided, you weren’t alone. That moment spelled out that Mason died sometime between the original series and this latest spin-off. The showrunners didn’t serve up any flashback, just the bombshell, and moved on like you’re supposed to just accept it. The emotional wallop came with some parting words from Mason, who managed fit in the classic “I’ll always love you, Alex Russo, and I’ll always be watching over you” before fading out of her life and apparently, the franchise for good.
The Thinking Behind It
If you’re wondering 'why on earth would they do this?', David Henrie – who not only returned as Justin Russo but also had a creative hand as executive producer – addressed the decisions in an interview. The creative team apparently spent some time boxed in by fan expectations on how to handle Mason. Henrie said they knew any decision would wind up with some section of the fandom in revolt. Henrie told TVLine:
The cleanest version was to kill him.
They thought about an Alex/Mason break-up, but 'double-edged sword' was his phrase for what looked like a lose-lose situation. They settled on a permanent fate – honestly, it sounded a bit like picking the option least likely to start a shipping war.
As for what exactly took Mason out? Even Henrie admits it’s vague. He half-joked, “Look, he was an old werewolf, and werewolves pass on. Maybe he didn’t get enough moonlight, I don’t know.” So there you go – it’s magical natural causes, not a tragic accident or anything juicy like that.
Cast Reactions and Continuity Woes
On Gregg Sulkin’s end, he was supportive of Mason’s death, probably relieved he didn’t have to bounce back in ghostly form for half a dozen awkward family scenes. “Yeah, it would be tough if you kept me in the picture,” Sulkin reportedly told Henrie, zero drama required.
One odd bit from Henrie concerned the fandom’s meltdown over a certain Season 2 storyline: Alex’s daughter. The appearance of Billie immediately torpedoed fan theories about who the father might be. Henrie noted that 'fans were furious because, obviously, that kid can’t come from Gregg' – meaning Mason was ruled out as a potential parent in-universe, as he’d already taken his leave.
The four-part Wizards Beyond Waverly Place finale aired 4 August 2026 on Disney Channel.