Sophia Michaels
More than a decade after the “Wizards of Waverly Place” series finale aired in 2012, showrunner Peter Murrieta has finally confirmed one of Disney Channel’s biggest ships: Alex Russo and Stevie Nichols. During an interview with former “Wizards” stars Jennifer Stone and David DeLuise on the “Wizards of Waverly Pod” on March 27, Murrieta revealed that Alex, played by Selena Gomez, was bisexual and had romantic feelings for Stevie (played by Hayley Kiyoko).
“It was pretty clear to all of us what that relationship was,” Murietta said when asked if there was a storyline he would have liked to explore further in the series. He went on to explain that he wished they could have played more with the obvious flirtations between the characters onscreen.
For those who need a refresher, Stevie and Alex first met in detention during the show’s third season. Despite only appearing in four episodes, her laid-back, rock ‘n’ roll attitude perfectly complemented Alex’s witty, rebellious personality.
Though the nature of their relationship wasn’t confirmed onscreen, the chemistry between the duo — affectionately known as Stalex by fans — was enough to signal to viewers at home that Alex and Stevie were more than friends. Murietta said that at the time that “Wizards” was airing, however, the likelihood of seeing Alex admit her feelings for another girl was slim. “At that time, it wasn’t a thing,” he said. “We got as close as we could. It was pretty close.”
In the decade since the show came to a close, Disney Channel has increasingly featured LGBTQ+ characters on TV. Most notably, the network has showcased queer characters and same-sex relationships in shows including “Good Luck Charlie” and “Andi Mack.”
In addition to sweeping Alex’s sexuality under the rug, Murietta said Disney Channel was particular about several plot points throughout the series. Most notably, he originally intended for Alex to win the wizard competition and give up her title as family wizard in favor of marrying a mortal, just like her dad had for her mom. However, Disney Channel vetoed the idea in favor of the conclusion we see on screen: Alex taking home the title of Family Wizard under a technicality.
Though we were never able to see what life would have been like for Alex if the network had been more open to queer representation onscreen, it’s nice to know that, in the end, everything between her and Stevie was as it seemed.
