During an interview on the podcast, Wizards of Waverly Pod, showrunner Peter Murrieta admitted there was one relationship that they could have explored further on the Wizards of Waverly Place: Alex and Stevie. Fans felt the spark between Alex and Stevie, and even gave them a couple name: Stalex.
He told hosts of the podcast and series stars Jennifer Stone and David DeLuise that there was definitely potential for romance between the characters played by Selena Gomez and Hayley Kiyoko.
“I wished we could have played more with what was quite obvious to a lot of us,” he said of the queer pairing. “We weren’t able to in that time, but it was pretty clear to all of us what that relationship was.”
In a clip of the interview posted on Tik Tok, Jennifer Stone posted the caption: “We know you wanted Stalex…we wanted it too.”
Murrieta admitted that the writers even tried to make it happen: “Disney Channel has had [LGBTQ] characters, and they did it. At that time it wasn’t a thing. But we got as close as we could… I mean, it was pretty close.” He added, “That would have been great.”
Stevie was played by “lesbian Jesus” Kiyoko, but she had not yet come out. In an interview with Them last year, she talked about how the character was important for her and so many Wizards of Waverly Place 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. “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.”
If we had a magic wand, we would go back and change it too!
What Do You Think?