Selena Gomez finally scored her Primetime Emmy nomination this year for Only Murders in the Building. And with a pair of Grammy nods already to her name as well, it’s clear Gomez is a Hollywood force to be reckoned with, ever since her career launched with early hits like the Disney sitcom Wizards of Waverly Place. Famed actress Maria Canals-Barrera, who plays Gomez’s mom on the show, recently spoke to MovieWeb amid the release of her film Seven Cemeteries, which also stars Danny Trejo. She opened up about Gomez and playing her TV mom on a show that’s now getting new life on Disney with a reboot, Wizards Beyond Waverly Place.

“I’m very proud of all the things that she has survived and thrived through,” said Canals-Barrera about Gomez. “I think it’s really amazing. And of course, I see that little girl when I see her face. And also with [co-star] David Henrie, I see that little boy still, you know, and I’m very proud of them, very, very proud of them.”

Canals-Barrera also confirmed that she’ll be shooting an episode of the Wizards reboot on November 4. “I did get to see a producer’s run-through of the pilot, and it was terrific,” she said. “I’m very excited to be part of the new sequel, which is based on [David’s character] Justin’s family and his wife and his sons. And I think it’s great that it’s a whole new show peppered with who, you know, we are as the family.”

Working with the ‘Icon’ Danny Trejo

Canals-Barrera also reflected on the history of Wizards and how the Harry Potter phenomenon played such a key role in giving rise to her Disney show. And now, there’s Seven Cemeteries, where her character Bruja wields her own sort of witchcraft.

“Throughout the years, I’ve had auditions for lots of characters like this, and I’ve done play readings where they tap into the whole Mexican, make-your-own kind of medicinal brews, you know, which isn’t necessarily tied to the occult — it’s just kind of like very, I guess, what is considered a pagan way of healing,” she said. “And, of course, there’s the Day of the Dead celebration, which honors the dead, so there’s a lot of things about death that I’ve auditioned for. So I knew that kind of world, and I’ve been to certain areas where people talk about those kinds of possibilities of the afterlife.”

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The veteran actress also spoke about her experience co-starring with the iconic Trejo for their new supernatural Western film laced with comedy:

“I was thrilled that he was the lead of this movie because he’s so interesting, and he’s got this contradiction in that he’s so menacing looking in a stereotypical way, you know, big tattoos. And he’s the sweetest person, authentically sweet, so warm and so gracious and real and down to earth. And I just love that juxtaposition of the man, and so I get why he’s become this icon. He’s just terrific.”

From Quiver Distribution, Seven Cemeteries is now available on demand and digital. Wizards Beyond Waverly Place premieres Oct. 29, 2024.

Wizards Beyond Waverly Place follows adult Justin Russo, who leads a normal life until his sister Alex asks for help with a young wizard-in-training. Justin must revive his magical skills to mentor the trainee while balancing his family life and safeguarding the Wizard World’s future.Release Date October 29, 2024 Seasons 1