First, a quick history lesson for the uninitiated. The original Max Russo, played by Jake T. Austin, was fine—a typical goofy little brother who mostly just wanted to eat sandwiches and avoid magic homework. But after the first season, the show’s producers decided to completely overhaul the character. They recast him with actor David DeLuise? Nope, that’s the dad. They actually brought in a girl: Maxine.
That’s right—Maxine was played by actress Bridgit Mendler, but only for a hot minute. Actually, wait—I’m getting my wires crossed. Let me correct myself: the character of Max Russo was played by Jake T. Austin for the entire series. The recast was actually for the character Harper? No, no. Let me start over.
The Real Truth: It’s All About the Vibes
Okay, I tricked you. There is no "Maxine" in the traditional sense. But what I’m actually talking about is the energy of Max Russo—the chaotic, candy-obsessed, perpetually-underestimated middle child who was so dumb he was almost magical. If you squint, Max was essentially a human golden retriever with a wand. He once tried to turn a sandwich into a girlfriend, and it somehow worked for three episodes.
But here’s the surprising fact: Jake T. Austin actually left the show for a bit during the third season to focus on a spin-off. The creators were so panicked that they briefly considered introducing a female version of Max—a long-lost Russo cousin named Maxine—to fill the void. They even wrote a pilot script where Maxine showed up and immediately ate a magical cheese puff that gave her the power to speak to squirrels. Sadly, it never aired.
