If you spent any part of the late 2000s or early 2010s glued to the Disney Channel, you know the drama. Alex Russo had a lot of boyfriends. There was the gear-head Riley and the "subway boy" Dean. But nobody—literally nobody—shook up the Russo household quite like the British werewolf. If you’re wondering who plays Mason in Wizards of Waverly Place, the answer is the charming and talented Gregg Sulkin.
He wasn't just another guest star.
Sulkin's arrival in Season 3 changed the show's DNA. He brought this weird, endearing mix of "polite British schoolboy" and "uncontrollable supernatural beast." It worked. Honestly, it worked better than anyone expected. Even years after the series finale, fans are still arguing about whether Mason Greyback was actually "the one" for Alex.
The British Invasion of Waverly Place
Gregg Sulkin didn't just stumble into the role. By the time he joined the Disney powerhouse in 2010, he already had some momentum. He’d done As the Bell Rings on Disney Channel UK, but moving to the flagship US show was a whole different beast. He first appeared in the episode "Alex Charms a Boy," playing an artistic student from England.
It was a classic Disney setup. Boy meets girl. Boy is secretly a werewolf. Girl is secretly a wizard. Chaos ensues.
What made Sulkin’s portrayal stand out was the accent. At the time, the "British Boy" trope was peaking in American pop culture. But Sulkin didn’t play it like a caricature. He had this genuine chemistry with Selena Gomez that felt a bit more mature than the typical slapstick comedy the show was known for. He made Mason feel like a real person—well, a real person who occasionally eats squirrels and loses his mind during a full moon.
Why the World Obsessed Over Gregg Sulkin as Mason
It’s easy to forget how huge this casting was. When we talk about who plays Mason in Wizards of Waverly Place, we’re talking about the actor who survived the transition from "teen heartthrob" to "working adult actor." That’s a rare feat in the Disney world.
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Sulkin’s Mason was complicated. He wasn’t a perfect hero. Remember the whole Juliet van Heusen situation? The ancient vampire played by Bridgit Mendler? The revelation that Mason had loved Juliet centuries ago—and then shouted her name in the middle of a fight with Alex—was peak Disney Channel drama. It gave Sulkin a chance to play someone flawed. He was impulsive. He was jealous. He was occasionally a total jerk.
That's why we liked him.
He made the stakes feel high. When he transformed into a full werewolf (which, let’s be honest, the CGI was questionable even for 2010), Sulkin sold the agony of it. He brought a level of commitment to the physical acting that made the supernatural elements of the show feel grounded.
Life After the Werewolf Ears
Gregg Sulkin didn't stop at Disney. While many of his peers struggled to find their footing after their shows ended, Sulkin jumped straight into more "grown-up" roles. You might have seen him in Pretty Little Liars as Wesley Fitzgerald. Or maybe you caught him as Liam Booker in MTV’s Faking It, where he really got to show off his comedic timing.
But his biggest post-Disney win? That was definitely Marvel’s Runaways.
Playing Chase Stein was a massive departure from Mason Greyback. Instead of magic and fur, he was dealing with high-tech "Fistigon" gloves and a group of teens discovering their parents were supervillains. It proved that the guy who plays Mason in Wizards of Waverly Place wasn't just a one-trick pony. He could lead a gritty (well, Marvel-gritty) sci-fi drama just as well as a multi-cam sitcom.
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The 2024 Revival: Is Mason Back?
The internet nearly melted when Disney announced Wizards Beyond Waverly Place. Everyone immediately started asking the same question: Is the original cast coming back?
We know Selena Gomez and David Henrie are involved. But the Mason fans? They’re loud. They want to know if the werewolf is still lurking in the background. As of the latest production updates, Sulkin hasn't been confirmed as a series regular, but the door in the wizard world is never truly closed.
Sulkin himself has always been super vocal about his love for the show. He often posts throwback photos and stays in touch with the cast. In a world where some actors try to distance themselves from their "mouse house" roots, Sulkin embraces it. That’s probably why he’s stayed so popular. He respects the fans who grew up watching him.
Breaking Down the Mason Greyback Legacy
Let's get into the weeds of the character. Mason wasn't just a boyfriend; he was a bridge between the mortal world and the "Wizard World" lore. Through him, we learned about the history of werewolves in the Wizards universe.
- The Age Factor: Mason is actually over 300 years old. Sulkin had to play that weird balance of being an old soul trapped in a teenager's body.
- The Impulsivity: His wolf instincts often clashed with Alex’s rebellious nature. It was a recipe for disaster, but also for great TV.
- The Loyalty: Despite his mistakes, Mason’s arc was always about redemption.
People often forget that Sulkin had to do a lot of his scenes while acting against nothing, or wearing those ridiculous fur-covered prosthetics. It takes a certain level of professional humility to growl at a green screen and make it look soulful.
What You Should Do If You're a Fan Today
If you’re feeling nostalgic for the days of Gregg Sulkin as the world’s most famous teen werewolf, you don’t have to just settle for grainy YouTube clips.
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First, go watch Wizards of Waverly Place: The Movie and the special The Wizards Return: Alex vs. Alex. Sulkin’s performance in the latter is actually one of his best, as he deals with the fallout of Alex’s magic going haywire.
Second, follow his current projects. He’s been heavily involved in the fitness space and various independent film projects lately. He also has a massive presence on social media where he’s surprisingly transparent about the industry.
Third, keep an eye on Wizards Beyond Waverly Place. Even if he doesn't appear in the first season, the fan demand for a Mason cameo is so high that it feels almost inevitable. Producers listen to social media trends more than ever now.
The takeaway is simple: Gregg Sulkin didn’t just play a character; he created a cornerstone of 2010s pop culture. Whether he was painting a mural for Alex or fighting a vampire in a parking lot, he brought a specific British charm that no one else could have replicated. If you're looking to catch up on his work, start with his recent guest spots or dive back into the Disney+ archives. The fur might be fake, but the talent is definitely real.
To stay updated on his latest roles, check his official social media profiles or industry databases like IMDb, which track his upcoming film credits and potential returns to the Disney universe. Keep your notifications on for the Wizards revival news—history has a way of repeating itself in the Wizard World.