Selena Gomez’s Wizards of Waverly Place brother David Henrie exclusively told E! News about meeting Benny Blanco and reflected on his friendship with the Only Murders in the Building actress.

Selena Gomez isn’t the only one who thinks Benny Blanco is magical.

The Wizards of Waverly Place alum’s onscreen brother David Henrie—who stars in and executive produces upcoming sequel series Wizards Beyond Waverly Place alongside Selena—also finds her music producer boyfriend to be spellbinding.

“He’s such a nice guy,” David exclusively told E! News’ Francesca Amiker on the set on the upcoming Disney Channel series. “He’s super funny. I was cracking up the whole time.”

And David—who shares children Pia Philomena, 5, James Thomas, 3, and Gemma Clare, 2, with wife Maria Cahill—found that a meal was the perfect setting for the group’s first sit-down.

“We had a great dinner,” he continued. “We had some Italian food. He can order good food. He can order very good food.”

But beyond the fun times, David only wants Selena—who has been dating Benny (real name Benjamin Joseph Levin) since last summer—to find joy in her relationship.

“I trust Selena and I want her to be very happy,” he continued. “She knows I have her back.”

And while David, 35, and Selena, 32, met as teens playing siblings Justin and Alex Russo on Wizards of Waverly Place, their dynamic has evolved in the more than a decade since their show ended after four seasons in 2012.

David Henrie, Selena Gomez, Big Pic
Todd Williamson/Shutterstock

“We’re all adults now so it’s changed,” David said. “It was more big brother growing up, but now we’re all kind of equals. Her and my wife actually get along very well. They have woman-to-woman conversations and I just chime in with a joke or something. But it’s been good.”

As the How I Met Your Mother alum sees it, the state of their friendship today is absolutely a result of his real-life bond he formed with Selena on the Disney Channel series.

Selena Gomez, Benny BlancoInstagram/Selena Gomez

“That sibling dynamic you feel while you’re watching the show, we were like that off camera too,” he explained. “We really did care about one another. I think it’s a wonderful culture to have each other’s backs, to have an openness, it’s been wonderful.”

And because of that strong bond throughout the years, there’s nothing but love between David and Selena.

“[We’re] always encouraging. Always there for one another,” he said. “Her and I, we go back so far, 20 years now almost. She knows I’m gonna shoot her straight and I know she’s gonna shoot me straight. So there’s no fluff around it. We’re just there for each other. We shoot each other straight and I think that’s why our bond has always been there and will continue to be.”

Wizards Beyond Waverly Place premieres Oct. 29 on Disney Channel and next day on Disney+. Ahead of the series’ debut, keep reading to see where other Disney Channel stars are today.