Selena Gomez On Being Cast In 'Only Murders In The Building': 'Nice To Be Back'

Selena Gomez is opening up about her new Hulu series and her return to television after nearly a decade.

The 29-year-old singer is set to star as Mabel in "Only Murders in the Building," a role that marks the first time she's acting in a TV show since portraying Alex Russo in the Disney Channel series "Wizards of Waverly Place" from 2007 to 2012.

During the "Only Murders in the Building" Television Critics Association press panel Friday, Gomez didn't hide her excitement and joy over her TV return, revealing that fans will be able to see how much she's grown as an actress since her Disney days.

"I signed my life away to Disney at a very young age and I didn’t know that’s what I was doing," Gomez was quoted by Deadline as saying while laughing. "The level of the sophistication of the material is the reason why I wanted to do this but I don’t know? I was just a kid and I didn’t know what I was doing. I was just running around the set."

She continued, "Now, I’m just like a sponge and I soak up all the wisdom that I can. And it’s just really nice to be back on TV and it’s nice to be cast as someone my own age which never happens. I’m just very happy to be doing this."

The "Rare" singer added that she was also happy to have gotten the chance to work alongside comedy giants Steve Martin and Martin Short, whom she calls her "two crazy uncles." In the Hulu series, the trio portrays strangers who share an obsession with true crime and suddenly find themselves involved in a case after investigating the mysterious death of a neighbor in their apartment building.

Gomez had nothing but praise for Martin and Short and said they set a good example for her with their kindness and humility.

"They are so humble and they are kind, and they are there till the very end. They’ve set such an example for me. They’ve been doing this longer than I’ve been alive. I would be so lucky to have a career that lasted that long," Gomez said. "And I think overall I just love the way they talk to people. I love the way that they just come to set and make everybody feel good and that makes me want to be that and do that more. Plus, I’m just so lucky. I just sit down and laugh all day."

Gomez made her acting debut on PBS' "Barney & Friends" in 2002 before she landed at Disney for a brief role in "Hannah Montana" from 2007 to 2008 and a starring role in "Wizards of Waverly Place" alongside Jake T. Austin, David Henrie, Jennifer Stone and more.

But while this is her first return to television in nearly a decade, Gomez has starred in several films since her Disney days, including "Spring Breakers," "The Big Short," "Fundamentals of Caring" and "The Dead Don't Die."

"Only Murders in the Building" premieres exclusively on Hulu on Aug. 31.