When Disney announced in 2019 that there would be a Lizzie McGuire reboot, fans were ecstatic to see Lizzie in her 30s and dealing with even more problems. Lizzie McGuire, herself, Hilary Duff always spoke publicly about her love for the character and the series and was excited to bring her back in a new way for Disney+. However, when there were creative differences, Disney ultimately decided to cancel the series, leaving fans, and Duff, disappointed. The Younger actress is now sharing her thoughts on the cancellation and what it was like filming the first few episodes.
The Disney+ revival for Lizzie McGuire was already two episodes deep when the series was put on pause after the showrunner had left, leaving the show in limbo until Disney eventually cancelled it. While promoting her new children’s book, My Brave Little Girl, on Good Morning America, Hilary Duff opened up about the cancellation and how disappointed she was that things didn't pan out for the sequel series. Duff said:
It was a big disappointment obviously. I will forever be grateful for the two episodes that we did shoot. It was a really special two weeks of my life.
It was hard not to love Lizzie McGuire. She was clumsy and kind and was always trying to do the right thing, despite being a bit reckless at times. Hilary Duff said that is what made her so appealing and it was something that would have continued on in the revival when Lizzie would be in her 30s. Duff explained:
I think she would be quirky, I think that she would struggle with confidence, but I think at the end of the day, she finds her footing. That’s what’s so lovely about her, and that’s what so relatable is that she doesn’t have all the answers right away, but she's on the right path.
The Lizzie McGuire reboot was first confirmed at the D23 Expo in 2019 and would have revolved around “Lizzie as a 30-year old millennial navigating life in New York City.” The series would have also included the return of Lizzie’s parents (Hallie Todd and Robert Carradine) as well as Lizzie’s younger brother, Matt (Jake Thomas), and friend, David “Gordo” Gordon (Adam Lamberg).
Hilary Duff excitedly shared a photo from the first day of filming that October, which came only a few months before the departure of originall Lizzie McGuire creator and original showrunner Terri Minsky, News of a replacement was not immediate, leaving many fans worried for the show's future. Duff had made a plea to let the reboot move to Disney-owned Hulu to better fit with the more mature themes that were in mind for the series, though the House of Mouse opted not to move in that direction.
Just like Hilary Duff, many fans will likely remain disappointed about the fact that they won’t be able to continue growing up with Lizzie. But one can still live in the past, as both seasons of the original are streaming on Disney+, along with the iconic The Lizzie McGuire Movie.
