If you’re still not over the Lizzie McGuire reboot that never was, you’re definitely in good company, because Hilary Duff herself also thinks about the would-be series that almost made its resurgence on Disney+.
As noted by JustJared, Hilary recently talked about the entire experience in an interview on The Jess Cagle Show. The actor reiterated that the project was eventually halted over disagreements surrounding the show’s content, as Disney reportedly wanted a “family-friendly” version of Lizzie, while Hilary imagined her navigating adult issues as a 30-year-old woman.
“I think they are really trying to figure out what kind of content they want living on Disney+, and that doesn’t totally align with, like, where I see Lizzie right now,” Hilary explained. “I’m very protective of her and they’re very protective of her.”
Hilary added that while there were a lot of creative discussions to try and make the series work, she was adamant that Lizzie be relatable to the now-adults who grew up with her on the Disney Channel in the early aughts. “The one thing for me was just the way that she could connect with what was going on in people that were watching the show,” Hilary said. “And so for me, it only makes sense to me to shoot a show where she’s acting like a 30-year-old in a modern world.”
The Lizzie McGuire reboot first started gaining buzz back in 2019 when Disney+ announced that Hilary would be reprising her iconic role, with creator Terri Minsky onboard as showrunner. In the months that followed, production was paused, with reports of creative differences surfacing while filming. At one point, Hilary even suggested that the series move to Hulu, explaining, “I’d be doing a disservice to everyone by limiting the realities of a 30-year-old’s journey to live under the ceiling of a PG rating.” Ultimately, Hilary shared in December 2020 that the reboot “isn’t going to happen,” explaining that everyone tried their best but “the stars just didn’t align.”
Despite the outcome, Hilary noted that it was special to be able to reconnect with Lizzie again, even if it was only temporary. But her love of Lizzie hasn’t always been consistent in her own life. “There was a point in my life where I couldn’t stand Lizzie McGuire,” she confessed while on The Jess Cagle Show. “And I was like, ‘I don’t want to hear that name ever again.’”
But now that Hilary is in her 30s, she’s able to look back on the Disney character with a newfound appreciation. “She’s, you know, this is where it all began for me,” the actor recalled. “And she is me and I am her. And I brought what I could to that, which was very much just who I am inside. And so to tap into that again, even for a moment, was really a great experience.”