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‘Lizzie McGuire’ Star Says Disney “Got Spooked” By Reboot

The late-90s and early 2000s were a great time for Disney Channel fans. During that time, the House of Mouse created a number of hit shows — including Boy Meets WorldThat’s So Raven, Phineas and Ferb, The Suite Life of Zack and Cody, Wizards of Waverly Place, Lizzie McGuire, and more. Many of those shows hold a special place in the hearts of millennial Disney fans.

Boy Meets World
Credit: Disney

Lizzie McGuire was so beloved that, in 2019, Disney announced that it would be rebooting the show for its new streaming service, Disney+. The new Lizzie McGuire was supposed to feature a 30-year-old Lizzie, navigating life in Brooklyn, New York as she works a demanding job under a fashion designer and dates the person she wants to believe is her dream man. Sadly, even though a script was written, and a table read was done, it was simply not meant to be, and Disney scrapped the show.

Lizzie McGuire
Credit: Disney

Hilary Duff — who played the titular character — recently sat down for an interview with Women’s Health and spoke about why she thinks Disney canceled the show, despite fan enthusiasm for it. According to Women’s Health:

The project tanked when Hilary and the network differed on their vision for adult Lizzie. “She had to be 30 years old doing 30-year-old things,” Hilary says she insisted, pushing for a more mature Lizzie. “She didn’t need to be doing bong rips and having one-night stands all the time, but it had to be authentic. I think they got spooked.”

Lizzie McGuire
Credit: Disney

Lizzie McGuire fans were not the only ones disappointed when Disney canceled its plans for the reboot. Duff took to Instagram to share the following message:

“I’ve been so honored to have the character of Lizzie in my life. She has made such a lasting impact on many, including myself. To see the fans’ loyalty and love for her, to this day, means so much to me. I know the efforts and conversations have been everywhere trying to make a reboot work but, sadly and despite everyone’s best efforts, it isn’t going to happen. I want any reboot of Lizzie to be honest and authentic to who Lizzie would be today. It’s what the character deserves. We can all take a moment to mourn the amazing woman she would have been and the adventures we would have taken with her. I’m very sad, but I promise everyone tried their best and the stars just didn’t align. Hey now, this is what 2020s are made of. 

Lizzie McGuire movie
Credit: Disney

Hilary Duff was not the only original cast member to sign onto the Disney+ reboot. Hallie Todd and Robert Carradine signed back on to play Lizzie’s parents, Jo and Sam. Jake Thomas also came back on board to play Lizzie’s trouble-making brother, Matt. Adam Lamberg — who played Lizzie’s best friend Gordo — also planned to come back before the cancellation.

Would you have loved to see the Lizzie McGuire reboot come to Disney+? 

Krysten Swensen

A born and bred New England girl living the Disney life in Southern California. I love to read, to watch The Golden Girls, and love everything to do with Disney and Universal. I also love to share daily doses of Disney on my Disney Instagram @BrazzleDazzleDisney!

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