A few days ago, Hilary Duff seemingly alluded that the Lizzie McGuire reboot was halted by Disney+. In addition to paused production, the show’s creator Terri Minsky leaving her post as showrunner in January after filming two episodes.
After weeks of silence, Variety recently reported about why the Lizzie McGuire revival continues to be stalled.
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After Disney+ announced that the Love, Simon sequel series was being moved from Disney+ to Hulu for not being “family-friendly,” Duff posted a screenshot with that headline to her Instagram Story and wrote that it “sounds familiar…,” which has led many to wonder if the Lizzie McGuire series is facing the same problem.
According to Variety‘s sources, Minsky and Duff wanted an “adult” version of Lizzie, whereas Disney+ wanted something more like the original show, for kids and families, even though Disney was originally on board with Minsky’s pitch.
In an interview with the Lizzie McGuire creator, she said she had hoped the two episodes she helped create could still be seen.
“I am so proud of the two episodes we did,” Minsky said. “Hilary has a grasp of Lizzie McGuire at 30 that needs to be seen. It’s a wonderful thing to watch. I would love the show to exist, but ideally I would love it if it could be given that treatment of going to Hulu and doing the show that we were doing. That’s the part where I am completely in the dark. It’s important to me that this show was important to people. I felt like I wanted to do a show that was worthy of that kind of devotion.”
Variety also reported that Duff is not happy with Minsky being let go, and that a new showrunner is currently being sought after, but would like to ask for the version of the show created by Minsky and Duff.
The Lizzie McGuire creator and star’s take on the reboot was that Lizzie is about to turn 30 and is living her dream life in New York City as an assistant to a designer, “but things aren’t always what they seem.” She is followed by her 13-year-old animated alter ego to help her through the ups and downs of adulthood, and Lizzie’s family (Hallie Todd, Robert Carradine, Jake Thomas) and best friend Gordo (Adam Lamberg) were all ready to be a part of the reboot.
At the time of Minksy’s firing, a Disney spokesperson said, “Fans have a sentimental attachment to Lizzie McGuire and high expectations for a new series. After filming two episodes, we concluded that we need to move in a different creative direction and are putting a new lens on the series.”
Now, Variety obtained a second statement from a Disney spokesperson.
“We paused production on Lizzie McGuire a few weeks ago to allow time for some creative re-development,” the rep told Variety. “Our goal is to resume production and to tell an authentic story that connects to the millions who are emotionally invested in the character, and a new generation of viewers too.”
Brittany R
Brittany is a writer who is obsessed with rom-com movies, Gossip Girl, reality television, fashion, and pop-culture. When she isn't reporting on the latest celeb buzz, she is filling up her online shopping cart without checking out.