Hillary Duff is returning to the role that made her famous, starring in a Lizzie McGuire sequel series that will stream exclusively on Disney Plus. The new show is set to be the first one produced under a new production deal between Disney and Lizzie McGuire’s creator, Terri Minsky.
First airing on the Disney Channel in 2001, Lizzie McGuire skyrocketed to become the network’s most popular show. Hillary Duff played the 13-year-old title character as she coped with the usual trials and tribulations of middle school and struggled to become popular. What separated the show from similar tween comedies of the time was an animated avatar of Lizzie, who delivered off-beat soliloquies and commentary on the action of the episodes, revealing what Lizzie was really thinking at any given moment. The show ran for 3 years and 65 episodes, inspiring a spin-off movie which earned $55 million globally.
Deadline reported on the existence of the new series before its formal announcement today at D23. Hillary Duff later affirmed her involvement in the project in a post to her personal Instagram, which can be viewed below. Duff also confirmed that the new series had been in the works for some time and that she had a hard time keeping it a secret that Lizzie McGuire was coming back.
Specific details on the untitled new series are scarce beyond the fact that Duff will be returning to play the series’ titular character. It has been confirmed that the new series will focus on a 30-year-old Lizzie and the life that she has built for herself in New York City. Aside from that, nothing else has been said about what her career is or if she’s still involved with her friend turned boyfriend Gordo. There also haven’t been any reports regarding the rest of the cast of the original series returning for the sequel show. As of now, it is unclear that any of those old characters, apart from Lizzie, would be making an appearance in the new series. The one thing that isn’t changing, however, is that there will still be an animated Lizzie giving voice to the real Lizzie’s thoughts.
Thankfully, fans of Hilary Duff’s more recent work as Kelsey in the TV Land comedy series Younger won’t have to worry about her having to choose between the two roles. Duff has been granted a waiver on her contract with Viacom, giving her special permission to work with Disney Plus on the new Lizzie McGuire show. This is sure to be welcome news to Duff’s fans, who caused “Lizzie McGuire” to become the #1 trending topic on Twitter following the announcement of the new show.
More: Hilary Duff’s 9 Most Beloved Teen Movies, Ranked
Source: Deadline
