Hilary Duff Is Still Open To "Lizzie McGuire" Reboot: "I'm Optimistic"

Hilary Duff quickly rose to fame when she starred as Lizzie McGuire in Disney Channel’s hit television series, “Lizzie McGuire” from 2001-2004 and in “The Lizzie McGuire Movie” in 2003.

She was set to reprise her role in the highly anticipated “Lizzie McGuire” reboot, alongside other original cast members Hallie Todd (Jo McGuire/Lizzie’s Mom), Robert Carradine (Sam McGuire/Lizzie’s Dad), Jake Thomas (Matt McGuire/Lizzie’s brother), Adam Lamberg (Gordo) and, of course, animated Lizzie. However, the reboot was canceled as, according to Duff, “the stars just didn’t align.”

Although the project was scrapped, Duff is still open to working on a "Lizzie McGuire" reboot.

Hilary Duff, who is currently promoting season two of "How I Met Your Father", recently went on to "Watch What Happens Live," where host Andy Cohen read a question from fans, which mentioned "Lizzie McGuire" and asked Duff if she would still consider doing the reboot if “it lived up to her vision.”

To which Duff quickly said, "Of course."

Cohen then asked what the “main sticking point” was for the reboot, to which the "So Yesterday" singer got a bit tongue-tied, trying to tread lightly and not say something she didn't mean. After a short pause, Duff gathered her thoughts and eventually answered, “Disney+ was very new and I think they were figuring out their [pause] and we were figuring out our [pause], and...," Duff took another quick pause before concluding with, "I am optimistic.”

When Duff said, "I think they were figuring out their [pause] and we were figuring out our [pause]," she was referring to the "creative differences" Disney and Duff had on the project. “She had to be 30 years old doing 30-year-old things,” Duff previously told Women's Health, wanting to push 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.”

In December 2020, Hilary Duff took to social media to announce the project was officially scrapped. "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," she began. "To see the fans’ loyalty and love for her, to this day, means so much to me."

The actress then went on to break the news, saying Lizzie was no more. "I know the efforts and conversations have been everything trying to make a reboot work, but sadly despite everyone’s best efforts, it isn’t going to happen," she wrote. "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 2020’s made of.”

Because the 34-year-old stood her ground, the project ended up getting canceled, but Lizzie will always be close to the actress’s heart.

“It would be dumb of me to not know that I have a sweet spot playing that relatable girl,” she continued to tell Women’s Health. “I am that girl.” Even as a kid trying to separate herself from the character who made her famous, she managed to hold on to her optimism. “It was a conscious choice not to be angsty and try to shift people’s opinions on who I am,” she says, laughing. “That doesn’t mean I didn’t want to try!”