Lizzie McGuire reboot no longer happening at Disney+, Hilary Duff announces

‘Sadly, and despite everyone’s best efforts, it isn’t going to happen’

Hilary Duff attends D23 Disney+ showcase on 23 August 2019 in Anaheim, California (Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)

A planned Lizzie McGuire reboot will no longer move forward at Disney+.

Hilary Duff, who portrayed the titular character in the original series and was set to reprise the role, broke the news on Wednesday on social media.

“I’ve been so honoured to have the character of Lizzie in my life,” she wrote.

Addressing the planned revival, she added: “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.”

The actor suggested fans “take a moment to mourn the amazing woman [Lizzie] 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,” she added. “Hey now, this is what 2020’s made of.”

A Disney spokesperson told The Independent in a statement: “Lizzie McGuire fans have high expectations for any new stories.  Unless and until we are confident we can meet those expectations, we’ve decided to hold off and today, we informed the cast’s representatives that we are not moving forward with the planned series.”

The planned Lizzie McGuire reboot was announced in August last year. Duff shared a first look at the production the following month.

Terri Minsky, the creator of the original series, stepped away from her duties as showrunner in January this year, Variety reported at the time.

A Disney spokesperson told the website in a statement: “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 show.”

The original Lizzie McGuire are for two seasons on Disney Channel between 2001 and 2004. A film, The Lizzie McGuire Movie, was released in 2003.