After months and months of negotiations, Hilary Duff has announced that the Lizzie McGuire revival is not going ahead.
The Younger star shared a lengthy post on Instagram, revealing that “despite everyone’s best efforts, it isn’t going to happen.”
“I’ve been so honoured to have the character of Lizzie in my life,” the lead Lizzie McGuire actress began. “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,” she added.
“We can all take a moment to mourn the amazing woman she would have been and the adventures we would have taken with her,” she said of Lizzie McGuire.
She concluded, “I’m very sad, but I promise everyone tried their best and the stars just didn’t align. Her now, this is what 2020’s made of.”
Earlier this year, it was announced that the Lizzie McGuire retelling, along with Love, Simon series, titled Love, Victor, had been shifted from Disney+ over fears that they weren’t “family friendly” enough.
Although Love, Victor found a new home in Hulu, sadly Lizzie McGuire was unable to recover.
“Fans have a sentimental attachment to Lizzie McGuire and high expectations for a new series,” a Disney spokesperson told Variety.
“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 revival, which had already filmed a coupla eps, picked up years after the original series, when Lizzie is about to turn the big 3-0. Duff is back as is Adam Lamberg (Gordo), Hallie Todd (Jo McGuire), Robert Carradine (Sam McGuire), and Jake Thomas (Matthew McGuire).
The entirety of the Lizzie McGuire series, and the iconic movie, are now streaming on Disney+, if you need something to watch while you’re mourning the beloved Lizzie.
