The ‘Lizzie McGuire’ Reboot Is The Latest Show Disney+ Thinks Is ‘Too Adult’
Earlier this week, a 'Love, Simon' spin-off was moved to Hulu for failing to be "family friendly".
Of all the Disney+ nostalgia-rush reboots announced last year, Lizzie McGuire was the one which caused the most surprise — least of all because its plot ‘Lizzie McGuire is 30 and a career woman who lives in New York’ is more or less Hilary Duff’s whole thing on Younger.
But we might never get the chance to compare the pair, with Duff suggesting Lizzie‘s been put on indefinite pause due to being ‘too adult’.
Production halted on the reboot in January after two episodes were filmed, as the series’ original creator and reboot showrunner Terri Minsky was fired. Since then, nothing: as of yet, Minksy hasn’t been replaced, suggesting the show might’ve died a quiet death.
Duff re-ignited interest in the show this week after a mild controversy regarding Disney+ announcing its pending Love, Simon spin-off Love, Victor would move to (Disney-owned) Hulu as the show isn’t “family-friendly”.
Seemingly, the issue’s over branding, with Disney trying to distinguish the audiences of its multiple streaming networks. In a very round-about way, it means that ‘Disney’ shows might not be ‘Disney+’ appropriate. But their determination over what is and isn’t ‘family appropriate’ has come under fire, as many turned to social media to express disappointment over Love, Hector‘s move, suggesting it was code for ‘too LGBTIQ+ focused’.
The now-airing High Fidelity series was also moved over to Hulu from Disney+, as the show’s themes didn’t fit the streaming network’s PG13 brand. Officials claimed similar reasons for Love, Victor‘s move, citing its alcohol use and decidedly not-Disney sexual plots. As Advocate notes, both shows feature queer characters, though other original Disney+ shows do too.
On Instagram stories this week, Duff shared a headline on Love, Victor’s “not family-friendly” content, writing “sounds familiar..”.
Now, Variety have spoken directly to Minsky and learnt that both she and Duff wanted the show to go in a more mature direction suitable for those who grew up alongside Lizzie and Duff, which Disney+ didn’t love. It’s also likely she only learnt of her own firing after it was widely reported.
“I am so proud of the two episodes we did,” Minsky told Variety. “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.”
In response, a Disney spokesperson told Variety the show was on a pause for “some creative re-development”, but would return.
The reboot, in addition to Duff, would see several other cast members return, including McGuire’s whole family (Hallie Todd, Robert Carradine and Jake Thomas) as well as her love-interest/best friend Gordo (Adam Lamberg). No news on Paolo and Isabella.