Lizzie McGuire on Disney Plus – all the drama explained

From Digital Spy

One of Disney+'s biggest draws is its promise to deliver fresh prequels, sequels, spin-offs and reboots of classic TV shows and movies that mean A LOT to virtually all of us.

From Pixar to Star Wars, Marvel to both Disney classics and Disney Channel Originals, clear your calendars because there is a tidal wave of content on its way.

One such DC (not that one) show getting the reboot treatment is Lizzie McGuire, a comedy-drama that charted the trials and tribulations of its titular teen for three seasons in the early '00s.

Hilary Duff herself – now 32, with two kids and a husband of her own – will reprise the role of Lizzie, personally announcing the news at Disney's D23 Expo in August 2019 which, as you'd expect, went down a storm.

Related: Younger star Hilary Duff says season 6 finale was "so f**ked up"

Lizzie's animated 13-year-old alter ego will also feature in the new series which, we can all agree, is both wonderful and an absolute must.

Duff will also be joined by her on-screen mum and dad, played by Hallie Todd (Jo) and Robert Carradine (Sam), as well as Jake Thomas as her younger brother, Matt.

And it was later announced that Adam Lamberg would be back as Gordo, one of Lizzie's best mates, who also had a HUGE crush on her.

"Gordo was an essential piece of the puzzle to what made the original Lizzie McGuire so authentic and beloved," Duff said in a statement.

"I couldn't imagine the series without him. I can't wait for fans to see what he's up to 15 years later and how he fits into Lizzie's adult world."

But just as exciting as all that was the news that Terri Minsky, the OG show's creator, was back onboard as showrunner – a crucial signing given that she understands the DNA of the series like no other.

We love it when a plan comes together and Lizzie McGuire was well on its way.

"We are incredibly excited to bring back one of the most popular Disney Channel series of all time along with some beloved and familiar faces," said Ricky Strauss, Disney+ president, Content & Marketing, in a statement.

"With Terri at the helm and Hilary, Hallie, Robert, and Jake back after all these years, it’s our honor to welcome the McGuire family into the Disney+ family."

The brand new chapter will follow Lizzie in New York City as she "navigates the ups and downs of adulthood" on the run up to the big 3-0. She's working as an assistant to an interior decorator, is dating "her dream guy" and lives in a beautiful apartment in Brooklyn apartment.

The official synopsis does add that "things aren't always as they seem"... Are they ever?

But sadly, the show has hit a very big wall.

Minsky is no longer attached to the project, despite having shot two episodes, according to Variety.

"Fans have a sentimental attachment to Lizzie McGuire and high expectations for a new series," said a Disney representative in a statement. "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."

Minsky herself then spoke to Variety about the situation, revealing that her vision for the show just didn't align with Disney's.

"I am so proud of the two episodes we did," she said.

"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."

Minksy's reference to Hulu comes after the Love, Simon spin-off, re-titled Love, Victor, was removed from the Disney+ roster and will now air on Hulu, which tackles more "adult" themes.

Sources have claimed that Disney is concerned about the show's sexual content and not LGBTQ+ issues, but there has been considerable public backlash.

That was something that Duff referenced in a post shared via Instagram Stories.

According to Variety's sources, Duff is reportedly unhappy with Disney for both parting ways with Minksy and the company's unwillingness to let the series explore more adult themes and concerns.

Disney is currently on the hunt for a new showrunner, but despite a spokesperson denying that the show has been canned, it's not looking good at the moment.

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