Lizzie McGuire Reboot Loses Original Creator as Disney+ Puts "New Lens" on the Series

Disney+'s Lizzie McGuire reboot is saying goodbye to original creator and showrunner Terri Minsky and putting a "new lens" on the series

By Lauren Piester Jan 10, 2020 12:28 AMTags
Lizzie McGuire, Hilary DuffDisney+

This news is definitely not what dreams are made of. 

Terri Minsky, the original creator and showrunner of Lizzie McGuire, has exited the reboot coming to Disney+, E! News has confirmed, though the series is still in production at the streaming service. 

"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 series," a Disney spokesperson said in a statement. 

Variety was first to report the news. 

Hilary Duff is reprising her role as Lizzie in the new show, which finds her living in New York, working as an assistant to an interior decorator, and about to turn 30. Duff herself announced the news late last summer, and also announced the news that best friend Gordo (Adam Lamberg) will be back too. The new series will also include Lizzie's family, played by Hallie Todd, Robert Carradine, and Jake Thomas

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Gordo's Back! Lizzie McGuire Casts Adam Lamberg for Revival Series on Disney+

Also returning is Lizzie's still-13 year-old animated alter ego, who popped into the original series to offer her thoughts and opinions on whatever was happening. You can keep up with everything we know about the series so far, at least until the "new lens" is revealed. 

She's Back!

Lizzie McGuire is coming soon to Disney+, and that just doesn't mean old episodes or even a new version of the show. It's a true revival, with Hilary Duff reprising her role as Lizzie at the age Lizzie would actually be now, and with original creator Terri Minsky running the show. Per Disney+, "The new story picks up as Lizzie is just about to turn 30. She seemingly has it all—her dream job as an assistant to a fancy New York City decorator, her dream guy and a picturesque Brooklyn apartment—but things aren't always as they seem. With a little help from her friends, her loving family and her 13-year-old alter-ego in animated form, Lizzie navigates the ups and downs of adulthood." 

Animated Lizzie Is Also Back

Not only is Lizzie's sometimes helpful, sometimes not so helpful animated avatar a part of the new show, but animated Lizzie hasn't grown up at all. She's still 13, which is weirdly delightful to us to hear. 

First Episode Done

Production began on October 29, and Disney+ shared this pic of Lizzie and a llama to celebrate. We don't know what's up with the llama, but it might have something to do with Lizzie's job as the assistant to an interior designer. We'd definitely put this llama in our house, at least. 

The Fam Returns

Lizzie's family will all return, including Hallie Todd and Robert Carradine as her parents, and Jake Thomas as her little brother Matt. They're not in the first episode, but Duff told us she'll be filming with original characters for episode two. 

No More Boy Troubles?

It appears that Lizzie is doing extremely well in the love department, as Duff told us, "She has an awesome boyfriend and they've been together for two years, so everything's looking pretty promising for her." "Looking" is the operative word there, since we were told in the description of the show that things aren't always what they seem. Plus...

Ethan Craft Is Still Very Hot

Duff hasn't officially confirmed the return of any original cast members besides the McGuire fam, but when E! News asked if Lizzie still thought Ethan Craft was hot, this was Duff's response: "Yes, and he is not. He's very hot. Yeah. I'm pretty sure there's going to be...there's going to be a thing." As you can see above in the pic from Clayton Snyder's Instagram, Ethan is still hot. (His caption also included the hashtag #eatcarbs, so Ethan would be proud.)

Gordo Returns

Adam Lamberg is officially back as Gordo, Lizzie's best friend, and all feels right in this world, at least. 

No Word on Miranda

There's no official word on whether Miranda (Lalaine) will return, though Lalaine posted an Instagram story immediately after the revival news broke that was a screenshot of a message from Lamberg. She hasn't actually posted on Instagram since June, but trust us we will be here to tell you as soon as there's any Miranda news. 

Lizzie's Got New Confidence

"There's a confidence that I'm definitely trying to give her, just 'cause she's older and gone through more life than when she was a teenager," Duff told us. Lizzie was prone to freak-outs as a middle schooler and Duff describes her as "neurotic," but you could see the classic Lizzie McGuire Movie as the start of a whole new more confident life for Lizzie. Speaking of which...

Is Lizzie Still a Pop Star?

E! News asked Duff if the new show will be acknowledging the fact that Lizzie had a moment of international fame during her 8th grade graduation trip to Rome, where she ended up performing at the Coliseum in front of thousands of people. Unfortunately it doesn't sound like this will be part of the new show just yet. "I don't really know. That is funny," Duff said when we asked. "And that's not something that we have talked about. Right. Maybe in the writer's room they have. For like a nano second she was known. There was like a funny laugh about like her like running into Isabella, but I don't know how far they went with that." 

Lizzie McGuire is apparently coming to Disney+ sometime in 2020.