Fans hoping for a quick return of Lizzie McGuire may need to adjust their expectations. During an appearance on the On Purpose podcast released on Monday, Hilary Duff shared an honest update about the beloved Disney character.
Hilary Duff Says the Timing Isn’t Right
In her conversation with Shetty, Duff admitted that though she once thought it would be great to continue her Lizzie McGuire character as an adult in her 30s, the time for that is now gone. She added that right now, she has no idea where Lizzie would fit in her current life.
“Maybe I could start to see her around like 55 or 60,” Duff said in her conversation with Shetty, which implied that fans might need to wait for a long time if they are to see Lizzie McGuire return.
The Lizzie McGuire revival project, intended for Disney+, did not materialize in 2020 after it was canceled in production due to artistic differences over how the show’s more mature themes should be handled. Duff had hoped to continue her Lizzie McGuire character as an adult living in New York.
The other major factor contributing to the delay is Duff’s focus on her music career. She has recently released her sixth studio album, Luck… or Something, on February 20, 2026. This was her first major release in years.
The singer is now preparing for her upcoming The Lucky Me Tour. This will be the singer’s first headlining world tour in almost two decades. The tour is set to commence on June 22, 2026, and end in at least February 2027. Duff is also set to launch a residency at the Voltaire venue in Las Vegas, leaving little room in her schedule for television projects.
However, Duff has recently reflected on the emotional toll the franchise has taken in an interview on The Drew Barrymore Show. She admitted it took her nearly a decade to fully accept the impact the character had on her career.
The conversation carries a bittersweet note as well. Actor Robert Carradine, who played Lizzie’s father, Sam McGuire, on the show, passed away in February 2026 at the age of 71. Duff later shared a tribute on social media, remembering the warmth of the on-screen McGuire family.