The Disney Channel Star Who Got Greedy, Then Got Fired
The Disney Channel has long been responsible for taking unknown child stars and turning them into A-list actors — Miley Cyrus, Zac Efron, Selena Gomez, the list goes on. Some beloved shows like "The Sweet Life of Zack and Cody" or "That's So Raven" have stood the test of time, or served as fodder for reboots on the Disney+ streaming platform. One of the most popular shows that represent both categories is the 2000s teen comedy "Lizzie McGuire."
"Lizzie McGuire" was a popular show on Disney Channel between 2001 and 2004, and propelled Hilary Duff to mainstream stardom. The extremely relatable series aired more than 60 episodes and spawned the successful feature film "The Lizzie McGuire Movie." In 2019, it was announced that the show's creator Terri Minsky, Duff, and many other cast members from the original series would be involved in a Disney+ reboot. However, the reboot didn't come to life after the streaming platform wanted a storyline that would appeal to a more kid-friendly audience. So for fans, the last time they saw Lizzie's new adventures was in the film, which premiered way back in 2003. And it turns out, the "Lizzie McGuire" reboot series wasn't the first time Duff and Disney didn't agree on things.
Financial disputes led to Hilary Duff leaving Lizzie McGuire in its prime
"Lizzie McGuire" did not end its run due to poor ratings back in the early 2000s. The show was at its peak, particularly following the success of "The Lizzie McGuire Movie." But in an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Hilary Duff's mom/manager, Susan Duff, explained that the show ended due to Hilary's financial disagreements with Disney.
Susan explained that Disney ended negotiations for a sequel to the movie when she asked that Hilary be paid an immediate bonus. She also claims Disney was trying to only offer her daughter $35,000 per episode for continuing the series, even though she claims outside parties were offering her six figures. It was that experience that halted the future of "Lizzie McGuire" indefinitely. And even when Duff tried to return to make a reboot the way the original cast and crew imagined it, it was again shut down after the company and the stars couldn't see eye-to-eye.