In August 2019, it was finally confirmed that the popular Disney Channel series "Lizzie McGuire" was going to be rebooted for the Disney+ streaming platform. It was announced that the show's original creator (Terri Minsky) would return as the showrunner for the new series, and that she would be creating new content for Disney Channel and Disney+ after creating two majorly successful and groundbreaking shows (Lizzie McGuire, Andi Mack) for the company. It was also confirmed that Hilary Duff would reprise her role as the titular character in Lizzie McGuire, with fellow OG cast members Jake Thomas, Hallie Todd, Robert Carradine, and Adam Lamberg reprising their roles as well. 

After filming the first two episodes, production of the show was put on an indefinite hiatus in January 2020. At the time, it was announced that Terri Minsky would be "stepping down" from the show because Disney wanted to take it in a different direction. In a new article from Variety, sources claim that Terri Minsky, Hilary Duff, and the rest of the writers and staff only learned about their decision to remove Minsky from the show after it was announced to the public. 

The way this entire situation has been handled thus far feels very unprofessional and disrespectful. Disney agreed to Terri Minsky's original pitch - following a 30-year-old Lizzie McGuire as she navigates life as a millennial who doesn't have it all figured out - much like most fans of the original series are doing in real life right now. That was the concept that Hilary Duff and the other cast members signed up for. That was the idea that was sold to fans at the D23 Expo in August 2019, and in every interview and teaser that has happened since. 

For executives to remove the showrunner after production had begun while the show's lead actress was out of the country on her honeymoon feels disrespectful to everyone involved in making the show. To use the long-time fans of Lizzie McGuire, or as Disney's spokesperson puts it: "the millions who are emotionally invested in the character" as an excuse for this poor decision is unfair. Executives who are not actually involved in the creative process making these types of decisions and basing it on "creative differences" is insulting to artists, and at times like this - artists need people to stand up for their art.

Fans of Lizzie McGuire want to see what the concept we were promised. We want to see the show that Terri Minsky and Hilary Duff (as well as the other cast members, writers, etc.) have already put so much work into. We don't want to see another spin-off that targets children. For children who may not be interested in the new show, there is still the original Lizzie McGuire series available to watch on Disney+ and once they get a little older, they may grow to appreciate the reboot as well. 

We want production to resume on Lizzie McGuire. We want Terri Minsky to be brought back on as the showrunner. We don't want another Girl Meets World or Raven's Home, those already exist. We don't want a watered down version of what we were promised. Whether the series continues on Disney+ or is transferred to Hulu, similar to what recently happened with "Love, Victor" is up to Disney. But it is clear from the reaction online by fans, that we all want the show to continue as planned, and that hiring another showrunner or cancelling the project altogether would be a huge mistake on Disney's part. Don't ruin the legacy of this beloved show.

Give us the show we were promised. Give us the show we deserve.