While Disney+ dropped the ball on a Lizzie McGuire reboot, a clip from How I Met Your Father season 2, episode 7 just made up for the missed opportunity. It’s been almost 20 years since Lizzie McGuire ended its run on Disney Channel, but Hilary Duff is still best known for bringing the junior high girl to life. She was meant to return to the beloved character in a Disney+ reboot, but it was scrapped at the end of 2020. Fortunately, it freed Duff up to star in a different reboot of sorts, Hulu’s How I Met Your Father, which just paid homage to Duff’s teen career.
Lizzie McGuire ran for only 2 seasons but aired 65 episodes as well as an original movie that functioned as the series finale. The series, its merchandising, and the star power of Duff have kept Lizzie McGuire popular over the years, and what made Disney+ interested in rebooting the series. Following the cancelation of the reboot due to creative differences between the service and star, Duff said that she thought they got “spooked” because Lizzie “had to be 30 years old doing 30-year-old things.” Now, Duff gets to play 30-year-old Sophie Tompkins on How I Met Your Father, somewhat making up for the lost reboot.
Lizzie McGuire Was Young Sophie In How I Met Your Father
How I Met Your Father has featured many flashbacks to the main characters’ childhoods for comedic bits. A flashback in season 2, episode 7 revolving around Sophie’s sad past Valentine’s experiences due to guys and Sophie’s How I Met Your Father mystery dad became meta when, rather than using a different actress to play Teen Sophie, a clip from Lizzie McGuire was used to represent 13-year-old Sophie. It was a quick clip of Lizzie in her bedroom on the phone and a nod to HIMYF viewers who had also seen Lizzie McGuire and knew that the phone call wouldn’t end well for Lizzie/Sophie.
Duff is still optimistic about a future Lizzie McGuire reboot, and while Sophie and Lizzie are different characters simply connected through Duff, the How I Met Your Father clip opens the door for more crossover between the series. The flashback clip also featured Lalaine as Miranda, Lizzie’s best friend, who could also now be Sophie’s best childhood friend, especially since Sophie’s mom has already appeared in HIMYF. It was never confirmed whether Lalaine would be a part of the canceled reboot, but it would be nice to see her and Duff back onscreen together in How I Met Your Father, even as different characters.
How Was Hulu Able To Use The Lizzie McGuire Clip In HIMYF?
The Lizzie McGuire clip on How I Met Your Father was a pleasant surprise for viewers who grew up with the series, but with the reboot having been planned for Disney+, it does raise questions about how the usage of the clip was even possible. While Disney+ and Hulu are separate services, they are both owned by The Walt Disney Company, which has a majority stake in Hulu. A more mature look at Lizzie McGuire didn’t work for Disney+, but How I Met Your Father’s success and the clip might suggest Hulu as the perfect home for a Lizzie McGuire reboot.
