History of Lizzie McGuire in Timeline
"Lizzie McGuire" is an American comedy TV series that aired on Disney Channel from 2001 to 2004. The show follows the life of Lizzie McGuire, played by Hilary Duff, as she navigates the ups and downs of adolescence. A unique feature of the show is the animated version of Lizzie, also voiced by Duff, which provides insight into her thoughts and feelings. The popular series, starring Lalaine, Adam Lamberg, Jake Thomas, Hallie Todd, and Robert Carradine, spawned a feature film, "The Lizzie McGuire Movie," released in 2003.
2000: Hilary Duff Lands the Role of Lizzie McGuire
In 2000, Hilary Duff secured the lead role of Lizzie McGuire in the then-titled Disney Channel series "What's Lizzie Thinking?"
January 12, 2001: "Lizzie McGuire" Premieres on Disney Channel
On January 12, 2001, the American comedy television series "Lizzie McGuire," created by Terri Minsky, premiered on Disney Channel. The show follows Lizzie, a teenager learning to handle the challenges of adolescence.
January 19, 2001: "Lizzie McGuire" Officially Premieres on Disney Channel
Following a sneak peek preview, "Lizzie McGuire" officially premiered on Disney Channel on January 19, 2001.
July 2001: "Lizzie McGuire" Renewed for Season 2
Following a successful first season, Disney Channel renewed "Lizzie McGuire" for a second season in July 2001, consisting of 22 episodes.
September 15, 2001: "Lizzie McGuire" Scheduled to Air on ABC's "One Saturday Morning" Block
Expanding its reach beyond Disney Channel, "Lizzie McGuire" was scheduled to begin airing on ABC as part of their "One Saturday Morning" programming block on September 15, 2001.
2001: Lizzie McGuire Premieres to Positive Reviews
Upon its premiere in 2001, "Lizzie McGuire" was lauded by critics like Laura Fries of "Variety" for its relatable characters, clever writing, and incorporation of teen vernacular and pop culture references.
September 14, 2002: "Lizzie McGuire" Begins Airing on ABC Kids
On September 14, 2002, "Lizzie McGuire" expanded its audience by airing on the newly rebranded ABC Kids programming block.
December 2002: "Lizzie McGuire" Wraps Filming After Two Seasons
By December 2002, "Lizzie McGuire" had completed filming for its second season, culminating in a total of 65 episodes, a standard practice for Disney Channel series at the time.
2002: "Lizzie McGuire" Earns Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards Recognition
Beginning in 2002, "Lizzie McGuire" started receiving recognition and nominations for various awards at the Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards.
May 2, 2003: "The Lizzie McGuire Movie" Premieres in the United States
Walt Disney Pictures released "The Lizzie McGuire Movie" in the United States on May 2, 2003, further capitalizing on the success of the popular television series.
May 2003: "Lizzie McGuire" Announces End of Production
May 2003 marked the end of an era for "Lizzie McGuire" as the show announced it would cease production. The decision stemmed from contractual disagreements between Hilary Duff and Disney, ultimately leading to the series's conclusion.
2003: "The Lizzie McGuire Movie" Hits Theaters
Expanding upon the beloved television series, "The Lizzie McGuire Movie" premiered in 2003. The film follows Lizzie and her classmates as they embark on a memorable school trip to Rome, Italy.
2003: "Lizzie McGuire" Praised for Wholesome Content and Real-World Lessons
In 2003, "Dove.org" commended "Lizzie McGuire" for its wholesome content and valuable life lessons, further solidifying its reputation as a positive influence on young viewers.
2003: "Lizzie McGuire" Receives Emmy Award Nominations
In 2003, "Lizzie McGuire" earned recognition with nominations for the prestigious Emmy Awards, acknowledging its quality and impact.
2003: Lizzie McGuire Merchandise Success and Game Release
In 2003, the immense popularity of the "Lizzie McGuire" franchise led to a wide array of merchandise, including dolls, games, and home decor, generating an estimated $100 million in revenue. Additionally, the first video game in the series, "Lizzie McGuire: On the Go!" was released for Game Boy Advance.
February 14, 2004: "Lizzie McGuire" Series Concludes
After a successful run of 65 episodes, the popular Disney Channel series "Lizzie McGuire" aired its final episode on February 14, 2004.
November 2004: "Lizzie McGuire" Spin-off Pilot Ordered
In November 2004, Disney Channel ordered a pilot for a potential spin-off of "Lizzie McGuire." The new series aimed to center around Miranda's younger sister, Stevie Sanchez, and her Latino family.
2004: "Lizzie McGuire" Earns Another Emmy Award Nomination
The series continued to garner critical acclaim in 2004, receiving another nomination for an Emmy Award.
2004: McDonald's Partnership and Game Release
"Lizzie McGuire" expanded its reach in 2004 through a partnership with McDonald's, further solidifying its presence in popular culture. The same year saw the release of "Lizzie McGuire 2: Lizzie Diaries," the second Game Boy Advance game.
2005: "Lizzie McGuire" Continues to Receive Accolades at the Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards
"Lizzie McGuire" continued to be recognized at the Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards in 2005, further solidifying its popularity and cultural impact.
2005: Potential "Lizzie McGuire" Spin-off Starring Selena Gomez Doesn't Get Picked Up
Despite featuring a young Selena Gomez and the involvement of key figures from the original series, the pilot for the "Lizzie McGuire" spin-off, produced in 2005, was not picked up for a full series, ultimately making way for another successful Disney Channel show, "Hannah Montana."
2005: Release of "Lizzie McGuire 3: Homecoming Havoc"
The third installment in the "Lizzie McGuire" Game Boy Advance series, "Lizzie McGuire 3: Homecoming Havoc," was released in 2005.
2006: Superstation WGN Acquires Rights to "Lizzie McGuire"
In 2006, Superstation WGN acquired the broadcasting rights to both "Even Stevens" and "Lizzie McGuire," expanding the shows' reach to a wider audience.
2016: "Picture Day" Named Best Episode by Entertainment Weekly
Katie Minard of "Entertainment Weekly" in 2016, singled out the episode "Picture Day" as the series' best, citing its relatable storyline and valuable moral message.
December 2018: Hilary Duff Reveals Discussions About a Potential "Lizzie McGuire" Revival
In December 2018, Hilary Duff sparked excitement among fans by revealing that there had been preliminary discussions about a potential revival of "Lizzie McGuire."
August 2019: "Lizzie McGuire" Revival Announced for Disney+
Generating excitement among fans, a revival of the beloved series "Lizzie McGuire" was announced in August 2019, set to stream exclusively on Disney+. Hilary Duff was slated to reprise her role, with Terri Minsky, the original creator, returning as showrunner.
August 23, 2019: Disney+ Officially Announces "Lizzie McGuire" Revival
Disney formally announced the development of a revival series for "Lizzie McGuire" at the D23 Expo on August 23, 2019. The series, intended for exclusive release on their streaming platform, Disney+, would feature Hilary Duff reprising her iconic role, with original creator Terri Minsky at the helm as showrunner.
October 2019: Original Cast Members Set to Return for "Lizzie McGuire" Revival
Adding to the excitement surrounding the revival, it was revealed in October 2019 that original cast members, including Jake Thomas, Hallie Todd, and Robert Carradine, would be reprising their roles as Matt, Jo, and Sam McGuire, respectively. Adam Lamberg would also return as Gordo, with Federico Dordei joining the cast as a new character, Dominic Shaw.
October 29, 2019: Production Begins for "Lizzie McGuire" Revival
Production for the highly anticipated "Lizzie McGuire" revival commenced on October 29, 2019. The filming began in Washington Square Park in New York City, with plans to continue in Los Angeles.
January 2020: Terri Minsky Exits as Showrunner for "Lizzie McGuire" Revival
In January 2020, after the completion of the first two episodes, Terri Minsky stepped down as the showrunner for the "Lizzie McGuire" revival due to creative differences with Disney, leading to a hiatus in production.
February 2020: Hilary Duff Addresses the Halt in Production of "Lizzie McGuire" Revival
Following the production hiatus, Hilary Duff took to social media in February 2020, hinting that the pause was due to concerns from Disney+ executives regarding the series' content, which they deemed not "family-friendly" enough. While Disney maintained that development was ongoing, Duff publicly proposed moving the series to Hulu, a platform with more flexible content restrictions, to allow for a more authentic portrayal of a thirty-year-old's experiences.
April 2020: Reports Indicate Ongoing Development for "Lizzie McGuire" Revival
Despite the uncertainties surrounding its future, reports in April 2020 indicated that development for the "Lizzie McGuire" revival was still in progress.
December 2020: "Lizzie McGuire" Revival Canceled
Despite initial enthusiasm and anticipation, the planned revival of "Lizzie McGuire" was officially canceled in December 2020, disappointing fans who were eager to see the beloved character's return.
December 2020: Hilary Duff Announces the Official Cancellation of "Lizzie McGuire" Revival
In December 2020, Hilary Duff confirmed the unfortunate news that the much-anticipated revival of "Lizzie McGuire" had been officially canceled, dashing hopes for the show's return.