How A Lizzie McGuire-Hannah Montana Crossover Could Work (& Why It Wouldn’t)

Lizzie McGuire fans have been on pins and needles waiting for more news on the pending reboot. While there is no firm update, Hilary told Cosmpolitan in July 2020 that she speaks with Disney regularly and feels “really good” about the project.

When asked if she could see a Lizzie McGuire-Hannah Montana crossover in the future, Hilary gushed about Miley Cyrus and answered, “I’ve never thought about a Hannah Montana and Lizzie McGuire crossover, but never say never! Anything goes these days, right?” Such a crossover would be something different, to say the least. Here’s how it would and wouldn’t work today.

10 It Would Work: Similarities In Original Shows

Though they did not air at the same time, Hannah Montana and Lizzie McGuire started their characters out around the same ages. Both Lizzie and Hannah/Miley are in middle school. Lizzie stays there, but Miley moves on to high school in the second season of her series. The first seasons of each show deal with some of the same material for middle schoolers: first crushes, friend drama, sibling rivalry, and general growing pains. With help from their parents and besties, Miley and Lizzie manage to survive.

9 It Couldn’t: Different Eras

Lizzie McGuire premiered in 2001 and Hannah Montana premiered in 2006. In Disney Channel time, that is a big difference. Lizzie and friends basked in the glory of Zoog Disney. Disney Channel may still have been cool by the time Hannah/Miley rolled up, but it was not the same place by any stretch of the imagination.

The branding had changed, many faces of the network had changed, and the shows had migrated from a “real teenager” vibe to a much more fantastical one.

8 It Would Work: Miley+Hilary

Miley and Hilary have brushed elbows a few times in their careers. They had some cute interactions when Miley was younger, and in spring 2020, Hilary virtually appeared as a guest on Miley’s brief quarantine talk show, “Bright-Minded.” The actresses are on good terms, and Hilary knows that she was Miley’s inspiration for pursuing the Disney Channel dream. If given the chance, they would probably work well together on set.

7 It Couldn’t: Different Premises

In addition to existing in two different network eras, Lizzie McGuire’s premise is totally different from Hannah Montana’s. The promo for Lizzie McGuire literally said, “Get inside her head.” Lizzie’s special gift was an animated alter-ego; Miley’s special gift was a secret pop star life. Lizzie was one of the last great “regular kid” shows of the early 2000s. Hannah Montana portrayed an unrealistic but well-loved double life.

6 It Would Work: Musical Talent

Even though Hilary Duff does not sing as Lizzie McGuire until the movie (no, “I Can’t Wait” doesn’t count), she still can sing! Hilary’s music career was solid for many years, but she hasn’t released an album in five. Hannah Montana or Miley Stewart could definitely encourage Lizzie to sing again. Miley and Hilary don’t sound anything alike vocally, but they still might be able to put together a mashup of “What Dreams Are Made Of” and “The Best of Both Worlds.”

5 It Couldn’t: Scheduling

Miley and Hilary are two of the busiest celebrities in Hollywood. A collaboration between them beyond a mere phone call would be a feat. They are both busy running companies and working on artistic projects all the time. Hilary is difficult to pin down with constant Lizzie meetings, Younger, and a new Younger spin-off down the road. Miley is always surprising her fans with new music, including a new self-directed music video. Needless to say, scheduling Miley and Hilary could be next to impossible, especially if the pandemic ever settles down and life picks up the pace again.

4 It Would Work: Fan Reaction

Despite the separation between the air dates of Hannah Montana and Lizzie McGuire, there is still some overlap between fans. Young millennials easily watched both programs, especially if they had younger siblings at home. Combining the individual and collective fans of the two shows amounts to millions and millions of people who would tune in.

3 It Couldn’t: Disney Drama

Hilary Duff has clearly had her struggles with Disney. Her mother put a halt to further Lizzie projects back in the day due to salary disagreements. Hilary is now in weekly meetings with Disney trying to negotiate a plan for the reboot. She might be on good terms with them now in the process, but that could change in an instant.

Miley, on the other hand, has distanced herself from Disney even more. She’s been outspoken on her trials as a teen working for a machine, so it might not be an easy sell for her to come back.

2 It Would Work: Stories Galore

Writers for a Hannah Montana-Lizzie McGuire special should have no shortage of great ideas. The two starlets’ shows and movies cover a few great locales: California, Italy, Tennessee, and New York (upcoming reboot). Miley and Hilary have both filmed on location since their shows are, coincidentally, the only Disney Channel live-action series to get theatrically released feature films. An episode or special could be imagined pretty much anywhere. Maybe Hilary would meet Miley/Hannah at Fashion Week in New York.

1 It Couldn’t: Better Left Alone

With any reboot, reunion, or spin-off, fans have high expectations. There is always a lurking fear that the new project will somehow taint the legacy of the old. Most Lizzie fans want the reboot to happen and are pleased that time and thought are being put into it. But is it really necessary for viewers to see Hannah Montana in the 2020s? Miley had a good run on her show, playing the secret pop star from 2006 to 2011. Perhaps the thought of reviving Lizzie and Miley/Hannah at the same time is just a little too much.

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