Hilary Duff is channeling her Lizzie McGuire roots once again, and fans can’t help but think something big is coming.
The 38-year-old actor and singer sent the internet into detective mode after posting a carousel of photos and a short video to Instagram on Oct. 7. In one shot, Duff smiled at her reflection while kneeling in a rehearsal studio, wearing a tank top and shorts. A microphone and stand were visible in the background, adding just enough mystery to stir up excitement.
Another photo showed Duff in animal-print pants and a crop top, covering her face with her hands as she stood before the mic. But it was the third slide, a video, that truly captured attention. In it, Duff laughed while pushing the mic stand away as “What Dreams Are Made Of,” her iconic 2003 hit from The Lizzie McGuire Movie, played faintly in the background.
Is Lizzie McGuire Back in the Studio?
Fans immediately picked up on something curious: the version of the song in Duff’s clip didn’t sound quite the same as the original. The small difference led many to believe she may have re-recorded the track.
One fan theory even suggests Duff could appear as a surprise guest during the Jonas Brothers’ Greetings From Your Hometown tour stop in Houston on Oct. 19. The reasoning? Houston happens to be Duff’s hometown, and the Jonas Brothers have been inviting hometown artists to join them onstage throughout the tour.
To add fuel to the fire, Joe Jonas liked Duff’s post, and several eagle-eyed fans claimed that a man’s laughter in the background sounded suspiciously like Kevin Jonas.
A Comeback in Motion
Whether or not she joins the Jonas Brothers, Duff’s musical return seems to be well underway. Last month, she announced she’d signed with Atlantic Records, marking her first major music move in a decade. The new partnership will coincide with a forthcoming docuseries chronicling her creative process and personal evolution. According to a September 9 press release, the project will offer “an unfiltered vignette into Hilary’s world.”
Just days before the announcement, Duff reflected on her early career by celebrating the 22nd anniversary of her breakthrough album, Metamorphosis.
“I do know this marker of time was a huge change in my being,” she wrote on Instagram. “As much as I look back and think this album doesn’t hold the emotional depth I look for today, I know my 14- or 15-year-old self meant every word.”
Between the throwbacks, new label deal, and cryptic studio posts, it looks like Duff’s next era is already taking shape, and fans are ready to relive their teenage dreams all over again.
