The Disney girl who taught a generation of teenagers, through Lizzie McGuire, that social awkwardness was something everyone shared has once again stirred up that same core of no-longer-teenagers with the enigmatic message of her return. Without any details. Is she preparing a new album? A new tour? A tribute to her career?
The current climate, with a return to the aesthetics of those years and a wave of cultural nostalgia towards the beginning of the century, is the perfect setting. Furthermore, the pop scene is now dominated by a female trend that grew up with characters like Hilary Duff as a reference. Miley Cyrus acknowledged in a face-to-face meeting that she had only accepted to be Hannah Montana to imitate her. Selena Gomez has also cited her as a childhood influence. Many of their fans share the same sentiment, wanting to hear her music again, find out where she has been this past decade, and the industry is ready to give them everything.
Almost simultaneously with Hilary Duff's post announcing her return on Instagram, Atlantic Records did the same by announcing her addition to their roster of artists. "We couldn't be more excited for this journey and for this new music... or something," the record label pointed out, whose catalog currently includes some renowned artists in the international pop scene. The careers of Ed Sheeran, Charli XCX, Bruno Mars, or Cardi B are managed by Atlantic. Also, Alex Warren, the sensation of this past summer with his hit Ordinary. Their history includes singers and bands like Aretha Franklin, Led Zeppelin, or Ray Charles. One of the renowned record labels in modern music history in the United States.
But Hilary Duff's reconstruction as a pop star will not only be about music. The Texan's return will be accompanied by a documentary in which, according to the public statement, she will address "the ups and downs" she has experienced in recent years. Her role as a mother of four children, the recording of her new music, and the preparation the artist is undergoing to return to the stage a decade after her last concerts will be scrutinized. Filming their private lives is another trend that has skyrocketed in recent years among celebrities, from music to sports, passing through cinema or the entertainment world.
And in Hilary Duff's case, there is an even more significant element. The direction and production of her documentary will be handled by Sam Wrench. The filmmaker was the one who turned Taylor Swift's last tour, The Eras Tour, into an audiovisual product. He also led the Christmas special that Sabrina Carpenter did for Netflix. And the filming of Billie Eilish's concert at the O2 in London, one of the most powerful shows of her Happier Than Ever tour, also came from the British filmmaker's mind. In other words, probably the three biggest female stars of the moment - with Beyoncé's permission - turned to Wrench to make the leap to the big screen.
Hilary Duff wants to reconnect with that wave after a decade where she has gone unnoticed.