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Frankie Muniz revealed he hasn’t spoken to Hilary Duff since they finished filming Agent Cody Banks in 2003, despite once being close friends.
Muniz described how Duff’s mother, whom he called an “intense stage mom,” orchestrated Hilary’s casting in the film without his input, even though his contract gave him a say in choosing his co-star.
He admitted he regrets letting Duff’s mother come between their friendship and wishes he had maintained their relationship after the movie.
Frankie Muniz recently revealed why he hasn’t spoken to Hilary Duff since starring in their 2003 film, Agent Cody Banks.
During a September appearance on The Joe Vulpis Podcast, the former Malcolm in the Middle child star opened up about the surprising way the Lizzie McGuire actress was cast in Agent Cody Banks.
“Hilary Duff was probably one of my first friends when I moved to LA to film Malcolm. I think I met her before the show had even aired,” Muniz recalled. “We became really really good friends. We had a really great relationship for a long time.”
While on the set of Lizzie McGuire for his Season 2 feature on the Disney Channel series, Muniz recounted interactions with Duff’s mother, Susan.
“I was in Hilary’s dressing room and her mom was there and her mom was, I’m going to say, the epitome of a stage mom. She was intense,” he detailed. “Her mom was like, ‘Do you know what you’re doing this summer?’ I go, ‘Oh, I’m filming this movie where I’m playing like a junior James Bond. It’s called Agent Cody Banks.’”
He continued, “She’s like, ‘Is there a girl that would be good for Hilary?’ I was like, ‘Yeah.’ I go, ‘But I don’t know…I think they’re talking about some people.’”
Muniz said his Agent Cody Banks contract noted that he would have a say in who was cast as his costar. Smallville actress Kristin Kreuk had read for the role of Natalie Connors, and Muniz already had her in mind for the part.
However, the next day, Duff’s mom told Muniz that her daughter just signed a contract to costar in Agent Cody Banks. “I was like, ‘The movie you knew nothing about yesterday, you signed? What do you mean? It’s not possible,’” Muniz said.
Muniz explained, “I wasn’t mad. It was just shocking. I had a say. They didn’t ask me. But supposedly, calls were made and they knew that Hilary and I were really close and I was filming her show, so they just assumed it was fine. So needless to say, I wasn’t thrilled about it.”
While filming Agent Cody Banks, Muniz confessed he was “very sad” when Duff’s mother was on set.
“I don’t mind people knowing the truth,” he told Vulpis. “I’ve never talked to Hilary since the last day of filming. I’ve not said one word to her since then.”
However, Muniz admitted that he wishes he had continued his friendship with Duff despite her “super intense” mother.
“I regret not just continuing to be friends with her because we had a great friendship for such a long time and I let her mom [get between us],” he confessed. “It pissed me off.”