Frankie Muniz is setting the record straight about his long-ago friendship with Hilary Duff — and why they haven’t spoken in more than two decades.
The Malcolm in the Middle actor opened up on The Joe Vulpis Podcast about his early friendship with Duff, which began before the two starred together in 2003’s Agent Cody Banks.
“Hilary Duff was probably one of my first friends when I moved to LA to film Malcolm [in the Middle],” Muniz said. “We became really, really good friends. We had a really great relationship for a long time.”
He shared that while spending time on the set of Lizzie McGuire, he met Duff’s mom, Susan, whom he described as “the epitome of a stage mom… She was intense.”
Muniz then revealed that when Susan learned about Agent Cody Banks, she pushed for Hilary to join the film. “Her mom was like, ‘Do you know what you’re doing this summer?’ And I go, ‘Oh, I’m filming this movie where I’m playing like a junior James Bond.’”
“The next day,” he continued, “Her mom’s like, ‘Guess what? We’re going to be spending the summer together.’ No, she’s doing Cody Banks with you… They signed the contract last night.’”
He added that the decision blindsided him: “Needless to say, I wasn’t thrilled about it. And not because I didn’t want it to be Hilary… I’m sure she doesn’t know any of that happened.”
Muniz then revealed that since filming wrapped, the two have not spoken. “If I told you I’ve never talked to Hilary since the last day of filming. I’ve not said one word to her since then.”
Still, there are no hard feelings. “I would love to even talk about that because I’m sure she doesn’t know any of that happened,” he said, reflecting fondly on their early friendship.
