Disney+: 5 Hints A Hannah Montana Reboot Is Happening (& 5 Reasons It Isn’t Likely)
One of Disney Channel's biggest hits was Hannah Montana and certain clues have hinted at a potential reboot coming to Disney+.
In 2006, Disney Channel's biggest pop star was born. Miley Cyrus grabbed the baton from Hilary Duff and amplified the possibilities for Disney like never before. As Hannah Montana, Miley portrayed two characters, one a "normal girl" attending school by day, and the other a pop sensation performing for huge crowds by night.
The reboot craze has hit a few bumps in its road, but a Hannah Montana update now seems more within reach than it once was. A case can be made for the reboot's likelihood, but there are potential hindrances, too.
10 Isn't Likely: Miley Has Grown Up
To say that Miley Cyrus has grown up would be an understatement. The singer is miles away from where she was when she started her career on the Disney Channel. After Miley's 2019 Black Mirror appearance, the star has increasingly focused on singing over acting. She has published more adult music to reflect who she is, and it's hard to imagine her playing a plucky pop star again.
9 It's Happening: Miley Mentioned It In 2020
Miley Cyrus has been more willing to acknowledge her Hannah past in recent years. It seems that distance from the franchise has helped the singer to evaluate it with an equally appreciative and critical gaze. In September 2020, Miley was a guest on "Capital Breakfast with Roman Kemp." She explained her belief that old things have to age enough to earn renewed interest: "Hannah is like a fine wine. We've got to wait until she's ready." This comment signifies that the time for Hannah's return is not now, but it might happen eventually.
8 Isn't Likely: Miley Has Always Been Busy
Miley Cyrus is great at reinventing herself both in image and in sound. As her vocals have matured, Miley has continued to make more and more music. She is a busy celebrity who constantly has new projects in the works.
With her continuous schedule of albums and media appearances (and an eventual return to touring for concerts), it's hard to imagine Miley making time for a new series.
7 It's Happening: The Show's Popularity Encourages It
On the other hand, because Miley has hinted at a future reboot, she must have thought about how to include it in her life. If the new show is still a few years in the distance, Miley has plenty of time to restructure her schedule in order to give the fans a new music-related show that they would enjoy. The old series has stayed so popular that no one has forgotten about it, and Miley might respond to that.
6 Isn't Likely: There's Not A Clear Direction It Could Take
As Disney+ has proven with the Lizzie McGuire reboot issues, it's difficult to take an old kids' show and make it appeal to multiple demographics of viewers. Any Lizzie McGuire fan knows that Hilary Duff and Disney+ executives spent months in conversation, but Disney couldn't stomach the adult themes that would have accompanied the new Lizzie McGuire. If deemed "too adult," Hannah Montana is in the same danger of being redirected or even cancelled prematurely. The direction the series takes is crucial.
5 It's Happening: Huge Age Range Of Fans
Perhaps there is a middle road when it comes to the viewership for the new reboot. Fans of Hannah Montana span a large age range. Some viewers were nearly teenagers when they started watching the musical show, and many fans were only in preschool when they started memorizing all of Hannah's songs. At this point, those primary viewers now range from teenagers to young adults. That could be a fun sweet spot to work with.
4 Isn't Likely: No Guaranteed Audience For It
At the same time, there is no guarantee that older teens or young adults would be committed to watching Disney's reincarnation of Hannah Montana. If Hannah Montana/Miley Stewart is a mom, many former viewers would retreat, weary of the family reboot format that has already saturated the market. If Hannah Montana/Miley Stewart is a rebellious thirty-year-old with a PG-13 life, some former viewers won't feel comfortable sharing the new show with the kids they might already have.
3 It's Happening: Need For Original Content On Disney+
Disney+ announced a lengthy slate of programming at its 2020 Investor Day, but the streaming platform is fresh enough to still be crafting its identity.
While some original programs have been wildly successful, others haven't generated nearly as much interest. Hannah Montana would definitely stand out in the massive content library of Disney+, and the company could use a surprising new addition.
2 Isn't Likely: Miley And Disney Are No Longer The Best Pair
Even as Hannah Montana was finishing its original run, Miley Cyrus already felt uncomfortable in the Disney Channel role. Her lifestyle was moving further and further away from that of Disney's ideal teen, and while she ended things on a good note, it was clearly time for her to move on. A decade later, Miley and Disney still aren't operating on the same plane. Fans can agree that the two entities might have trouble getting any collaboration off the ground.
1 It's Happening: Miley's Next Big Thing
Miley's next big thing is always right around the corner. Her album releases are massive, her music videos are often large-scale productions, and her singing partners are always an impressive surprise. Why shouldn't she go all out and revive the character that made her famous in the first place? By singing "The Best of Both Worlds" in 2019 and uploading it to Twitter, Miley certainly convinced some fans that the reboot is on.