Hilary Duff is back! The “Lizzie McGuire” star is making a comeback to television with Hulu’s upcoming comedy series “Pretty Ugly.” The actress will be reuniting with 20th Television and Kapital Entertainment.
Best known for her breakout role on Disney Channel and hits like “Come Clean” and “So Yesterday,” Duff has been keeping fans busy with acting and music for over two decades. Now, she’s set to star in and executive produce a series that promises to be equal parts hilarious and chaotic.
Hilary Duff Steps Into the Pageant World
“Pretty Ugly” is based on Kirker Butler’s 2015 novel of the same name. Duff, according to Deadline, plays Miranda Miller, a former teen pageant queen whose life mission is to turn her 10-year-old daughter, Bailey, into America’s most successful child pageant contestant. According to Hulu’s logline, “A former teenage pageant queen herself, Miranda dreams of endorsement deals, beauty brands, and maybe even a TV show. Bailey, however, wants none of it. She’s been doing pageants since she was three months old and is burned out.”
The comedy doesn’t stop there, oh no! It’s Duff we’re talking about here! While Miranda obsesses over her daughter’s future, her husband, Ray, is battling addiction. The story follows Ray as he “has knocked up the eighteen-year-old granddaughter of one of his hospice patients, and her mother, Joan, a widowed shut-in, is plotting a murder with Jesus. It’s all pretty ugly.” Wild? Yes. Interesting? Double yes!
Butler, an Emmy-nominated writer known for “Only Murders in the Building” and “Family Guy,” penned the series and will executive produce alongside Duff, director Silver Tree, and Aaron Kaplan. Silver Tree’s recent work includes directing Netflix’s dark comedy “No Good Deed” and Paramount+’s “Fatal Attraction,” while Kaplan brings his experience from Kapital Entertainment productions such as “The Neighbors” and “Life in Pieces.”
Duff Celebrates 22 Years of ‘Metamorphosis’
While “Pretty Ugly” is her latest acting venture, Duff is also turning heads with a nostalgic nod to her music career. On August 27, she celebrated the 22nd anniversary of her 2003 sophomore album, “Metamorphosis,” on Instagram. Sharing throwback photos and reflecting on her early career, she noted, “I was embarking on something I had no idea would make such an impact on people’s lives, and mine.”
“As much as I look back and think this album doesn’t hold the emotional depth I look for today, I know my 14/15-year-old self meant every word.”
Fans were quick to respond, celebrating Duff’s milestone and expressing excitement over her hints at new music. “To be continued…,” Duff teased, leaving followers eager for what’s next. The singer’s last album, “Breathe In. Breathe Out,” came out in 2015, marking a decade-long gap in her discography.
In the meantime, she has still kept fans entertained. She’s balanced acting projects, including “Younger” with Sutton Foster and Hulu’s “How I Met Your Father.” As well as with personal life milestones, including raising her children with her husband, Matthew Koma.
Duff’s return with “Pretty Ugly” combines her comedic chops, executive producing experience, and knack for connecting with fans across generations, and we couldn’t be more excited. Fans can expect the series to premiere on Hulu in 2026. Duff is reminding the world that she’s not just a pop culture icon of the 2000s! She’s very much a force to be reckoned with in 2025 and beyond.
