Frankie Muniz Has NOT Spoken To Hilary Duff In 22 Years, FINALLY Reveals Why

Frankie Muniz recently opened up about a long-standing silence between him and his Agent Cody Banks co-star Hilary Duff. Speaking on The Joe Vulpis Podcast last month (via People), the Malcolm in the Middle

star revealed that he and Duff haven’t spoken since wrapping the 2003 teen spy comedy, blaming tension that arose from behind-the-scenes casting drama allegedly involving Duff’s mother.Muniz recalled that he and Duff were close friends as their Hollywood careers were taking off in the early 2000s. Duff’s Lizzie McGuire had debuted on Disney Channel in 2001, while Muniz’s breakout role on Fox’s Malcolm in the Middle premiered the following year. Muniz even appeared in a cameo on Lizzie McGuire, further cementing their off-screen friendship.

“We became really, really good friends. We had a great relationship for a long time,” Muniz said. “I was on the set of Lizzie McGuire, hanging out in Hilary’s dressing room when her mom started asking me what I was doing that summer.”Muniz explained that he mentioned he’d be starring in a new movie playing “a junior James Bond”—referring to Agent Cody Banks. Duff’s mother, he said, immediately wanted to know whether the film had cast a female lead yet. At the time, the production was eyeing Smallville star Kristin Kreuk for the role of Natalie Connors, and Muniz assumed she would be cast.But everything changed overnight. The next morning, Muniz said Duff’s mother told him, “Guess what? We’re going to be spending the summer together — she’s doing Cody Banks with you. They signed the contract last night.”Muniz was stunned. “The movie you knew nothing about yesterday?” he remembered thinking.The actor said he was taken aback because he believed he had enough influence at that stage of his career to weigh in on casting decisions. When he called his agents for answers, they confirmed that “calls were made” and that Duff had indeed been cast — assuming he’d be fine with it since they were already friends.“Needless to say, I wasn’t thrilled about it,” Muniz admitted. “And not because I didn’t want it to be Hilary. I just felt blindsided by how it happened.”Agent Cody Banks, directed by Harald Zwart, went on to hit theaters in March 2003, earning nearly $60 million worldwide. Muniz starred as the teenage CIA recruit, with Duff playing his love interest. The film also featured Angie Harmon, Keith David, and Ian McShane.Despite the film’s success, Muniz said the experience strained his relationship with Duff — largely due to her mother’s involvement. “I was very sad when Hilary’s mom would come on set,” he shared. “And if I told you I’ve never talked to Hilary since the last day of filming — that’s the truth. I haven’t said one word to her since then.”Muniz added that, in hindsight, he regrets letting the situation end their friendship. “I regret not continuing to be friends with her because we had a great friendship for so long, and I let her mom… it pissed me off,” he said. “I would love to catch up with her now. I’d love to even talk about that because I’m sure she doesn’t know any of it happened.”Duff did not return for the sequel, Agent Cody Banks 2: Destination London, which released in 2004.