Frankie Muniz is opening up about a long-rumored behind-the-scenes story from the early 2000s, revealing how Agent Cody Banks casting fallout led to a years-long rift with Hilary Duff — and why he hopes to reconnect now.
The Malcolm in the Middle star shared the candid account while reflecting on his child-actor years amid a busy new chapter. Muniz recently learned Disney+ has greenlit Malcolm in the Middle: Life’s Still Unfair, a four-episode revival that will bring him back to his breakout role, even as he continues to pursue professional racing.
Muniz Revisits Early Stardom As Malcolm Revival Moves Forward
Speaking on The Joe Vulpis Podcast, Muniz described the excitement of returning to Malcolm while also addressing what life was really like at the height of his teen fame. That period included headlining 2003’s Agent Cody Banks, a teen spy adventure that arrived during Malcolm in the Middle’s six-season run.
Muniz says he was offered the title role midway through Malcolm’s tenure and, like many young stars of the era, balanced hit TV with a studio feature. Agent Cody Banks would ultimately cast Hilary Duff — then the lead of Disney Channel’s Lizzie McGuire — as Natalie Connors, the film’s main love interest.
According to Muniz, that casting didn’t unfold the way he expected.
“Junior James Bond” Movie And A Dressing-Room Conversation
Muniz recalls visiting Duff on the Lizzie McGuire set when a casual conversation with her mother unexpectedly spiraled into a major decision.
“I was on the set of Lizzie McGuire, and I was in Hilary’s dressing room and her mom was there, and her mom was, I’m gonna say, the epitome of a stage mom, momager. She was intense,” Muniz said on the podcast.
He told them he was about to shoot “a junior James Bond” movie called Agent Cody Banks. The question came quickly: “Is there a girl [part], that would be good for Hilary?” Muniz says he knew he had approval over that role written into his contract but didn’t reveal it in the moment.
At the time, he adds, Smallville’s Kristin Kreuk was a frontrunner, and he had been picturing her in the part. The next day, everything changed.
“The next morning, I show up to the set… and her mom is like, ‘Guess what? We’re going to be spending the summer together!’” Muniz recalled. “She’s like, ‘No, yeah, yeah, she is [doing Cody Banks]. They signed the contract last night.’”
Muniz says he was blindsided. He called his representatives for clarity, not out of anger, he notes, but out of shock that a deal had apparently closed without his input. “Because I have a say,” he said, adding that calls were made and the assumption was that, given his friendship with Duff and his visit to her set, he’d be on board.
How Cody Banks Changed Muniz & Duff’s Friendship
While Agent Cody Banks went on to become a box office success and a defining title for both young stars, Muniz says the way the casting came together created an immediate strain. “Needless to say, I wasn’t thrilled about it,” he admitted.
“They came to Vancouver… and I was very sad when Hilary’s mom would come on set,” Muniz continued. He emphasized that he had no personal issue with Duff, but says the process made it difficult to maintain the friendship they’d built. “I’m being honest… I’ve never talked to Hilary since the last day of filming. I have not said one word to her since then.”
Muniz is clear about what he sees in hindsight. “I look back at it now and I go, ‘What a dumb [situation],’” he said, explaining that allowing behind-the-scenes dealings to affect an off-screen friendship is something he regrets. “I regret not just continuing to be friends with her… we had a great friendship for such a long time and I let her mom [get in the way].”
He also stressed that the decision-making at the studio level — and assumptions made because of his friendship with Duff — compounded the issue. The business of teen stardom, he suggests, can complicate personal relationships in ways young actors aren’t prepared for.
Open To Reconnecting — And Moving Forward
Now 40, Muniz says he’d be happy to reconnect with Duff and even talk through what happened, believing she may not have known the full story at the time. “I would love to catch up with her,” he said. “I would love to even talk about that, ’cause I’m sure she… doesn’t know any of that happened.”
Muniz’s remarks arrive as he returns to one of his most beloved roles. Disney+’s Malcolm in the Middle: Life’s Still Unfair brings the Emmy-winning sitcom back for a four-episode revival, reuniting cast and creators for a new chapter nearly two decades after the original run ended.
For Muniz, who has also carved out a career as a professional racecar driver, the revival is both a nostalgic homecoming and a chance to reflect on a unique run through Hollywood — one that included navigating major film casting while anchoring a hit TV series.
As for Agent Cody Banks, the movie remains a snapshot of the era that launched Muniz and Duff to even greater mainstream recognition. And if the actor has his way, a long-delayed conversation with his former co-star could be part of closing the loop on that chapter.
“I’m old enough to where I realize I don’t mind people knowing the truth,” Muniz said of sharing the story now. With Malcolm returning and a willingness to make amends, he’s clearly ready to revisit the past — and rewrite a bit of it, too.
