Mitchel Musso Explains Why He Declined Miley Cyrus’ Hannah Montana 20th Anniversary Special

Mitchel Musso has shared his reasons for not participating in Miley Cyrus’ ‘Hannah Montana’ 20th anniversary celebration. The actor, known for his role as Oliver Oken on the beloved Disney Channel series, was offered a chance to join the special but ultimately felt it wasn’t the right fit for him.

In his debut podcast interview on The Joe Vulpis Podcast, Musso expressed his thoughts on the Disney+ event, revealing that he had hoped for something akin to a true ‘Hannah Montana’ reunion. Rather than a celebration special, he envisioned a return of the original cast for a new episode or movie.

The anniversary special saw Miley Cyrus revisit the world of ‘Hannah Montana’, featuring recreated versions of the Stewart family living room and Miley’s bedroom. Cyrus shared touching moments with her father and former co-star Billy Ray Cyrus, performing songs from her iconic character.

While Musso appreciated the celebration, he expressed disappointment over the absence of a proper reunion with the original cast. “Do an episode. Do the show. The set’s still there,” he stated during the podcast, emphasizing that fans would have loved to see the characters together again.

Musso conveyed excitement about the prospect of reprising his role as Oliver Oken, especially after a long hiatus from Hollywood. “The kid in me was banking on it, like ‘I can’t wait for us to all be on set again,’” he shared, but noted that the opportunity did not unfold as he had hoped.

When asked if Disney had reached out to him regarding the anniversary special, Musso confirmed their contact but felt the proposal was not presented in a way that met his expectations.

“Of course they asked me. But, like I said, it wasn’t presented correctly,” he remarked. He also mentioned that the time gap between the original series and the special contributed to his feelings, as it did not align with the reunion he envisioned.

Musso continued, “It wasn’t the right thing. And I was busy doing something that was more important. But it would have been way more important if it would have just been an episode, or a movie.” He expressed willingness to return if the original cast was involved in a full ‘Hannah Montana’ story.

Musso joked that stepping back into the role of Oliver wouldn’t be challenging since he still remembers the character well. However, he acknowledged he would need one crucial detail to complete the look: Oliver’s signature hairstyle. “I would need the wig,” he quipped while discussing the character’s iconic appearance.

The Disney+ special premiered in March and reportedly garnered 6.3 million views within its first three days of streaming. The event celebrated two decades of ‘Hannah Montana’, featuring appearances from various stars, including Selena Gomez, Chappell Roan, and Cyrus’ mother Tish.

Several former cast members showed their support for the anniversary, including Jason Earles, who played Jackson Stewart, and Moisés Arias, who portrayed Rico. Emily Osment, who played Lilly Truscott, also shared a message about the anniversary but mentioned she could not attend due to scheduling conflicts.

Although Musso was not part of the final celebration, he expressed his enduring love for ‘Hannah Montana’ and the character that launched his career. For him, the ideal reunion has always been about bringing the original cast back together for one last story.

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