AceShowbiz - Ashley Tisdale French is making a notable return to acting after a six-year hiatus with a new comedy series centered on coparenting. According to Deadline’s report on February 27, the 40-year-old actress will star in the upcoming CBS comedy titled You’re Only Young Twice. In addition to her leading role, Tisdale will also serve as executive producer on the project.

The series explores the lives of Emily and her ex-husband Alex, characters who married young after discovering they were expecting a child during high school. Now both 35 years old, their child has left for college, prompting them to navigate their lives as newly divorced empty nesters who are attempting to start fresh while coparenting.

Tisdale shared her excitement about the new role on Instagram by reposting the Deadline article and adding a playful caption noting she had told her agent she was retired from acting, only for him to disagree.

Once a prominent figure on the Disney Channel with memorable roles in The Suite Life of Zack and Cody and the High School Musical franchise, Tisdale has since shifted her focus towards motherhood and other career ventures. She is married to Christopher French.

This new acting opportunity comes on the heels of a public controversy involving Tisdale and a celebrity mom group. Earlier this year, she described the group as “toxic” in an essay for The Cut and a detailed Substack post, revealing her decision to leave after feeling excluded and ostracized.

In her essay, Tisdale recounted how she noticed being left out of group gatherings through photos and Instagram stories, causing her to feel increasingly isolated. She admitted initially questioning if her feelings were unfounded but ultimately sensed a growing distance between her and the other members of the group, who appeared indifferent to her absence.

She ended her involvement by texting the group that the dynamic felt “too high school” and she no longer wished to participate.

While she did not publicly name members of the group, many fans speculated it involved other celebrity moms like Meghan Trainor, Mandy Moore, and Hilary Duff. However, Tisdale’s representative denied this connection at the time.

Hilary Duff, who is associated with a mom group herself, responded during a February 25 episode of the “Call Her Daddy” podcast. She expressed sadness over Tisdale’s essay, stating it was easy for listeners to connect the dots about which group was being referenced. “I felt really sad. I honestly felt really sad,” said Duff. She emphasized her own good fortune to have multiple groups of friends.

Duff also commented on the essay’s impact on other women involved, saying, “It sucks to read something that's not true, and it sucks on behalf of six women and all of their lives.”

Additionally, actress Kaley Cuoco made a brief remark about the situation during a February 5 appearance on Watch What Happens Live With Andy Cohen. She suggested a simple solution for those unhappy in a group, saying, “If you don't like being part of a group, just leave, baby.” She appeared dismissive of further discussion on the topic.

Despite the controversy, Tisdale is moving forward with her career in entertainment, balancing her acting comeback with motherhood and producing responsibilities.

The premise of You’re Only Young Twice offers a fresh comedic take on the challenges faced by divorced parents adjusting to life after their children have left home. This project marks a new chapter for Tisdale, blending her personal insights with her professional talents.

Fans and industry observers alike will be watching closely as the series develops, anticipating how Tisdale’s return to acting will be received after a significant break and amidst recent public discussions about her personal life.

As the project progresses, more details about the cast, storyline, and production timeline are expected to emerge. For now, Tisdale’s announcement signals an exciting evolution in her career and a creative exploration of contemporary family dynamics on network television.