Since premiering three years ago, the Netflix series Fuller House has brought much of the original cast of the hit '90s showFull House back together. While it's been fun watching the new adventures of the Tanner family over the course of the reboot's five seasons, one of Full House's most memorable characters, Michelle Tanner, has been noticeably absent.
From 1987 to 1995, twins Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen played the youngest Tanner sibling, who always made everyone laugh by rattling off catchphrases like "you got it, dude" and "you're in big trouble, mister."
Now that part one of the final season of Fuller House has officially been released on Netflix, fans of the original sitcom can’t help but wonder if Michelle will make a surprise appearance before the series ends. But based on what Mary-Kate and Ashley's co-stars have said about the possibility of a cameo, it seems the youngest Tanner won't be popping up anytime soon.
Why isn’t Michelle Tanner on Fuller House?
Ahead of Fuller House's launch, John Stamos weighed in on why he thinks the 33-year-old twins turned down the chance to reprise Michelle Tanner.
"I called Mary-Kate and at that time she wasn't sure,” he said in a 2016 interview with USA Today. “She was very sweet about it and said, 'Let me talk to Ashley.’ But I think they don't consider themselves actresses anymore, they haven't done it in a long time, so I think maybe they just didn't want to go back to that."
In 1995, the Olsen twins said goodbye to their shared character and went on to co-star in various movies. But their last appearance on the big screen was 15 years ago, in the 2004 teen comedy New York Minute.
Does this mean Mary-Kate and Ashley will never play Michelle again? Unfortunately for fans, it sounds like it. In November, Candace Cameron Bure sat down with People Now and confirmed that the Olsen twins won't appear on Fuller House, despite fans' endless pleas.
"No, I've been telling you about this since Season 1," she said. “You guys can hang on. Have hope! I know the answer. I've given up. I mean, it's not even giving up. I've just let that go a while ago."
Regardless, the Fuller House writers have taken it all in stride, even making several quips about Michelle’s absence throughout the reboot. During the series premiere, Danny (Bob Saget) briefly mentions his youngest daughter, saying, "Well, Michelle sends her love, but she's busy in New York running her fashion empire.”
What are Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen up to now?
As Michelle’s on-screen father noted, Mary-Kate and Ashley actually are busy working on their "fashion empire." After making their last acting appearance in 2004, the sisters took on the fashion world, first by becoming trendsetters with their wardrobe choices and then by creating their own clothes.
In 2006, the Olsen twins launched The Row, a luxury brand with a focus on timeless pieces. A year later, they co-founded Elizabeth and James, another high-end women’s lifestyle brand that includes clothing, accessories, and fragrances. Up until 2018, Elizabeth and James was exclusively sold at Nordstrom, Saks Fifth Ave, and Net-a-Porter, but has since become available at Kohl’s, making it more accessible to every budget.
Bottom line: It sounds like Mary-Kate and Ashley are off living their best lives, and that's what really matters in the end.
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