Ashley Tisdale and More ‘Phineas and Ferb’ Stars React to Fan Theories, Big Return (Exclusive)

In the nearly 18 years since its 2007 debut, the Phineas and Ferb fandom has developed various theories about many of the cartoon’s occurrences. But only now, in May of 2025, are the stars behind the animated characters sharing their thoughts on the speculation.

The popular animated show’s voice cast — a.k.a. Ashley Tisdale (Candace), Alyson Stoner (Isabella), Vincent Martella (Phineas), Caroline Rhea (Linda) and David Errigo Jr. (Ferb) — spoke with PEOPLE exclusively ahead of its June 5 return. In doing so, they stars weighed in on longtime theories fans have concocted.

One of said theories included whether or not Linda has known about her sons Phineas and Ferb’s shenanigans this whole time.

“I haven’t heard that one,” Martella, 32, says.

“I haven’t engaged with that one yet,” Errigo Jr., 38, notes. “I’ve heard some more bananas ones, but I haven’t heard the mom is willfully not busting the boys theory. This one doesn’t feel harmful, so I feel like there could be some merit to it, and I would accept it more readily than some of the other ones.”

Adding to that, Stoner believes there are benefits to this theory if true.

“One of the beautiful benefits potentially of that could be that Phineas and Ferb, I don’t think they feel very self-conscious right now, but maybe as they get older and if they’re around peers and the peers stop thinking that it’s cool to hang out with the parents,” Stoner, 31, explains. “For the parents to know their business, maybe she’s setting them up so that she can keep an eye and make sure they’re safe, but they feel the full freedom to express themselves and be creative.”

Rhea, in turn, states how “that is my theory” about her character Linda. “When you say there’s a theory out there, that is my theory. But I also think I play it that I have been working with a therapist and I have to speak in a calm voice so that I don’t set my daughter off, because I love her,” Rhea, 61, shares.

“Poor Candace. I know, but I love her so much,” she continues. “And I’m like, ‘It’s okay if she sees these things.’ But I think I’ve seen a lot of them and talked myself out of it. Like, well, apparently [Candace] gets the craziness from me. Now, I’m seeing it too.'”

Next, when asked about how Phineas and Ferb are able to pay for their various, extravagant projects, Martella simply says: “Don’t worry about it.”

“Don’t worry how we get the money, we get it and we build things,” Martella continues.

“I figure if they can build a rollercoaster in a portion of an afternoon, they’ve probably got some pretty good skill at investing. They could probably figure out the stock market,” Errigo, Jr. notes. “Also, they must have sold the lemonade stand, but not all of their rights to the lemonade.”

Proposing their own theory on the question of Phineas and Ferb’s funding sources, Stoner suggests that “we haven’t explored the fact that some of the innaters could have potentially been converted into machines that are used for good.”

“So, maybe there are materials from previous projects that are morphed into new materials for the next invention,” Stoner says. “I just would like to say that there are a lot of possibilities and we shouldn’t make assumptions.”

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Although Tisdale didn’t have any specific thoughts on the fan theories, she notes that “as I’ve gotten older, it’s like a workout,” voicing Candace.

“That’s always been kind of more of my challenge with Candace, is when she starts to kind of build into that episode and she’s really high-strung, and it takes a lot out of me,” she explains. “So, I only do two-hour sessions. But I’ve been doing only two-hour sessions from the very beginning. I recognized very soon into Candace that I was like, ‘Oh, I cannot do three hours or four hours.’ It’s a lot!”

Still, the actress shares excitement for returning to the role, which has been with her for nearly two decades.

“I feel like it never ended because we kept on doing Candace Against the Universe and little things here and there,” Tisdale, 39, shares. “So, I guess I was sad when we were done with the show, but I never expected to come back, and it’s pretty awesome. I love it. We have so much fun doing it.”

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The new season of Phineas and Ferb premieres with two episodes on Thursday, June 5, at 8 p.m. ET/PT on Disney Channel and Disney XD. The first episode will also be available the same day on Disney Channel’s official YouTube channel.