Disney has officially confirmed that The Princess Diaries 3 is in the works, with Anne Hathaway reprising her role as Princess Mia Thermopolis. The announcement was made 20 years after the release of The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement. Director Adele Lim, known for her work on Joy Ride (2023), Crazy Rich Asians (2018), and Raya and the Last Dragon (2021), has been tapped to direct the new instalment.
The excitement around the continuation of Mia’s story grew when Hathaway posted an Instagram reel featuring clips from the first two films, captioning it, “Miracles happen. Back to Genovia. The fairy tale continues.” This post not only confirmed her involvement but also reassured fans that the new film would continue Mia’s story rather than rebooting the beloved series.
Hathaway, who rose to fame following the success of the original The Princess Diaries film in 2001, will also serve as a producer on The Princess Diaries 3. The original film, directed by Gary Marshall and based on Meg Cabot’s book, initially told the story of a teenager who learns she is the heir to the throne of the fictional European nation of Genovia.
The project has gathered a notable production team. Debra Martin Chase, a producer of the original films, is returning, and Naia Cucukov, Lim’s producing partner, will serve as an executive producer alongside Melissa Stack. Flora Greeson, known for her work on 2020’s High Note, has written the latest script.
In a Deadline statement, Lim expressed her enthusiasm: “As a diehard fan of the original Princess Diaries, I’m beyond excited to be a part of bringing the third iteration of this beloved franchise to life. We look forward to celebrating its core tenants of female power, joy and mentorship with audiences worldwide.”
Aside from her upcoming role in The Princess Diaries 3, Hathaway has been active in Hollywood. She starred in The Idea of You (2024), where she plays an older woman involved with a younger pop star. Rumours are also circulating that a sequel to The Devil Wears Prada is in development at Disney, although it is unclear if Hathaway will return as Andy Sachs.
With production set to begin next year, fans eagerly await more details on the plot and other returning cast members, hoping for a guest appearance by Julie Andrews, who played Queen Clarisse Renaldi, Mia’s grandmother, in the original films.
Natalie is a big fan of anything related to movies, TV shows, games, and comics — you name it. When she’s not reading or geeking out about the latest shows on Netflix, she’s probably playing gacha and tabletop games, or daydreaming of meeting her idols.
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