In 2001, Anne Hathaway came into our lives as an unlikely, thick-eyebrowed princess. Over two decades later, a lot has changed—overgrown eyebrows are cool now, for instance—but our need for The Princess Diaries content remains.
Hence our excitement that there is a third Princess Diaries movie in the works. In April 2024, Hathaway revealed, "We're in a good place," when she was asked about the third installment. She added, "There's nothing to announce yet. But we're in a good place." Here's what we know to date about The Princess Diaries 3.
Most of your favorite characters would be open to returning for the franchise's third installment.
Back in 2019, Mandy Moore (Lana Thomas), Heather Matarazzo (Lilly Moscovitz), Chris Pine (Nicholas Devereaux), Julie Andrews (Queen Clarisse Renaldi), and Hathaway (Mia Thermopolis) were all interested in appearing in the movie, according to Elle.
In July 2023, Sandra Oh said she'd love to return as Vice Principal Gupta. "I am ready for the Queen. Call me! I'm dying to see how Gupta has moved up in the world," Oh told Entertainment Weekly.
In February 2024, John Rhys-Davies, who played Viscount Mabrey in the second film, said that he'd love to return. "Yes, and so would the fabulous Chris Pine," he said. (Chris Pine played his nephew, Nicholas Devereaux.) Of his time working on the second film, Rhys-Davies shared, "Glorious, what lovely company! What fun we had! And of course, our director [Garry Marshall] was magical. He didn’t so much direct a film, he invited some friends to come have a bit of fun and maybe make a movie while we were doing it. It was glorious."
Julie Andrews isn't sure it's happening.
In May 2022, Andrews shared she doesn't think she'll be involved in The Princess Diaries 3. "It would be too late to do it now," Andrews told the Hollywood Reporter. "There was talk of a sequel many, many years ago. But I don’t think it ever came to pass." Andrews added, "Especially [for] me, it’s too far down the line now to go back to it. It’s a lovely thought, but I don’t think it would probably be possible."
She echoed that a few months later, saying, "I think we know that it’s probably not going to be possible. It was talked about very shortly after two [The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement] came out, but it’s now how many years since then? And I am that much older and Annie the princess, or queen, is so much older. And I am not sure where it would float or run. In terms of us doing it, I doubt that now."
In March 2024, Andrews told Today that "there was dialogue about" the Princess Diaries 3, but "nothing had been realized. And I think I may be wrong, but I think it’s been shelved now. I can’t be sure."
She continued, "It’s quite a long time now since the two ‘Diaries’ were done, and I’m not sure, but sometimes it’s best to leave a good thing alone. I don’t like it when people milk and milk and milk the subject, you know, 'til it’s dead." Still, Andrews didn't rule out the possibility of returning as Queen Clarisse. "I’d be very happy if we did do another one, but I don’t expect to."
There's a script, written by Aadrita Mukerji.
Meg Cabot, the author of the series the movies are based on, told EW in 2017 that she'd read a version of a script. "There is a script for the third movie," Hathaway also revealed on Watch What Happens Live in 2019. "There is a script. I want to do it, Julie [Andrews] wants to do it, Debra Martin Chase our producer wants to do it. We all really want it to happen."
In the same interview with Andy Cohen, Hathaway hinted at the team's reservations. "It's just, we don't want to do it unless it's perfect, because we love it just as much as you guys love it," she said. "It's as important to us as it is to you and we don't want to deliver anything until it's ready. But we're working on it."
"Hopefully there'll be more about Genovia," Cabot told Town & Country in April 2022. "I know Disney's very interested in doing more, but, you know, we just [have to get] the gang back together. It is hard in today's day and age with everybody's busy schedules, and of course COVID is not helping."
In November 2022, the Hollywood Reporter broke the news that Aadrita Mukerji is penning a script for a third Princess Diaries for Disney. The film is not a reboot, rather a continuation of the series. According to sources, Hathaway does not have a deal to return, but "the hope is she would return should the potential new film move forward beyond the script stage." In January 2023, Hathaway said it was "thrilling" to "see the level of excitement" surrounding Princess Diaries 3. She didn't comment on whether or not she would be part of the project.
In April 2023, Andrews was asked by Entertainment Tonight if there was "Any movement on Princess Diaries 3?" She quickly replied, "Nope, none—not that I'm aware of. You have to ask somebody else."
The movie would likely honor late director Garry Marshall.
Marshall, known for his work on movies like Pretty Woman and Beaches, directed the first two Princess Diaries movies. Hope for a third movie first started in 2016, when Marshall revealed that he was speaking to Disney about The Princess Diaries 3. Sadly, not long after, Marshall passed away at the age of 81.
Julie Andrews told BuzzFeed News in 2017, "I think we might do it in honor of [Marshall]... Annie had an idea that she wanted to pursue about it, and I'm all for it, so if she'd like to."
Chloe is a News Writer for Townandcountrymag.com, where she covers royal news, from the latest additions to Meghan Markle’s staff to Queen Elizabeth’s monochrome fashions; she also writes about culture, often dissecting TV shows like The Marvelous Mrs Maisel and Killing Eve.
Emily Burack (she/her) is the Senior News Editor for Town & Country, where she covers entertainment, culture, the royals, and a range of other subjects. Before joining T&C, she was the deputy managing editor at Hey Alma, a Jewish culture site. Follow her @emburack on Twitter and Instagram.
