Anne Hathaway Confirms ‘Princess Diaries 3’, Directors and Cast Revealed

The beloved franchise “The Princess Diaries” is set to return with a third installment, as announced by Anne Hathaway. This development comes over 20 years after the premiere of “The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement” in 2004 and the original film in 2001. The new film will be directed by Adele Lim, known for her work on “Raya and the Last Dragon” and “Crazy Rich Asians,” who expressed her excitement in a statement, “As a die-hard 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.”

Lim’s involvement represents a significant step forward for the production, which was initially reported to be in development in 2022. The screenplay is being crafted by Aadrita Mukerji, who has previously contributed to “Supergirl” and “Quantum Leap“. Debra Martin Chase, a producer for the previous films, returns in an executive producer role, along with Lim’s producing partners, Naia Cucukov and Melissa Stack.

Anne Hathaway, who stars as Mia Thermopolis, confirmed her return by sharing a video on Instagram. The clip humorously references her character’s iconic surprise at discovering she is a princess, a nod to fans of the original movies. Hathaway’s post, captioned with “Back to Genovia” alongside a video quoting from the first two films, generated significant excitement among fans.

Originally directed by Garry Marshall, the “Princess Diaries” films were adaptations of Meg Cabot’s young adult novels. They follow Mia Thermopolis, played by Hathaway, as a teenager who finds out she’s the heir to Genovia’s throne. The films feature her learning the ropes of royalty under the guidance of her grandmother, Queen Clarisse Renaldi, portrayed by Julie Andrews. Andrews, however, has expressed skepticism about returning, citing age and the long gap since the last film.

Other notable actors, including Chris Pine, who played Nicholas Devereaux, have shown interest in reprising their roles. The storyline for “The Princess Diaries 3” remains undisclosed, although it may draw from Cabot’s numerous sequels, including 2023’s “The Quarantine Princess Diaries.” Production is expected to commence next year under Disney’s banner.