The beloved early-2000s classic The Princess Diaries is officially getting a third installment, more than two decades after the release of its second film, The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement. Filmmaker Adele Lim, known for her work on Disney’s animated film Raya and the Last Dragon and the hit Crazy Rich Asians, will direct the new movie. Lim expressed her excitement, stating, “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.” She aims to celebrate themes of female empowerment, joy, and mentorship in the upcoming film.
Anne Hathaway has confirmed her return as Mia Thermopolis, sharing a video on Instagram captioned “Back to Genovia,” and quoting lines from the previous films, “The fairytale continues.”
The first two films were based on Meg Cabot’s popular novels and directed by the late Garry Marshall. They followed the journey of Mia Thermopolis as she discovers her royal lineage and undergoes princess training under her grandmother, Queen Clarisse Renaldi, portrayed by Julie Andrews.
The development of The Princess Diaries 3 has been in the works, with reports indicating that screenwriter Aadrita Mukerji, who has credits in TV shows like Supergirl and Quantum Leap, is involved in the project. Debra Martin Chase, a producer from the first two films, will return as an executive producer alongside Lim and her producing partners, Naia Cucukov and Melissa Stack.
Earlier this year, Hathaway confirmed that plans for a third movie were in progress, stating, “Yep,” when asked if anything was happening regarding Princess Diaries 3. Hathaway has shown great affection for the franchise, stating that it changed her life and has only grown in significance as her own career has evolved.