Anne Hathaway confirmed her return as Mia Thermopolis in October 2024, and since then, fans have eagerly been awaiting more details about “Princess Diaries 3.” The film’s lengthy development stems from years of reworking the story, assembling the right team, and ensuring the movie meets fans’ expectations before moving into production.
Now, Hathaway is sharing a promising development that may signal the long-awaited sequel is finally moving forward.
It has been more than two decades since “The Princess Diaries” introduced audiences to Mia Thermopolis, an awkward teenager who discovers she is heir to the throne of Genovia. The franchise returned with “The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement” in 2004, leaving fans wondering what happened after Mia embraced her royal destiny.
Many changes have happened in the development of the third movie, and while details are scarce, Anne Hathaway shared that the current script may be the one they are moving forward with.
The actress sat down with Andy Cohen on “Radio Andy” and said, “I can say I think we had a story breakthrough. I think we are moving in the right direction,” noted Hathaway, adding that the previous script had to be scrapped and writers started over.
“We all feel really good that this is gonna be the one,” she said.
Adele Lim Teased The Direction The Third Film Is Going
“Crazy Rich Asians” co-writer Adele Lim was announced as the director for “Princess Diaries 3” in 2024. In May, she shared a glimpse of what’s to come in the upcoming movie, and rather than focusing on Mia as a princess, she wants to present a “wish-fulfillment” for the character as a queen.
“The girls who grew up believing in princesses, we want to grow up believing that there is a world in which you can be a queen and be fabulous and kicking a-s and also find a way to mentor the young women coming up after us,” Lim told E! News.
The second movie ended with Mia calling off her wedding and convincing the Parliament to abolish the archaic law that required a queen to be married before ascending the throne. She was then crowned as the ruling queen of Genovia.
‘The Princess Diaries’ Author Has Read The Latest Script
“The Princess Diaries” movies are based on the young adult series penned by Meg Cabot. In late June, the author revealed that she has read different versions of the script since its development, but she is most excited about the latest one.
“I read a script, and it was amazing. I told them not to send anymore, because I love it so much,” she told The Hollywood Reporter. Cabot admitted that she has trouble holding her tongue, and since the filmmakers don’t want any details leaked, she jokingly told them not to send her more scripts.
The author refused to share other information about the project, only saying that some details in her books made it to the screenplay. It may be difficult to narrow down what exactly she’s referring to, as the series has more than 10 books in total, in addition to spin-off novels.
The Director Posted A Casting Call
In 2025, Lim took to social media and posted a casting call for “Princess Diaries 3.” The role was for Olivia Robinson and was described as: “15 years old, Mixed Race (Black/White). Smart, sarcastic armored and observant, Olivia Robinson wants to be left alone.”
The books introduce Olivia as Mia’s younger half-sister, born from a secret relationship between Mia’s father, Philippe, and Olivia’s mother. Mia looks for her sister after learning that her mother passed away and fights the teen’s extended family for custody.
‘The Princess Diaries’ Was Anne Hathaway’s Breakout Role
“The Princes Diaries” marked Hathaway’s breakout role, launching her career as one of Hollywood’s most recognizable stars. Prior to her casting, she starred in the short-lived TV series “Get Real.” The film was a commercial success and established the actress as a rising talent, paving the way for future roles.
In April, Hathaway looked back at her debut movie with fond memories, noting that playing the role changed her life. The actress has since appeared in many roles spanning different genres. Some of her works include “Ella Enchanted,” “Brokeback Mountain,” “The Devil Wears Prada,” “Alice in Wonderland,” “Les Misérables,” and “The Odyssey,” just to name a few.
Production for “Princess Diaries 3” has yet to be announced, and since Hathaway is expecting her third child, filming is unlikely to begin soon.
