Hathaway has not confirmed participation in the third installment of the film series but is ‘thrilled’ with the fan response.
Anne Hathaway is just as excited as fans anticipating a third installment in The Princess Diaries film series. Hathaway still hasn’t confirmed her involvement in the upcoming film, but hopes remain high that audiences will see what Mia Thermopolis is up to now. Throughout the two original films, Hathaway starred as Mia, the awkward teen who discovers she is Genovian royalty. During an interview at the Sundance Film Festival, Hathaway spoke with People about the emotions surrounding the film:
“[It’s] thrilling [to] see the level of excitement for it. We feel the exact same, and I know it’s probably very frustrating [waiting].” She added: “It’s a process that requires patience, and so everybody should consider themselves a part of the movie business now, because this is how long it actually takes to make things.”
News of a third film was confirmed in November. While casting details remain under wraps, it is reported that the screenplay will be written by Aadrita Mukerji (Supergirl), and that Debra Martin Chase and Melissa K. Stack, who worked as Producers on the first two films, will return to serve as Executive Producers. Garry Marshall, who directed the first two installments, passed away in 2016, and a new director has not been publicly announced.
Will Anne Hathaway and Julie Andrews Return to Genovia?
The original 2001 film starred Anne Hathaway and Julie Andrews and was loosely based on Meg Cabot’s novel of the same name. The film marked Hathaway’s feature debut, and she received praise for her portrayal of Mia. Veteran actress Andrews was cast as her estranged grandmother, Queen Clarisse Renaldi. The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement was released in 2004, with Mia returning to Genovia following her graduation from Princeton University. While preparing to take over her grandmother’s reign, she learns that she must be married before becoming Queen.
Hathaway previously said that she would be interested in working with Andrews again. Unfortunately, Andrew seems unlikely to reprise her role of Queen Clarisse Renaldi, saying:
“I think it would be too late to do it now. There was talk of a sequel many, many years ago. But I don’t think it ever came to pass. And Garry then did leave us. [For] especially 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.”
Since her 2001 feature film debut on The Princess Diaries, Hathaway has earned an Academy Award, a Golden Globe Award, and a Primetime Emmy Award. Her most notable film credits include Les Misérables, Rachel Getting Married, Interstellar, and The Dark Knight Rises, among others. Her latest film, the thriller Eileen, recently premiered at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival.
