Everything We Know About ‘The Princess Diaries 3’

Based on the novel of the same name by Meg Cabot, 2001’s “The Princess Diaries” stars Hathaway as American teenager Mia Thermopolis, who learns she is the heir to the throne of the small European principality Genovia. Throughout the film, she must choose whether to claim or renounce the title with some help from her estranged grandmother and the reigning queen of Genovia, Queen Clarisse Renaldi (played by the beloved Julie Andrews).

The film, which the late Garry Marshall directed, was an unexpected box office success, garnering over $165 million worldwide. The 2004 follow-up, “The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement,” also performed well at the box office, earning more than $134 million. In addition to Hathaway and Andrews, the franchise has featured Chris Pine, Mandy Moore, Hector Elizondo, Larry Miller, and Heather Matarazzo.

It hasn’t necessarily been an easy road for the film, which has been in and out of rumored development for nearly a decade. Before he died in 2016, Marshall sparked the conversation, telling PEOPLE he had recently met with Hathaway, and they wanted to do a third film in New York City. 

Following Marshall’s passing, Cabot confirmed interest in going forward with the film as “kind of a tribute” to the late filmmaker and said that a script existed. Both Hathaway and Andrews gave progress updates in 2019 and 2020, respectively. “We all really want it to happen. 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,” Hathaway said on Andy Cohen’s “Watch What Happens Live.” “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.”

In late 2022, the film was reportedly in development at Disney, with Aadrita Mukerji (“Reacher,” “Supergirl”) writing the script and original producer Debra Martin Chase returning. The film was expected to continue the Hathaway-led films rather than be a reboot. Still, at that point, neither Hathaway nor any of her fellow costars had signed on (though Hathaway told ET she was “pulling for” her and Andrews’ involvement to get to work together again).

In October 2024, we finally got new details on the film: Disney announced that Adele Lim, “Crazy Rich Asians” writer and “Joy Ride” director, will helm the installment from the most recent script by Flora Greeson (“The High Note”). As expected, Chase will return to produce, and Lim’s producing partner Naia Cucukov and Melissa Stack will executive produce.

Most importantly, the Queen of Genovia will also retake her throne: Hathaway confirmed via her Instagram that she would return to star in the third film, writing, “The fairy tale continues.” 

No other cast members, including Andrews, have signed on at this time. Pine has been enthusiastic about a third film in the past, but during a recent appearance on “Today With Hoda & Jenna,” he told the hosts he didn’t know anything about the film or his future in it. When pressed that there is no “Princess Diaries” without him, his response was, “Call Disney! Call Bob Iger!”

Disney is planning to shoot “The Princess Diaries 3” next year.

Our return trip to Genovia is finally looking more concrete, but while Disney still gets the travel plans together, there is currently no casting information for the third film.

However, if you want to get involved with the House of Mouse, check out our roundup of Disney gigs currently casting.

Or you can also learn more about other franchise continuations that have been in the news lately:

• Everything We Know About ‘Freaky Friday 2’
• Everything We Know About the ‘Legally Blonde’ Prequel Series
• Everything We Know About ‘Knives Out 3’
• Everything We Know About the Next James Bond Film
• Everything We Know About ‘Shrek 5’
• Everything We Know About ‘Avengers: Doomsday’ + ‘Avengers: Secret Wars’

For more immediate casting opportunities, head to our main casting page or bookmark our roundup of major TV and film projects seeking background talent now.