‘Princess Diaries 3’ Director Teases Original Cast Reunions and a New Vision of Royal Power

For fans of the beloved franchise who have spent the better part of two decades waiting for a return to Genovia, the trickle of updates around ‘Princess Diaries 3’ has finally started to feel like something worth celebrating. The project has been in development at Disney since 2022, with Anne Hathaway confirmed to reprise her role as Mia Thermopolis and also to produce through her Somewhere Pictures banner. The pieces, slowly but surely, are clicking into place.

Directing duties belong to Adele Lim, the ‘Crazy Rich Asians’ screenwriter and ‘Joy Ride’ helmer whose hiring was confirmed in October 2024, marking her second feature directorial project. Flora Greeson is writing the screenplay, and the threequel is expected to continue the story from the first two films rather than reboot the franchise from scratch. It is a continuation, not a reinvention, which matters enormously to the audience that grew up with these movies.

Now Lim has offered her most revealing comments yet on what is being built. Speaking to Variety, the director confirmed that fans can expect a lot of fun returns from the original cast, which is exactly the kind of news the franchise’s devoted following has been holding out for. She also articulated the film’s central ambition in striking terms, pointing out that cinema has long been filled with wish fulfilment stories built around princesses while queens have been left largely underserved. The goal, she made clear, is to show a woman in her full power.

That mission statement echoes what Lim shared when her involvement was first announced, telling Deadline that the film would celebrate “female power, joy and mentorship with audiences worldwide.” There is clearly a consistent through line in her thinking, one that positions ‘Princess Diaries 3’ not just as nostalgic fan service but as a film with something genuine to say about women at the height of their authority.

The question of who returns alongside Hathaway remains one of the most discussed aspects of the project. Mandy Moore, who played Mia’s school bully in the original, has expressed enthusiasm about rejoining the cast, while Sandra Oh, who appeared as Vice Principal Gupta, has also signalled her interest in coming back. Heather Matarazzo and Hector Elizondo, who played Mia’s best friend and personal guard respectively, have similarly said they are open to returning.

The most uncertain reunion involves Julie Andrews, whose performance as the regal Queen Clarisse Renaldi gave both films much of their warmth and grandeur. Andrews has suggested publicly that a return is probably not going to be possible, pointing to the significant time gap since the original films and noting she is unsure where the story would fit at this stage. Hathaway, however, has repeatedly refused to accept that outcome, making clear she would do whatever it takes to get Andrews involved.

In a recent interview, Hathaway confirmed that her team is constantly working on the project and that bringing ‘Princess Diaries 3’ to screens is the clear next intention, even as she acknowledged the film has not yet been officially greenlit. The combined worldwide gross of the first two films surpassed $300 million, giving Disney a powerful commercial argument for making this reunion happen sooner rather than later.

If Lim’s vision of a film built for queens lands the way she intends it to, which familiar faces from Genovia would you most want to see back on screen alongside Hathaway?