Anne Hathaway confirms that ‘The Princess Diaries 3’ remains in development, although the project has yet to receive an official green light from Disney.
The gates of Genovia remain open — or at least that’s the message Anne Hathaway has made clear when addressing the future of ‘The Princess Diaries 3’, a sequel that continues to take shape behind the scenes, even without official confirmation from Disney.
In a recent interview while promoting ‘The Devil Wears Prada 2’, the actress revisited the long-awaited return of Mia Thermopolis and put to rest any doubts about the project’s status. Her response was unequivocal: “One hundred per cent, we’re working on it constantly.” Hathaway explained that the sequel to ‘The Devil Wears Prada’ emerged unexpectedly and ultimately consumed her full creative focus, making it impossible to balance both films at once when she reprised her role as Andy Sachs in summer 2025.
Now, with ‘The Devil Wears Prada 2’ set for release on 30 April, Hathaway’s intention is for ‘The Princess Diaries 3’ to be next. Still, she was careful to clarify that the project has not yet been officially approved, even though, as she noted, “everyone wants it to happen.” Rather than a shelved idea, her comments suggest a project that is steadily progressing, albeit with the high standards expected from such a beloved franchise.
That expectation is precisely the challenge. Hathaway made it clear that, if anything, her experience with ‘The Devil Wears Prada 2’ has reinforced how high audience expectations truly are. For that reason, she insisted that the film must be done properly. “We have to wait for the right script,” she said — a sentiment echoed by Meryl Streep. The aim is not to revive the franchise for nostalgia alone, but to deliver a story worthy of its legacy.
Hints have also come from Meg Cabot, author of the original ‘The Princess Diaries’ novels, who fuelled anticipation during an appearance at BookCon in New York on 19 April. She suggested there would be room for many familiar faces, teasing that “there’s a part for everyone, because something happens that brings them all together.” She went even further by mentioning Robert Schwartzman and Chris Pine, indicating both could return — regardless of any denials.
Their potential involvement adds a strong nostalgic layer to the project. Chris Pine portrayed Nicholas Devereaux in the first sequel, while Robert Schwartzman played Michael Moscovitz in the original film, one of the earliest characters to form a connection with Mia before her royal identity was revealed.
Hathaway has long expressed her desire to bring this third instalment to life. Development slowed significantly following the death of director Garry Marshall in 2016, and at one point even Julie Andrews suggested she did not expect another sequel to happen. However, momentum returned in October 2024, when Hathaway confirmed the project was back in development, with Adele Lim, screenwriter of ‘Crazy Rich Asians’, attached as director.
For now, key details about the storyline and returning characters remain under wraps, and it is still unclear whether Julie Andrews will reprise her role. Yet Hathaway has offered a line that keeps the excitement alive: her team is “working on the script little by little.” And when it comes to Mia Thermopolis, that alone is enough to keep fans waiting.
