Sophia Michaels
It was way back in January 2019 that we learned “The Princess Diaries 3” was in the cards after Anne Hathaway casually confirmed “there is a script” just ready and waiting. At the time, the actor stopped by “Watch What Happens Live With Andy Cohen” and dished the gossip on something we secretly all want to know. When asked if “The Princess Diaries 3” was in the works, Hathaway replied, “I want to do it, Julie [Andrews] wants to do it, Debra Martin Chase, our producer, wants to do it.” Fair to say, we had so many questions! Will Chris Pine be there? Is Fat Louie still alive? Will Raven-Symoné return? Can we expect to see another epic slumber party?
“We all really want it to happen, but we don’t want to do it unless it’s perfect because we love it just as much as you guys love it . . . we’re working on it,” Hathaway said at the time.
Now, we have confirmation that a third installment to the beloved franchise is happening. In November 2022, The Hollywood Reporter revealed that sources had told them a script by “Supergirl” writer Aadrita Mukerji is in the works, and the next movie will be a “continuation” of the series, not a reboot. Hathaway has not officially signed on, but fans are definitely crossing their fingers, especially because of her previous comments. Reps for the star and Disney did not respond to POPSUGAR’s request for comment at the time.
One former cast member who definitely wants to return? Sandra Oh. She told Entertainment Weekly in a July 7 interview, “I am ready for the Queen. Call me!” Oh appeared in the first “The Princess Diaries” as Vice Principal Gupta, who works at the school Hathaway’s Mia attended. She did not return for the second film. “I’m dying to see how Gupta has moved up in the world,” Oh told EW. Meg Cabot, who wrote “The Princess Diaries” books, is also happy for Oh to return and tweeted on July 11, “Principal Gupta is always welcome to Genovia!”
Oh also told the outlet that she wasn’t exactly sure why her brief appearance in the film has become so beloved to fans. “I remember it was like 2015, I was walking down the street in Chicago, and there [was] a young person, who at that point in 2015, was not my usual demographic, which was like a college-aged, straight white guy,” she explained. “He passed me and then he ran back up to me and did the line: ‘Uh huh. Uh huh. Uh huh. The Queen is coming.'”
Another cast member from the first film who wants to come back for more? Mandy Moore. The actor told Drew Barrymore on the July 2022 episode of the latter’s eponymous talk show that she would happily reprise her role as Lana in “The Princess Diaries 3.” “My character was sort of the nemesis to Anne Hathaway’s character in the first film, and she was so mean, I feel like maybe there’s no place for her,” Moore said.
But Barrymore did some very quick brainstorming for how it might work and suggested maybe Lana could turn over a new leaf. “The other angle is, like, redemptive: she’s done a 180, she’s turned her life around, and she and Mia become really good friends. So I would be game,” Moore said.
Meanwhile, Andrews — aka Queen Dowager Clarice — had previously during an appearance on “The Talk” in 2020 that she’s still interested. “I’m getting awfully old and crotchety. I’m not sure if it’s the right timing, but I think to work with Annie would be lovely again. And, sure, I’d be up for it,” Andrews said. She added that director Garry Marshall (who passed away in 2016) would be missed, describing him as “the nuts and bolts of it all.” But in December 2022, she told “Access Hollywood,” “I think we know that it’s probably not going to be possible. It was talked about very shortly after [the sequel] came out, but it’s now how many years since then? And I am that much older and Annie the princess, or queen, is so much older. And I am not sure where it would float or run.”
Details about the cast and release date of “Princess Diaries 3” have yet to emerge. But when they do, we know one thing: it won’t be late; we’ll all just simply be early.
