Reboot alert! Because everything old is new again, The Princess Diaries is coming back for a third go-round. In a video posted to Instagram over the weekend, Anne Hathaway announced that she is set to return as Mia Thermopolis. So far, there’s no official word on whether or not Julie Andrews or Chris Pine will be reprising their roles as the Queen of Genova or Nicholas Devereaux, but in the past, both Sandra Oh and Mandy Moore have said they’d be game to return. The first two movies, which came out in 2001 and 2004, were directed by the late Garry Marshall. The third movie will be directed by Adele Lim, who previously directed Joy Ride and who’s writing credits include Disney’s delightful Raya and the Last Dragon and Crazy Rich Asians.
Adele Lim is returning to work with Disney as director of the third installment of its prized Princess Diaries franchise. It’s the second time Lim will be behind the camera after writing Disney’s animated 2021 movie, Raya and the Last Dragon. Lim made her directorial debut with the raunchy Lionsgate R-rated female Asian American comedy Joy Ride.
Debra Martin Chase is producing Princess Diaries 3. EPs include Lim’s producing partner Naia Cucukov and Melissa Stack. Flora Greeson is writing the screenplay.
Disney launched The Princess Diaries in 2001, catapulting Anne Hathaway into a marquee name at the box office. There was also a 2004 sequel, The Princess Diaries: Royal Engagement. Both also starred Julie Andrews and were directed by the late Garry Marshall. Together both pics grossed $300M WW. The first movie followed Hathaway’s Mia Thermopolis, who learns she’s the heir apparent to the throne of Genovia. She takes her friends Lilly and Michael Moscovitz along for the ride as she tries to navigate through teenagedom.
Lim tells us: “As a diehard fan of the original Princess Diaries, I’m beyond excited to be a part of bringing the third iteration of this beloved franchise to life. We look forward to celebrating its core tenants of female power, joy and mentorship with audiences worldwide.”
Lim’s credits include being a writer-producer on such TV shows as One Tree Hill and Lethal Weapon, as well as being the co-showrunner on the CW series Star-Crossed.
She wrote Warner Bros.’ blockbuster Jon Chu-directed rom-com Crazy Rich Asians, which grossed $174M stateside and picked up nominations for Best Picture at the Golden Globes and Producers Guild Awards and won the Critics Choice Award.
Last year Lim partnered with Naia Cucukov to form the production company 100 Tigers. Cucukov was a former Walden Media senior executive who’s credits include the Netflix series The Baby-Sitters Club and Manhunt. The mission for the company is to “foster and empower artists and projects that share our passion for female-forward, cross-cultural stories with global appeal and a glossy edge.” 100 Tigers has several projects in development at various studios including Amazon/MGM, HBO Max and ABC.
Lim is repped by Paradigm and Ginsburg, Daniels, Kallis. Chase is repped by CAA and Del Shaw Moonves. Cucukov is repped by Paradigm and Sean Marks. Stack is represented by CAA and Kaplan/Perrone Entertainment. Greeson is repped by Kaplan/Perrone and UTA.
I admit, The Princess Diaries is one that never even pinged on my radar of movies they could bring back. It’s kind of hard to believe that it’s *only* been 20 years since the second movie came out in theaters. It feels like so much longer for some reason. I loved the first two movies back in the day, but I don’t know if we need another Princess Diaries movie. That said, I’m a big fan of a lot of Lim’s work and think she’s a great choice for this project. I’m curious to know more about it as it develops. (Right now, there’s a script, but no other details.) It sounds like Best Chris (Pine) is game to return, too. When asked about the possibility of ever coming back for a third movie, he told Entertainment Tonight last year, “I’m here for it. Give me — give me a phone call or an email.” If Best Chris is here for it, then let’s face it, I’m probably gonna be here for it too.
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- NEW YORK, NY – APRIL 29: Anne Hathaway seen at Live with Kelly and Mark on April 29, 2024 in New York City. Copyright: xRWx,Image: 868891171, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: imago is entitled to issue a simple usage license at the time of provision. Personality and trademark rights as well as copyright laws regarding art-works shown must be observed. Commercial use at your own risk., Model Release: no, Credit line: IMAGO/RW / Avalon
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- NEW YORK, NY – APRIL 29: Anne Hathaway seen at Live with Kelly and Mark on April 29, 2024 in New York City. Copyright: xRWx,Image: 868891218, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: imago is entitled to issue a simple usage license at the time of provision. Personality and trademark rights as well as copyright laws regarding art-works shown must be observed. Commercial use at your own risk., Model Release: no, Credit line: IMAGO/RW / Avalon
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- New York Premiere Of ‘The Idea Of You’ at the Jazz at Lincoln Centre Featuring: Anne Hathaway Where: New York, United States When: 29 Apr 2024 Credit: Dave Allocca/Starpix/INSTARimages
Photos credit: IFA Film/Avalon, kpa Publicity/Avalon, Getty, Dave Allocca/Starpix/INSTARimages, Image/RW/Avalon
Really curious about the plotline. In the books it is revealed that Mia has a biracial little sister on her father’s side, and there’s a whole storyline about Mia fighting for custody. Could be interesting if they incorporate that.
This is the only news this week that hasn’t made me want to curl in a ball and sob.
+1
I was so happy when I saw this.
Shut Up!!
You made my day with this news article.
Haha! Queen Clarice would be taken aback by that outburst! I loved the first movie, but still cannot stomach most of the second one. Hope the third one holds the charm of the first one.
What are the chances they’ll decide to dissolve the monarchy in Genovia and move back to the states? Or set up a republic and then run for head of state through an actual election? But then I guess it wouldn’t be the Princess Diaries😂. I hope Chris Pine and Sandra Oh are in it! They’re very cute movies and Anne was great in them.
There are modern precedents for former royals running for office. For example the last crown Prince of Austria-Hungary, Otto von Hapsburg, was elected to European Parliament in 1979 and served West Germany until 1999. Simeon Saxe-Coburg-Gotha of Bulgaria was dethroned in 1946 (he was only 9) and became prime minister in 2001.
I remember watching the original when it first released and being instantly captivated by Anne Hathaway. She had that “It” quality in spades and I’ve been following her extremely impressive career ever since. I’m almost 50 but am so here for another PD movie!
Gotta say, unashamedly, I’m *so* here for this! I loved the first two, and yeah, I’m geeky that way, even at my age! lol
Core “tenants” of the movie? Good grief.
I twitched when I read that, Ciotog.
I never could get into these movies because the plot makes no sense whatsoever.
ArtHistorian, they’re the type of movies that you need to leave logic behind and enjoy it for the entertainment that it is.
Yeah you can’t think too much about them. They’re bubblegum fluff movies.
I know but in this case I simply cannot. I live in a constitutional monarchy and I just can’t overlook the fact that the basic premise of the story makes no sense. It is weird because I can suspend my disbelief about other movies but I just cannot with this one.
I know it’s been a minute, but I don’t seem to recall Sandra Oh in either of the Princess Diaries films. What role did she play?
She played the school principal in the original, can’t remember if her character was in the sequel (I’ve only seen it once and barely remember it).