Anne Hathaway Says 'Princess Diaries 3' Hit a Story Breakthrough

Few franchise continuations carry as much nostalgic weight as the prospect of a third Princess Diaries film, and Anne Hathaway is offering the most candid update yet on where that long-gestating project actually stands. Speaking on SiriusXM's Radio Andy with host Andy Cohen, the Oscar-winning actress acknowledged both the personal and creative forces shaping the film's timeline.

A Fresh Start on the Script

Hathaway — currently navigating a busy professional season that includes her high-profile work in The Odyssey alongside Zendaya and Matt Damon — was candid about the script's evolution. The version that had been in development required a significant creative reset. "We kind of had to start over with this new direction," she explained, acknowledging that it isn't the update fans hoping for a straightforward production timeline would want to hear. Even so, she expressed genuine optimism, describing a "story breakthrough" and saying the team feels confident that the reimagined approach will produce the film the franchise deserves.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, development on a third installment was first confirmed back in 2022, when a script was reported to be in progress. By 2024, Crazy Rich Asians co-writer Adele Lim had been announced as director, lending the project a sharper identity and considerable creative credibility.

Life Off-Screen Is Also a Factor

Hathaway was equally forthcoming about the role her personal life is playing in the scheduling equation. She recently announced her pregnancy with her third child with husband Adam Shulman, and she joked that "baby No. 3" has temporarily taken precedence over pinning down a production start date. It's the kind of honest, grounded admission that underscores why the timeline remains fluid — not a lack of commitment, but a collision of real life with an ambitious creative undertaking.

Where Mia Thermopolis Left Off

For those who need a refresher: Hathaway first stepped into the role of Mia Thermopolis — a teenager who discovers she is heir to the European kingdom of Genovia — in Garry Marshall's beloved 2001 original. The 2004 sequel, The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement, concluded with Mia being crowned queen as a single woman after Genovia's parliament struck down a rule requiring her to marry first. Crucially, it also ended with Mia finally pursuing a relationship with Nicholas Devereaux, played by Chris Pine, after calling off her engagement to Andrew Jacoby. The third film is expected to continue that narrative thread as a direct sequel.

The Author's Seal of Approval

Perhaps the most reassuring signal of the project's quality comes from the source material's creator. Princess Diaries book series author Meg Cabot, in a separate conversation with The Hollywood Reporter last month, revealed she has already read a version of the script and was effusive in her praise — so much so that she requested no further drafts be sent her way, fearing she'd struggle to keep quiet about the details. Cabot also hinted that elements drawn directly from her novels have made their way into the screenplay, a detail likely to delight devoted readers of the books.

With The Odyssey dominating the current cultural conversation and Hathaway's star as luminous as ever, the patience required for Princess Diaries 3 seems well worth exercising. A creative breakthrough, a visionary director, and the source author's enthusiastic blessing are a more solid foundation than most long-delayed sequels can claim.