Anne Hathaway Signals Progress on Long-Awaited Princess Diaries 3

The franchise, which launched Hathaway to stardom in 2001, has remained in development limbo for over two decades since the 2004 sequel. Speaking to Andy Cohen on Radio Andy, Hathaway revealed that the team previously scrapped an entire script to start fresh, a move she believes has put the film on the right trajectory.

Director Adele Lim, tapped for the project in 2024, intends to shift the narrative focus from a princess finding her way to a reigning queen who mentors the next generation. This vision aligns with the character's development in the second film, where Mia successfully challenged the laws of Genovia to ascend the throne independently. Meg Cabot, the author of the original book series, has already vetted the latest screenplay, calling it amazing and expressing high confidence in the new creative direction.

Public interest recently surged following a 2025 casting call for the character Olivia Robinson, identified in the books as Mia’s younger half-sister. While the creative team is moving forward with renewed momentum, fans should temper expectations regarding an immediate premiere; with Hathaway currently balancing her professional commitments and personal life, a firm production start date remains pending.