Princess Diaries 3: 5 Hints That The Movie Will Happen (& 5 That It Won’t)

The Princess Diaries and The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement are time-honored Disney favorites. The first premiered in theaters in 2001 with the second following in 2004. Based on Meg Cabot’s teen novels, the films follow Mia Thermopolis from her life as a regular teen to her reign as Princess and then Queen of Genovia.

Fans have been talking about a potential third installment for a long time, but so have cast members. The story might not be finished for Amelia Mignonette Thermopolis Renaldi, and here’s why.

10 Won’t: Too Much Time Has Passed

Sixteen years is a long stretch of time from one movie to another, even in the age of reboots and remakes. 2001 to 2004 made sense for the first two movies, but even that three years felt like an eternity for fans, many of whom were still growing up at the time. Queen Mia is now much older than she was when she was crowned, even though she is still gorgeous. Some fans would welcome the new movie at any time, but others may not show enough interest in the project at this time.

9 Will: There Is A Script

In early 2019, Anne Hathaway hinted at a third movie on Watch What Happens Live With Andy Cohen. A fan called in to ask about the possibility of the film. Anne Hathaway was good-natured about the question and revealed that there is a script.

The actress candidly explained, “We don’t want to do it unless it’s perfect because we love it just as much as you guys love it.” She also said that everyone was working on it.

8 Won’t: Cast Is Too Busy

Julie Andrews was also approached about the movie’s fate. On CBS’s The Talk at Home, Eve Jeffers Cooper expressed to Andrews that fans would love to hear of the third movie’s progress. Julie Andrews didn’t share any details on a script if she had them. She answered, “I’ve heard that there might be one but it’s long been talked about…” Andrews thinks she might be too “old and crotchety” to reprise her role but would find it ” lovely to work with Annie” again. Julie Andrews was a good sport about the question, but she is an incredibly busy woman, as is Anne Hathaway. Other cast members across the two films, like Héctor Elizondo, Mandy Moore, Raven-Symoné, and Chris Pine are also busy with other projects.

7 Will: Cast Loves The Films

Even if some of them are all booked up, most cast members love their time filming the movies, and they always have. Heather Matarazzo and Robert Schwartzman acknowledged back in 2001 that they enjoyed being part of the films. Anne Hathaway’s love for the movies was clear in 2019 on Andy Cohen’s show. These films are a special part of the cast’s lives, and fans love to see that.

6 Won’t: Target Audience

The target audience for the earlier films wasn’t too limiting, but the motion pictures certainly appealed more to families and children, especially young girls at the time. Those grown-up fans will watch a new movie no matter what, but who will its target audience be? It’s kind of funny to imagine Mia with little royal children running around, and one wonders whether Mia or a younger new cast member would be the center of the film.

5 Will: Longtime Favorite Franchise

The fact that fans freak out every time a new update surfaces about the franchise is a huge hint that it will always be successful. Director Garry Marshall wanted it to happen back in 2016. He told People that the film might take place in Manhattan depending upon Anne Hathaway’s availability. Sadly, Marshall passed away a few months later. Fans will forever know the director’s incredible work in the first two romantic comedies, and his blessing on a new one makes all the difference.

4 Won’t: Unsure Of Storyline

Without Garry Marshall to guide the action, no one knows what the story would be if the third movie happened. It could still be a Manhattan movie, but what about Genovia?

It could be a destination movie in which Mia has special business in New York, but that doesn’t offer too much of a premise. Like the age bracket, the storyline is a murky factor in the equation.

3 Will: Disney+ Possibilities

Countless fans have watched The Princess Diaries and The Princess Diaries 2 on Disney+ multiple times already. Some of them grew up watching the movies at home on VHS or DVD. The benefit of Disney+ surely has not been forgotten in talks of the next movie. Disney+ has already experimented with releasing new movies straight to the service, so this procedure could certainly occur with The Princess Diaries 3. Everyone would love to have all three movies in the same place.

2 Won’t: Initial Hesitation

It is a little discouraging that the third movie has been tossed around this long with no action. A script is just a script until filming begins, and everyone involved has kept a lid on any finer details. With this much hesitation, hopeful viewers are skeptical that their dream movie will ever be made.

1 Will: An Unstoppable Trilogy

If the third movie is done well, there is no denying that it would make the whole franchise an unstoppable Disney trilogy. The guesswork of Mia’s future would be done. Fans know that she is a successful, independent Queen with a supportive family, but they also know that she is madly in love with Lord Devereaux when she is crowned. A trilogy would give the princess-turned-queen a clear beginning, middle, and end, even if it differs greatly from Meg Cabot’s writing.

About The Author