‘The Princess Diaries 3’ prequel is coming, according to Anne Hathaway: ‘MIracles happen’

Anne Hathaway is making a royal return to Genovia as Princess Mia Thermopolis in “The Princess Diaries 3.”

The Academy Award-winning actress confirmed that she would reprise her famous role in the prequel of the beloved film franchise in an Instagram post Friday.

“Miracles happen,” she posted a video featuring a screenshot of a news article announcing the movie was in continued development, which was first reported by Variety. Hathaway counted down in the video, which included snippets from the first “Princess Diaries” and said her famous line from the movie, “Shut up!”

US actress Anne Hathaway attends Prime Video's "The Idea of You" premiere at Jazz at Lincoln Center in New York City on April 29, 2024. (Photo by KENA BETANCUR / AFP) (Photo by KENA BETANCUR/AFP via Getty Images)

Variety, which shared that the film has been in development since 2022, announced that Adele Lim, who wrote “Crazy Rich Asians,” was slated to direct the film with Hathaway set to star. The upcoming prequel is the third installment of the beloved series, following 2001’s “The Princess Diaries” and the 2004 sequel “The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement.”

“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,” Lim told Variety in a statement. “We look forward to celebrating its core tenants of female power, joy and mentorship with audiences worldwide.”

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‘Princess Diaries’ was one of Hathaway’s first roles

Hathaway, who is now 41, landed the role of Princess Mia when she was just 17.

In April, she told V Magazine that the “Princess Diaries 3” development was “in a good place,” adding at the time how “that’s all I can say. There’s nothing to announce yet. But we’re in a good place.”

She also told V that her “first substantial film role, the second film I ever did, was ‘The Princess Diaries.’ I was so generously invited into that process by Garry Marshall; he valued my take on being a teenage girl and elevated me to such a valued status on set that it never occurred to me on other sets that I didn’t have that same autonomy.”

There’s no word on if Julie Andrews, who portrayed Princess Mia’s grandmother Queen Clarisse Renaldi, will return to the franchise. In December 2022, she told Kit Hoover of Access Hollywood she wasn’t sure if it would be possible.

“I think we know that it’s probably not going to be possible,” Andrews said at the time. “It was talked about very shortly after two 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.” Andrews added.

Anne Hathaway

‘The Princess Diaries 3’ prequel is coming, according to Anne Hathaway: ‘MIracles happen’

Portrait of Jay StahlJay Stahl

USA TODAY

Anne Hathaway is making a royal return to Genovia as Princess Mia Thermopolis in “The Princess Diaries 3.”

The Academy Award-winning actress confirmed that she would reprise her famous role in the prequel of the beloved film franchise in an Instagram post Friday.

“Miracles happen,” she posted a video featuring a screenshot of a news article announcing the movie was in continued development, which was first reported by Variety. Hathaway counted down in the video, which included snippets from the first “Princess Diaries” and said her famous line from the movie, “Shut up!”

US actress Anne Hathaway attends Prime Video's "The Idea of You" premiere at Jazz at Lincoln Center in New York City on April 29, 2024. (Photo by KENA BETANCUR / AFP) (Photo by KENA BETANCUR/AFP via Getty Images)

Variety, which shared that the film has been in development since 2022, announced that Adele Lim, who wrote “Crazy Rich Asians,” was slated to direct the film with Hathaway set to star. The upcoming prequel is the third installment of the beloved series, following 2001’s “The Princess Diaries” and the 2004 sequel “The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement.”

“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,” Lim told Variety in a statement. “We look forward to celebrating its core tenants of female power, joy and mentorship with audiences worldwide.”

Need a break? Play the USA TODAY Daily Crossword Puzzle.

New movie:CGI babies? What we know about new ‘Rugrats’ movie adaptation

‘Princess Diaries’ was one of Hathaway’s first roles

Hathaway, who is now 41, landed the role of Princess Mia when she was just 17.

In April, she told V Magazine that the “Princess Diaries 3” development was “in a good place,” adding at the time how “that’s all I can say. There’s nothing to announce yet. But we’re in a good place.”

She also told V that her “first substantial film role, the second film I ever did, was ‘The Princess Diaries.’ I was so generously invited into that process by Garry Marshall; he valued my take on being a teenage girl and elevated me to such a valued status on set that it never occurred to me on other sets that I didn’t have that same autonomy.”

There’s no word on if Julie Andrews, who portrayed Princess Mia’s grandmother Queen Clarisse Renaldi, will return to the franchise. In December 2022, she told Kit Hoover of Access Hollywood she wasn’t sure if it would be possible.

She continued: “In terms of us doing it, I very much doubt that now.”

 

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