Miracles Happen! Everything We Know About The Princess Diaries 3 So Far (Including Who Will Return to Genovia!)

Get ready to return to Genovia!

Nearly 25 years after The Princess Diaries first premiered, a third film is officially in the works. In October, Anne Hathaway announced that The Princess Diaries 3 is on its way to audiences, with filming expected to begin in 2025, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

The 2001 film and its 2004 sequel followed Mia Thermopolis’ (Hathaway) journey from regular teen to princess and then queen of the fictional Genovia under the tutelage of her royal grandmother, played by the legendary Julie Andrews. The franchise helped launch the careers of its stars like Hathaway and Chris Pine, who appeared in the second installment.

And while Hathaway is the only confirmed cast member for the third film, several of her former costars have expressed their excitement to return to the franchise if given the opportunity. From who else will join Hathaway on screen to who is sitting the director's chair, here's everything to know about The Princess Diaries 3, so far!

How did The Princess Diaries 2 end?

A smash hit with fans upon its release in 2004, The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement follows Mia (Hathaway) five years after the events of the first film. When Mia arrives in Genovia to celebrate her 21st birthday, it’s revealed that she needs to be married within a month of her birthday or she will not be crowned queen upon her grandmother’s upcoming abdication of the throne.

As Mia quickly tries to find a suitable husband, she develops a romance with the charming Nicholas Devereaux (Pine), though it’s revealed that Nicholas’ uncle is scheming to have him crowned king instead. Nicholas, having fallen in love with Mia, rejects the crown. Mia makes a rousing speech that convinces the parliament to allow her to rule as an unmarried woman and is finally crowned queen of Genovia.

What has Anne Hathaway said about The Princess Diaries 3?

Even before the third film was confirmed, Hathaway expressed her eagerness to revisit the iconic franchise. Speaking to Vanity Fair in April 2024, she called The Princess Diaries “the film that changed my life.”

She previously told PEOPLE in 2023 that it was “thrilling” to "see the level of excitement for a third film." While she admitted that the 20-year wait could be “frustrating,” she clarified that it was a normal part of the moviemaking business. “It's a process that requires patience ... this is how long it actually takes to make things."

On Oct. 5, 2024, Hathaway posted the official announcement of the third film on Instagram with the caption, “Miracles happen ✨👑 Back to Genovia with @adeleblim @disney @somewherepictures. The fairy tale continues ❤️‍🔥.”

Will Julie Andrews appear in the third film?

Andrews’ thoughts on returning as Queen Clarisse Renaldi have varied over the years and it is not confirmed if she will return for the upcoming movie.

In 2020, Andrews was wary but ready for a third film. “I think I would. I’m getting awfully old and crotchety. I’m not sure if it’s the right timing, but I think to work with Annie would be lovely again," she shared on The Talk @ Home.

However, in 2024, Andrews told Today, "It’s quite a long time now since the two Diaries were done, and I’m not sure, but sometimes it’s best to leave a good thing alone. I don’t like it when people milk and milk and milk the subject, you know, 'til it’s dead."

"I’d be very happy if we did do another one," the British actress added.

What has Chris Pine said about returning as Nicholas Devereaux?

With Hathaway as the only confirmed cast member so far, fans are hoping that Pine will reprise his role as the handsome Nicholas Devereaux, Mia’s love interest from the second film — and it seems like Pine is hoping to return as well.

Before the announcement, Pine told Entertainment Weekly in May 2024, “Princess Diaries 3, where is it? Have you been reading my diary? I don't know. I haven't heard anything about it.”

And when asked by Entertainment Tonight a year earlier if he would return, Pine shared, "Yeah, I'm here! I'm here for it. Give me — give me a phone call or an email.”

What have other cast members said about returning?

The Princess Diaries started the careers of some of Hollywood’s biggest stars. When asked about returning as the high school’s Vice Principal Gupta, Grey’s Anatomy and Killing Eve star Sandra Oh is definitely in. "Yeah, that would be hilarious. Are you kidding? Sure. Yeah," Oh told PEOPLE in Mary 2024.

Singer-actress Mandy Moore, who starred as mean girl Lana, also has fond memories of her time on the first film, telling InStyle that it was a “remarkable experience.”

“I kind of feel like my character was sort of the nemesis to Anne Hathaway's character in the first film and she was so mean, I feel like maybe there's no place for her [in a third film],” she shared during an appearance on The Drew Barrymore Show. “I would love, love, love to join those ladies again, anytime, but I also understand if there's no room for my awful character."

What is The Princess Diaries 3 about?

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Flora Greeson, the writer behind The High Note, which starred Dakota Johnson and Tracee Ellis Ross, wrote the latest script for The Princess Diaries 3. However, no plot details have been revealed.

Previously, in 2016, the director of the first two films, Garry Marshall, told PEOPLE that he and Hathaway had been in touch and discussing potential plot ideas. “I was with Anne Hathaway a couple weeks ago, it looks like we want to do Princess Diaries 3 in Manhattan.” At the time, Hathaway was pregnant with her son Jonathan, However, Marshall died later that year.

A few years later, Hathaway revealed that plans for a third film were still on and that a script was already written during an appearance on Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen. “We don’t want to deliver anything until it’s ready, but we’re working on it," the actress said.

Who is directing The Princess Diaries 3?

With credits for films like Joy Ride, Crazy Rich Asians and Raya and the Last Dragon, director Adele Lim has been hired to carry on Marshall’s legacy in the newly announced third film.

“As a die-hard 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 said in a statement.

Much of the cast has expressed fond memories of working with Marshall, who directed the previous Princess Diaries films before his death in 2016. "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, or that same ability to collaborate," Hathway told V Magazine.