Princess Diaries 3' Director Promises "A Lot of Fun Returns" From Original Cast — Here's Everything We Know

 

Anne Hathaway is officially stepping back into the royal world, and this time around, she is not just playing a nervous teenager trying to figure out how to walk in heels. She is coming back as a full-blown queen. After turning heads again in The Devil Wears Prada 2, Hathaway is now gearing up to reprise her most beloved role — Mia Thermopolis — in the long-awaited Princess Diaries 3. And the director of the film, Adele Lim, just gave fans a whole lot to be excited about.

Director Adele Lim Opens Up at the Gold Gala

On Saturday, Adele Lim walked the carpet at the Gold Gala — an annual event hosted by the non-profit Gold House that celebrates Asian talent across entertainment, tech, and beyond. And while she was there, she sat down with Variety and dropped some really exciting updates about where the film stands right now.

According to Lim, Princess Diaries 3 is "going well." Those two words alone sent fans into a frenzy. But she did not stop there. She went on to say something that every fan of the original films has been dying to hear:

"If you were a fan of the original first two movies, I think you can look forward to a lot of fun returns. We're going to be able to shoot in Europe and really show the audience Genovia in its full glory."

Yes, you read that right. Original cast members are expected to return. And the film will actually be shot on location in Europe, which means we are finally going to see the fictional kingdom of Genovia the way it was always meant to look on the big screen.

This Is Not Your Childhood Princess Story Anymore

Here is where things get really interesting. Adele Lim is not trying to just recreate the magic of the 2001 original. She has a much bigger and bolder vision for this film, and it all comes from a deeply personal place.

Lim pointed out something that a lot of us can relate to — the fans who grew up watching the first movie are now grown women themselves. Many of them are mothers. Lim is one of them. And that shift in perspective completely changed how she approached the story.

"We just want to make the story right because it is a franchise that is so beloved by so many people. There are so many movies that are wish fulfilment for princesses; we don't have a lot of wish fulfilment movies for queens. That's what we are setting out to do here — to show a woman in her full power."

That quote right there tells you everything you need to know about where Princess Diaries 3 is headed. Mia Thermopolis is no longer the awkward girl tripping over her own feet at a royal banquet. She is stepping into her role as Queen of Genovia, and the film is going to celebrate that fully.

So Who Is Actually Coming Back?

This is the question everyone wants answered. While Lim was not ready to hand out a confirmed guest list just yet, the hints she dropped are more than enough to get fans talking.

Anne Hathaway is of course returning as Mia, and she is also producing the film through her production banner, Somewhere Pictures. That alone tells you how personally invested she is in getting this right.

Beyond Hathaway, several other familiar faces have signalled their interest in coming back. Mandy Moore, who played Mia's school rival Lana in the original, has openly expressed her excitement about returning. Sandra Oh, who played the sharp-tongued Vice Principal Gupta, has also hinted that she would love to be part of it. And Heather Matarazzo and Hector Elizondo — who played Mia's best friend Lilly and loyal bodyguard Joe respectively — have both said they are open to reprising their roles.

And then there is the big one. Julie Andrews, who played the iconic Queen Clarisse Renaldi, is listed on the film's official page alongside Hathaway. Fans are holding onto hope that the queen herself will return, and honestly, a Princess Diaries film without Queen Clarisse would feel incomplete.

Where Does Production Stand Right Now?

Lim confirmed that the shooting and production schedule is still being finalized, so there is no official release date just yet. But what we do know is that the team is taking their time to get everything right — and given how beloved this franchise is, that is probably the smartest approach they could take.

Behind the scenes, Flora Greeson is handling the screenplay, while Debra Martin Chase is producing. Lim's producing partner Naia Cucukov and Melissa Stack are on board as executive producers. This is a seriously solid team, and it shows that Disney is treating this project with the respect it deserves.

The Legacy This Film Has to Live Up To

Let's talk numbers for a second, because they are pretty staggering. The original Princess Diaries came out in 2001 and was a genuine surprise hit. It launched Anne Hathaway's career practically overnight and became a cultural touchstone for an entire generation of young girls. Its 2004 sequel, The Princess Diaries: Royal Engagement, continued the story and kept audiences coming back. Together, the two films grossed over $300 million worldwide.

That is the kind of legacy that carries real weight. And it is exactly why Lim and her team are being so careful and intentional about every creative decision they make. As Lim put it herself, this franchise is "so beloved by so many people." Getting it wrong is simply not an option.

Adele Lim herself is no stranger to big, emotionally resonant stories. She co-wrote Crazy Rich Asians, which became a genuine cultural moment when it released in 2018, earning over $174 million in the US alone and landing nominations at the Golden Globes and the Producers Guild Awards. She knows how to tell stories about powerful women navigating complex worlds, and that experience makes her a genuinely exciting choice to helm this film.

Bonus: Lim Is Also Bringing Back Crazy Rich Asians

As if all of that were not enough, Lim also revealed at the Gold Gala that she is executive-producing a Crazy Rich Asians sequel series currently in development at HBO. She described the TV format as an exciting opportunity to dig deeper into the rich cast of characters that author Kevin Kwan created across his novel trilogy. So fans of that universe have something to look forward to as well.

The Bottom Line

Princess Diaries 3 is coming, and based on everything Adele Lim shared at the Gold Gala, it sounds like it is going to be worth the wait. The story has grown up alongside its audience. The cast is coming back. The filming locations are going to be stunning. And at the heart of it all is a creative team that genuinely loves this franchise and wants to do right by the millions of fans who have carried it in their hearts for over two decades.

Mia Thermopolis started out as a girl who did not believe she was worthy of a crown. Now she is walking into her full power as a queen. And honestly? So are we.

Which original cast member are you most excited to see return in Princess Diaries 3? Let us know in the comments — we want to hear from you!