Anne Hathaway Confirms Return to Genovia in The Princess Diaries 3: “Miracles Happen”

The beloved actress shares the exciting news of a prequel in development, delighting fans of the royal franchise.

Anne Hathaway is set to reprise her iconic role as Princess Mia Thermopolis in The Princess Diaries 3. The Academy Award-winning actress confirmed the exciting news on Instagram, sharing a video that showcased a countdown of iconic scenes from the original movie, including her famous line, “Shut up!” Hathaway captioned the video, “Miracles happen,” referring to the continuation of the beloved franchise.

The upcoming film, which was first reported to be in development by Variety, will serve as a prequel to the original Princess Diaries movies. Directed by Adele Lim, the screenwriter behind Crazy Rich Asians, the movie will mark the third installment of the beloved series that first premiered in 2001, followed by The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement in 2004.

In her statement to Variety, Lim expressed her excitement about being part of the project. “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,” she said. “We look forward to celebrating its core tenets of female power, joy, and mentorship with audiences worldwide.”

While Hathaway’s return as Princess Mia has been confirmed, there is no official word yet on whether Julie Andrews, who portrayed the charming Queen Clarisse Renaldi, Mia’s grandmother, will also return. In a 2022 interview with Access Hollywood, Andrews expressed uncertainty about reprising her role, saying, “I think it’s probably not going to be possible.”

Hathaway, who was just 17 when she took on the role of Mia Thermopolis, reflected on her experience in an interview with V Magazine earlier this year. “My 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,” Hathaway shared, crediting the late director for empowering her as a young actress. “He valued my take on being a teenage girl and elevated me to such a valued status on set.”

With Hathaway confirmed to don the tiara once more and the creative talents of Adele Lim at the helm, excitement is building for the return to the fictional kingdom of Genovia. Fans will eagerly await the royal reunion and the continuation of Princess Mia’s journey in The Princess Diaries 3.

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