Just after the turn of the century, in 2001, Walt Disney Pictures brought out The Princess Diaries. This film turned out to become a staple on people’s childhoods and launched Anne Hathaway into stardom.
The sequel film, in 2004, The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement was just as much of a success. As with everything good, we naturally want more. So, ever since this sequel, fans have been begging to make the franchise into a trilogy.
Julie Andrews statment
Despite fans wanting a third film, Queen Clarisse Renaldi herself, Dame Julie Andrews does not see this happening. In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter in June 2022, Andrews was asked if she would revisit the Princess Diaries story and she replied, ‘I think it would be too late to do it now… It’s a lovely thought, but I don’t think it would be possible.’
The director of both Princess Diaries films, Garry Marshall, passed away in 2016. Andrews adds that Marshall’s death means that ‘it is too far down to line now to go back to [a third script].’
A third script
While Andrews says she thinks it’s ’too late’, Anne Hathaway had a different story back in 2019. On the Andy Cohen Show, Hathaway said, ’There is a script for the third movie. I want to do it, Julie wants to do it, Deborah Martin Chase, our producer wants to do it.’
Fans in the audience and online went wild at this declaration.
Hathaway continued, ‘We love it just as much as you guys love it… and we don’t want to deliver anything until it’s ready, but we’re working on it.’
It seems as though, while there is, or certainly was, a script for the third film, there is something not right. Whether it is timing, casting or something out of everyone’s control, maybe we will never know. But, people are still holding out hope for Queen Clarisse and Princess Mia to return once more.
Sliver of hope
After Andrews’ original statement where she claimed it was ‘too late’ for a third installment of the film franchise, she was asked by Entertainment Tonight if there was anything else that could be explored between Queen Clarisse and Princess Mia.
Andrews answered, ‘I might be a little too old of a granny for it. It depends on what the story is and if they can come up with something that could be wonderful, but if not, there will be other things.’
This does not sound like a definite no! It sounds more like a maybe. So, keep your fingers crossed and keep singing the Genovian national anthem in hope.