Video games news, releases, esports and culture — all the biggest gaming stories in one place.
The Princess Diaries 3 Is Taking So Long Because Disney Is ‘Working So Hard to Get It Right,’ Anne Hathaway Says | D23 2026
Anne Hathaway has said Disney is continuing to develop The Princess Diaries 3, but that progress is taking time because the studio wants to meet the expectations of its family audience. Her comments at D23 2026 offer reassurance that the long-awaited sequel remains active, while acknowledging fans’ frustration over the extended delay.
It has been 22 years since The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement reached cinemas. Hathaway confirmed in 2024 that she planned to return as Mia Thermopolis, but Julie Andrews said this week that she does not intend to reprise her role, leaving uncertainty over how the film will address Queen Clarisse’s absence.
In short
- Hathaway says Disney is still developing The Princess Diaries 3.
- The studio says it is taking time to get the sequel right.
- Julie Andrews will not return for the new film.
Explained simply
The Princess Diaries is a Disney film series about Mia Thermopolis, an ordinary teenager who discovers she is heir to the throne of the fictional country of Genovia. Anne Hathaway plays Mia, while Julie Andrews plays Queen Clarisse, her grandmother and guide to royal life.
The second film, The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement, came out in 2004. A third film has been in development, with Hathaway expected to return; Andrews has said she does not plan to reprise her role. The series has a family audience, and the long gap has left fans wondering what the next film will be like.