Fans eager to return to the fictional kingdom of Genovia may have to keep waiting a little longer after Anne Hathaway revealed that her growing family has become one of the reasons The Princess Diaries 3 remains on hold. Hathaway revealed in a recent interview in New York that Baby Number 3 took priority over The Princess Diaries 3 in the past few weeks, leading to some delays.
The Oscar-winning actress recently offered a lighthearted update while appearing on Andy Cohen’s live show in New York City. When asked about the long-awaited Disney sequel, the 43-year-old Hathaway joked that she’s currently “busy making baby No. 3,” explaining that her third pregnancy has temporarily kept her too busy over filming and pre-production of the highly anticipated movie.
The update adds another delay to a project that Disney first announced in 2024. Although excitement has remained high among fans of the beloved franchise, concrete news about the sequel has been scarce over the past two years. Despite acknowledging the slower-than-expected progress, Hathaway reassured audiences that the film is still actively moving forward.
During a previous interview with Entertainment Weekly, she said the creative team is “constantly working on it” but noted that The Devil Wears Prada 2 unexpectedly became the more immediate production priority. She also shared some encouraging news for longtime fans, revealing that the filmmakers recently experienced what she described as a “story breakthrough” after revising the screenplay. According to Hathaway, the project is now “moving in the right direction.”
Fans are nevertheless worried
Hathaway’s latest comments in the New York interview quickly sparked discussion across social media, where many fans celebrated her personal news while expressing woes or even frustration over the film’s lengthy development. One highly upvoted Reddit comment summed up a concern shared by many viewers: “They really need to get on this movie if it’s happening. Julie Andrews is in her 90s….”
Another comment even argued that the franchise needs to rest, claiming, “Fr. Just let the legacy movies rest. We dont need a “Mias daughter” reboot for the sake of nostalgia.” Such comments have sparked debates, as numerous movie fans were practically “raised” by The Princess Diaries, though it’s understandable why some people would think that “Nostalgic IPs don’t need to constantly be redone.”
Others speculated that the sequel could shift its focus toward a younger generation or adapt elements from Meg Cabot’s later novels, though Disney has not confirmed any plot details. Disney previously confirmed that Crazy Rich Asians writer Adele Lim will direct the third installment. However, the studio has yet to announce whether franchise veteran Julie Andrews, who portrayed Queen Clarisse and appeared in The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement, will return.
