Anne Hathaway has revealed that she made a serious effort to convince Julie Andrews to reprise her iconic role as Queen Clarisse Renaldi in The Princess Diaries 3. However, Andrews has previously said she does not believe she should be part of the upcoming sequel, making her potential return increasingly unlikely.
Speaking with Entertainment Tonight after receiving her Disney Legends honor at D23, Hathaway responded to Andrews’ comments and emphasized that the production would still welcome her if she changed her mind.
“We did push really hard to see if she would want to do it.”
Hathaway added that Andrews’ decision would ultimately be respected, particularly given her enormous contribution to entertainment. The comments offer a clearer picture of just how much the Princess Diaries 3 team wanted the original Queen of Genovia back.
Julie Andrews Has Explained Why She May Not Return
Andrews previously addressed the possibility of returning during an interview with The Hollywood Reporter source. The Oscar-winning actress explained that she feels she has moved beyond acting roles like Queen Clarisse.
“I think the absolute truth is that I think I’m really past all that now.”
Andrews clarified that she has not completely retired, pointing to her continuing work in books, podcasts, recording and voiceovers. However, she added that she does not think she should be part of the third Princess Diaries movie.
Her absence would be significant for fans, considering Andrews played Queen Clarisse in both previous installments and became one of the defining elements of the franchise alongside Hathaway’s Mia Thermopolis.
While Hathaway would clearly welcome Andrews back, she also wants the upcoming movie to work for longtime fans who grew up with the original films. She explained to Entertainment Tonight that she hopes audiences who watched the first movie as children can eventually experience the sequel with their own families.
Hathaway said she wants those longtime fans to feel that they are bringing their children to something that “mattered to them” and was part of their childhood.
That expectation has added pressure to the project, but Hathaway expressed confidence in the creative team and stressed that making the sequel properly matters more than rushing it.
The original The Princess Diaries premiered in 2001, introducing Hathaway’s Mia as an ordinary teenager who discovers that she is heir to the throne of Genovia. The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement followed in 2004, with Mia ultimately becoming queen after Genovia’s succession laws were changed.
Princess Diaries 3 is being directed by Adele Lim, with Flora Greeson writing the current screenplay. An earlier draft was written by Aadrita Mukerji before the project underwent a creative change.
With Hathaway returning as Mia and Andrews seemingly stepping away from Queen Clarisse, the third movie will have to continue the beloved story while finding its own way forward.
