- The long-awaited third installment of The Princess Diaries is moving forward over 20 years after the franchise’s last film, with Anne Hathaway reprising her role as Princess Mia.
- Julie Andrews confirmed she won’t appear in the upcoming movie, prioritizing different work, like podcasts and voiceovers, over on-camera roles.
- Anne Hathaway reacted to Julie’s decision at the D23 convention in Anaheim, California. Here’s what she had to say about her on-screen grandmother.
The Princess Diaries 3 is finally happening more than 20 years after the last movie came out, though it might look a little different without Queen Clarisse Renaldi in the picture. It’s safe to say fans were devastated after Julie Andrews confirmed she won’t be returning for the next movie, but Princess Mia Thermopolis—I mean, Anne Hathaway—is standing ten toes down when it comes to her on-screen grandmother.
During an appearance at the D23 conference in Anaheim, California, last weekend, Anne reacted to Julie’s decision, which she fully respects.
“First of all, I just want to say if she has a change of heart, we’re down,” Anne told Entertainment Tonight at the convention. “But we also want to be respectful. For goodness sakes, if anybody has contributed to the world of entertainment and to our collective joy, it’s her. Whatever she wants, we completely understand. We did push really hard to see if she would want to do it.”
As the third movie gears up for production, Anne got candid about what she wants out of the experience.
“I just want it to be fun,” she said. “The women who were six when the first one came out—a lot of whom are now mothers themselves, maybe even with six-year-olds—I want them to feel like they’re bringing their children to something that mattered to them.”
Julie, who turned 90 last October, opened up about why she won’t return to the fan-favorite film franchise during an interview with The Hollywood Reporter published on August 11.
“I think the absolute truth is that I think I’m really past all that now,” she said at the time. “I’m not completely retired, but it’s a different kind of work that I do these days—[writing] books, and I do a lot of recording of podcasts and voiceovers. But truly, I don’t think I should be a part of it.”
She clarified that while it’s “still lovely to be working on things,” she mainly stays off camera for gigs like Bridgerton.
“It isn’t that I’m not enthusiastic for it,” she shared. “It’s just that I really don’t feel I should be part of it now.”
Whether she returns to the kingdom of Genovia or not, Julie’s legacy will always be iconic, and she will be dearly missed from the movie! Here’s to hoping she has a change of heart…
