Fact: it has nearly been two decades since we saw Amelia Mignonette Thermopolis Renaldi (aka Mia Thermopolis played by the lovely Anne Hathaway) be crowned as THE queen of Genovia (the land we all call our own, of course). 2004 gifted us with Mia winning the throne via girl power in “The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement” and by now, all the butterflies in our stomach have settled and fans want more. Nearly 20 years of waiting is enough — “Princess Diaries 3” needs to happen.
So where is it? Where’s the third part fans are waiting for? Is there a “Princess Diaries 3” movie release date already?
Is The Princess Diaries 3 Coming Out?
In recent years, there has been news of a third installment in “The Princess Diaries” series but it was in 2019 when it was confirmed (sort-of) that “The Princess Diaries 3” was in the works.
Before his death in 2016, Princess Diaries director Gary Marshall shared his interest in a Princess Diaries 3. In fact, during an interview with Larry King, he said he was working on the third installment of the franchise. He had already spoken with some of the actors involved in the series, he said. Sadly, the film director was unable to bring The Princess Diaries 3 to life since he died at the age of 81. But his conversation with Larry King sparked the potential beginnings of a third Princess Diaries film.
During a January 2019 episode of “Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen,” Anne Hathaway said that there is a script for a “Princess Diaries 3” film. The script for the third movie would follow the original films from 2001 and 2004 — which may include Julie Andrews (Although Queen Clarisse Renaldi herself was surprised with the news).
Hathaway confirmed to Cohen that she wants to do the script. Even their producer, Debra Martin Chase, wants to do it. But according to the mother-of-two, she and the other members of the production team are taking their time because, “It’s as important to us as it is to you, and we don’t want to deliver anything until it’s ready.” But she assured all “Princess Diaries” fans out there that they are “working on it.”
After this news, however, there haven’t been as many “The Princess Diaries 3” movie updates as we hoped. Apart from that, COVID-19 happened so planning for the third film may have been put on pause as production companies try to figure out how to shoot movies during a pandemic. With everything that is going on, it seems as if a third Princess Diaries film seems nearly impossible.
But as “The Princess Diaries” taught us, miracles happen once in a while if you believe. “The Princess Diaries 3” has and will come out because, frankly, there are many things we need to see.
Before The Princess Diaries 3: What Happened in The Princess Diaries 2?
“The Princess Diaries 2: The Royal Engagement” saw Mia preparing for her ascension to the throne of Genovia. However, there is a challenge: by law, Mia can only be the Queen if she marries within the month. To make matters worse, Viscount Mabrey plans to steal the crown from Mia by revealing to the parliament that his nephew Lord Nicholas Devereaux (Chris Pine) is an eligible male heir to the throne.
Mia submits to the ruling and looks through potential husbands with her Lilly Moscovitz. Eventually, Mia chooses Andrew Jacoby, Duke of Kenilworth. It takes the couple a few days of getting to know each other before they get engaged. At the same time, Viscount Mabrey convinces Nicholas to seduce Mia so they can steal the throne.
Initially, Nicholas tries his best, but he and Mia end up developing feelings for one another, which makes the Genovian princess’s situation more complicated. Engaged to Andrew and threatened by the eligibility of Nicholas to the throne, Mia tries not to succumb to her feelings. Instead, she continues to fulfill her royal duties despite Viscount Mabrey’s continuous attempts at sabotage.
One of the most notable moments in the film is the Genovian Independence Day Parade. During the parade, Princess Mia spots an orphan girl being harassed by some boys. The princess halts the parade to help. To help the little girl regain her confidence. Mia asks a vendor to give her and the orphans tiaras so they can walk with her in the parade. Her genuine show of affection impresses everyone, including Nicholas. The latter starts doubting his intention to take over the throne.
Eventually, Nicholas goes against his uncle’s pursuit of the throne and decides to help Mia by leaving. But before he does, he convinces her to sneak out with him to the lake. Unfortunately, Viscount Mabrey heard of the couple’s little excursion and set the press on them. Mia thinks Nicholas sabotaged her but he insists he doesn’t know about it. Later, he finds out that his uncle engineered the televised scandal.
Mia’s fiancée Andrew learns about the scandal and is disappointed. He kisses her to see if they have a romantic spark, only to find out there isn’t. However, they do not call off the wedding for the sake of Genovia.
Before the wedding, Joe, Mia’s bodyguard, reveals to the princess that Nicholas is innocent. With this truth in mind plus the baggage of an arranged marriage, Mia experiences a crisis while walking down the aisle. She stops and runs out of the church. Her grandmother, Queen Clarisse, follows her and encourages her to follow her heart — something she didn’t do.
With her newfound courage, Mia returns to the church to appeal to the parliament to reconsider the law. She points out that her unmarried grandmother ruled Genovia for many years. She also asked them if they would force their female loved ones to marry without love. Initially, members of the parliament hesitated, and Viscount Mabrey took the opportunity to push for Nicholas to be king. However, Nicholas appears at the church and refuses to take the throne.
With Nicholas out of the way, Mia proposes to the parliament to abolish the law on royal marriages, which the parliament assents.
A week later, Mia is preparing for her coronation when Nicholas stops by to express his love for her. The next day, Mia finally becomes the Queen of Genovia, marking a monumental change in the country.
Since then, we haven’t heard much from our favorite Genovian monarch. All we know about her life post-coronation is that Mia’s reign enabled women to participate in the Genovian parliament. But that’s just about it.
See, this is why we need a Princess Diaries 3. The second installment of “The Princess Diaries” left everyone on a good note, but we want to see more.
Why We Need a Princess Diaries 3
There are so many moments from “The Princess Diaries 2” that we want to be elaborated on in “The Princess Diaries 3.” Plus, we have so many questions: did Mia marry Nicholas? How did she reign as Queen of Genovia? We need answers!
Here are more reasons a third installment needs to happen so we can binge on yet another Disney Princess movie:
Who Does Princess Mia Marry?
Photo from DISNEY ENTERPRISES, INC.
Michael from “The Princess Diaries” was Mia Thermopolis’s first love, but Nicholas Devereaux seemed to be the Princess — scratch that — Queen’s endgame. The former rival heir to the throne of Genovia was last seen singing the country’s anthem at Mia’s coronation. Who can forget the way his blue eyes stared at the new Queen of Genovia as she winked at him from the throne? Or how he proposed to her at the throne room? Even if he didn’t have a chicken for Mia’s table, it was made clear that she reciprocated his feelings.
It has been nearly twenty years since that moment and fans are asking: are Mia and Nicholas still together? Did Princess Mia end up marrying the man who was after her throne? Or will The Princess Diaries 3 reveal a plot twist?
The fan base is divided. Some of the fans want Michael to make a comeback and sweep Mia off her feet (as he did in “The Princess Diaries” books). Others want to see the Queen of Genovia married to her ex-enemy to the throne. Frankly, the chemistry Mia and Nicholas had was superior to Mia and Michael’s high school romance so it’s only natural for the third movie to explore what happened to their romance. We’d love to see Mia and Nicholas kiss again by the fountain with the Queen’s foot popping out as it usually does with each kiss.
If you want Nicholas to come back, you’re not alone. Even Chris Pine prays every night for “Princess Diaries 3.” But we wouldn’t be opposed to Michael making an entrance and adding some tension to the third film.
More Makeover Scenes!
Mia’s makeover scenes are humorous and lovely trademarks of both Princess Diaries films. Larry Miller’s Paolo makes us want to have dramatic makeovers of our own (using his photos for the reveal, of course!). The first makeover transformed Mia from an awkward teenager into a beautiful princess while the second one changed her from a beautiful princess into a blushing bride-who-eventually-asserts-her-dominance-as-a-queen.
The third film would be lacking if Paolo and his ladies were not there. Simply put, there should be another makeup scene! Whether it’s putting Mia in a bunch of royal princess bridal gowns or just power dressing for a parliament session, Mia needs another makeover and hopefully, the filmmakers can recreate the magic.
Musical Moments
Both Princess Diaries movies have their share of memorable musical scenes. Who can forget Mandy Moore’s “Stupid Cupid” by the beach or Brigitte and Brigitta’s distract-the-queen scene stealers? The “Princess Diaries 2” also had Julie Andrews sing a duet with Raven during Mia’s bridal shower.
The original cast is a star-studded selection of singers. Anne Hathaway herself is an Academy Award winner for her singing role as Fantine in “Les Miserables.” Julie Andrews is popular for her lovely voice when she portrayed the titular Mary Poppins and Maria from “The Sound of Music.” Plus if Raven Symone or Mandy Moore were to re-join the cast, the third film is set with a powerhouse of singers.
Let Lilly Come Back
Mia is not complete without her feisty best friend, Lilly Moscovitz. Lilly is a force to be reckoned with, making an impact wherever she goes. In “Princess Diaries 1,” she was Mia’s support system as she embraced her reality as Genovia’s heir to the throne. In “Princess Diaries 2,” she supported Mia through fast engagement with Andrew, arguments over the throne with Nicholas and asserting her role as Genovia’s one true ruler. It makes one wonder what role Lilly is taking now since Mia’s coronation, which is why a third movie is essential.
Mia and Lilly’s bond is one for the books. Surely, the Queen of Genovia created a special role for her royal best friend? If not, is Lilly still with one of the royal guards of Genovia? Plus Heather Matarazzo, the actress behind the iconic Lilly, is up for reprising her role. She said so in her July 2020 interview on The Morning Show. Like Hathaway, Matarazzo was aware of the existing script and promises to get the movie done despite the loss of the captain of their ship, Gary Marshall.
Clarisse Loves Joe Pt. 3
Mia’s romances are not the only ones that made the hearts of fans flutter. Her grandmother’s long love for her bodyguard Joe has always been one of the most touching storylines in the films, which was made more prominent in “The Princess Diaries 2: The Royal Engagement.” At the end of the second film, Clarisse proposes to Joe and takes Mia’s position as the bride of the day. After years of waiting, Joe finally marries his queen.
A “Princess Diaries 3” would give fans more insight into the pair’s life after Mia’s coronation. What is life like for the previous queen? How did Joe integrate himself into the royal family? In the last movie, he had given up his head of security role to be with Clarisse. So what are they doing now? We gots to know!
Mia as the Queen
Princess Diaries 1 and 2 focused on Mia’s adventures from being an awkward and shy teenager to ascending the throne as the first unmarried Queen of Genovia. “Princess Diaries 3” is the perfect movie to show how Mia is doing as the new queen. It has been nearly two decades since she was crowned as the Queen so, naturally, much has happened ever since.
How has Mia been ruling Genovia all these years? The second movie showed that she exercised her #GirlPower to prove that a woman can lead without a man by her side. Plus, a post-credits scene showed that women were finally allowed in the parliament. There was an undercurrent of feminism in the “Princess Diaries 2.” Considering how politics has changed since 2004, it’s a wonder how these gender-equality changes will be portrayed in the third film.
Fans want to know how the government has changed since it has allowed more women to take part in it. Does Genovia have more female leaders? It would be interesting to see Queen Mia working with more female leaders in building a better Genovia for the future.
What Are The Chances of “The Princess Diaries 3” Being Released?
As much as we want a “Princess Diaries 3” announcement, there are many factors in consideration. As mentioned above, COVID-19 is one of the primary barriers preventing this beloved Disney franchise from returning to the big screen. But there is also a slight chance that “Princess Diaries 3” may see the light of day. Consider these hints that the movie will happen (and other hints that imply it won’t).
Won’t — It Has Been a Long While Since “Princess Diaries 2”
It has been 17 years since the release of “The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement.” In the land of modern reboots, that’s a long time for a remake. The three-year gap between the first two Princess Diaries movies made sense but it still felt like an eternity for the fans, many of whom were kids growing up.
Should there be a “Princess Diaries 3” film now, Queen Mia would be older than she was on her coronation (but she’ll still be gorgeous!). Fans who grew up with the movie would love to welcome a Princess Diaries 3 entry but younger moviegoers may not be interested in this film at this time.
Will — The Cast Is In Love with “The Princess Diaries” Series
Despite their busy schedules, most of the cast members enjoyed their time filming the movies and most of them agree the experience will stay with them. The majority of the cast have also expressed their want to reprise their original roles.
Won’t — The Target Audience is Different
During the height of the “Princess Diaries” and its fame, the film appealed more to children and families, especially to young girls who wanted to be princesses like Mia. Those fans may have grown up today but they will still watch the movie. But will The Princess Diaries 3 appeal to a new target audience? While it’s funny to imagine Mia with her royal children, we wonder if the story will center on her or the kids?
Will — The Trilogy is Unstoppable
Should a Princess Diaries 3 movie be released, there’s no denying that it would make the entire franchise an unstoppable Disney trilogy. Finally, fans don’t have to guess what happened to Mia and her family. They would learn much about her life as a Queen and if Genovia is still in love with pears. The third installment of the Princess Diaries series would give fans the closure they deserve.
Won’t — The Storyline is Unclear
Despite having a script, no one knows what “Princess Diaries 3’s” story will be. Without Gary Marshall to guide the plot, where would the third movie go? It could be another film set in Genovia but what about Manhattan?
Will — Endless Possibilities with Disney+
Disney+ is the current home of “The Princess Diaries” and “The Princess Diaries 2.” With the existence of Disney+, it’s not impossible that releasing a “The Princess Diaries 3” would result in a box office success. Everyone would have all three films in one place!
When is “Princess Diaries 3” coming out? We don’t know. But one thing is for sure: it needs to come out! It will make the world a better place, plus offer yet another form of self-care (aka binge-watching all three movies).
There are so many questions that need to be answered and only “Princess Diaries 3” can give fans satisfaction. How about you? What are you looking forward to the third installment of the Princess Diaries?
