Anne Hathaway Reveals She 'Pushed Hard' for Julie Andrews to Reprise Role as Queen Clarisse Renaldi in Princess Diaries 3

Anne Hathaway is revealing that she “did push really hard” trying to get Julie Andrews to reprise her role as Queen Clarisse Renaldi in the upcoming third Princess Diaries installment.

During a recent interview with Entertainment Tonight after receiving her Disney Legends Honor at the D23 Expo, the Oscar winner reacted to Andrews saying she doesn’t “think I should be a part of” Princess Diaries 3.

“First of all, I just want to say if she has a change of heart, we’re down,” Hathaway said. “Just anything, really. We aim to strike a balance between acknowledging our past actions and showing consideration for those affected. For goodness' sake, she is undoubtedly one of the most significant contributors to the world of entertainment and a source of collective joy. Whatever she wants, we completely understand.”

However, The Odyssey actress added, “We did push really hard to see if she would want to do it.”

During an interview with The Hollywood Reporter earlier this month, Andrews explained why she doesn’t see herself stepping into Queen Clarisse Renaldi’s shoes again. “I think the absolute truth is that I think I’m really past all that now,” The Sound of Music star confessed. I'm still active in my career, but now I focus on writing books and doing voiceover work for podcasts. But truly, I don’t think I should be a part of it.”

While details surrounding Princess Diaries 3 are being kept under wraps, the movie is set to be a continuation of the film series, which centers on Mia Thermopolis (Hathaway), who finds out that she is the heir apparent to the throne of Genovia. At the conclusion of The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement, Mia becomes the sole ruler of Genovia following the abolition of the law mandating a monarch's marriage before ascending to the throne. However, she also finally gets together with Nicholas Devereaux (Chris Pine) after calling off her wedding to Andrew Jaco

Hathaway also told ET that she just wants the third installment “to be fun” for those who have been fans since the original film released in 2001.

“I want 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, a core memory for them, something that was a part of their heart and their lives,” she said. This sentence is a bit vague. Could you provide more context about what needs to be done "justice"? This will require a thorough investment of time and effort to construct something truly solid. That’s a lot of pressure, but I feel like this is a great team.”

Adele Lim has been tapped to direct the feature, with Flora Greeson writing the script. Aadrita Mukerji had written an earlier draft of the screenplay before the production team pivoted in a different direction.

The news comes as fans and critics alike are eagerly awaiting the return of the beloved princess franchise. With Andrews' involvement, there is a renewed sense of excitement and anticipation surrounding the film's release. Hathaway has been vocal about her desire to do justice to the original films and bring back the magic that made the Princess Diaries series so endearing to audiences worldwide.

When asked about the possibility of reuniting with Andrews, Hathaway expressed her admiration for the legendary actress, stating, “We did push really hard to see if she would want to do it. And I think we would all be thrilled if she were to change her mind and come on board.”

Andrews' decision not to reprise her role as Queen Clarisse Renaldi has sparked a lively debate among fans, with some expressing disappointment and others applauding the actress's decision to prioritize her own projects. Hathaway acknowledged the mixed reaction, saying, “We also want to be respectful. For goodness' sake, she is undoubtedly one of the most significant contributors to the world of entertainment and a source of collective joy. Whatever she wants, we completely understand.”

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The production team is reportedly committed to creating a film that honors the spirit of the original Princess Diaries series while also introducing new elements to keep the story fresh and exciting for modern audiences.

With the announcement of Adele Lim as director and Flora Greeson writing the script, fans are eagerly anticipating the opportunity to see Hathaway reprise her role as Mia Thermopolis in a new installment. While details surrounding the film's plot remain under wraps, one thing is certain: the next chapter in the Princess Diaries saga promises to be an unforgettable adventure for fans of all ages.

As the wait for Princess Diaries 3 continues, Hathaway has remained committed to her promise of doing justice to the original films. With a talented team behind her and a devoted fan base cheering her on, it's clear that this beloved franchise is far from over. In fact, with Andrews' involvement, there's a renewed sense of excitement and anticipation surrounding the film's release.

For Hathaway, the opportunity to revisit the world of Princess Diaries is a dream come true. “I want 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, a core memory for them, something that was a part of their heart and their lives,” she said. This sentence is a bit vague. Could you provide more context about what needs to be done "justice"? This will require a thorough investment of time and effort to construct something truly solid.”

The film's production team is working tirelessly to bring this vision to life, with a focus on creating a story that will delight both old and new fans of the franchise. With Hathaway at the helm and Andrews' involvement, there's no doubt that Princess Diaries 3 will be an unforgettable adventure for audiences worldwide.

As the release date for Princess Diaries 3 approaches, fans are eagerly anticipating the opportunity to see Mia Thermopolis return to the big screen. With a talented team behind her and a devoted fan base cheering her on, it's clear that this beloved franchise is far from over. In fact, with Andrews' involvement, there's a renewed sense of excitement and anticipation surrounding the film's release.

For Hathaway, the opportunity to revisit the world of Princess Diaries is a dream come true. “I want 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, a core memory for them, something that was a part of their heart and their lives,” she said. This sentence is a bit vague. Could you provide more context about what needs to be done "justice"? This will require a thorough investment of time and effort to construct something truly solid.”

The film's production team is working tirelessly to bring this vision to life, with a focus on creating a story that will delight both old and new fans of the franchise. With Hathaway at the helm and Andrews' involvement, there's no doubt that Princess Diaries 3 will be an unforgettable adventure for audiences worldwide.

As the release date for Princess Diaries 3 approaches, fans are eagerly anticipating the opportunity to see Mia Thermopolis return to the big screen. With a talented team behind her and a devoted fan base cheering her on, it's clear that this beloved franchise is far from over. In fact, with Andrews' involvement, there's a renewed sense of excitement and anticipation surrounding the film's release.

For Hathaway, the opportunity to revisit the world of Princess Diaries is a dream come true. “I want 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, a core memory for them, something that was a part of their heart and their lives,” she said. This sentence is a bit vague. Could you provide more context about what needs to be done "justice"? This will require a thorough investment of time and effort to construct something truly solid.”

The film's production team is working tirelessly to bring this vision to life, with a focus on creating a story that will delight both old and new fans of the franchise. With Hathaway at the helm and Andrews' involvement, there's no doubt that Princess Diaries 3 will be an unforgettable adventure for audiences worldwide.

As the release date for Princess Diaries 3 approaches, fans are eagerly anticipating the opportunity to see Mia Thermopolis return to the big screen. With a talented team behind her and a devoted fan base cheering her on, it's clear that this beloved franchise is far from over. In fact, with Andrews' involvement, there's a renewed sense of excitement and anticipation surrounding the film's release.