New Delhi: American novelist Meg Cabot has reignited a fresh debate around film, The Princess Diaries 3 after her comments at BookCon NYC 2026 suggested the long-awaited sequel may be further along — and more cast-complete — than publicly confirmed.
Speaking at a panel, Cabot said that actor Chris Pine, who plays Lord Nicholas Devereaux, will also be returning to the fictional world of Genovia.
“Chris Pine is back, even though he says he’s not,” Cabot says.
She further confirmed that she has read the script: “There is a part for everybody.”
She adds that filming has not yet begun because Anne Hathaway, who plays Mia Thermopolis, is busy “making a million movies right now.”
Cabot’s remarks have fuelled speculation, but the official details remain limited.
Also Read: 5 iconic moments from The Devil Wears Prada 2 promotions
What we know so far
While conjecture about the cast continues, fans can be sure that film is definitely in the works. Screenwriter-producer Adele Lim, who co-wrote Crazy Rich Asians (2018) and directed Joy Ride (2023), is set to direct, with Hathaway returning as queen of the fictional kingdom. Hathaway is also reportedly a producer on the film. A script by Flora Greeson has been completed, and producer Debra Martin Chase is also returning.
The third instalment was first confirmed in 2024, with Hathaway sharing her return, “Miracles happen. Back to Genovia.”
The Princess Diaries books were first published in the early 2000s, with 12 core novels, four novellas, and four companion novels. The series follows normal American teen turned royal Mia Thermopolis through her diary entries. The first film featuring Hathaway, Julie Andrews as Queen Clarisse Renaldi, and Héctor Elizondo as Joe was released in 2001. With the cast returning for The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement (2004). Both films were directed by Garry Marshall.
However, it is still unclear if Pine will be witnessing the miracle as well. In a 2024 interview, Pine, who plays Thermopolis’s love interest, said that he did not know if he would be returning for the sequel. Pine’s response to his role in the Princess Diaries universe was simple: “Call Disney! Call Bob Iger!”
In a recent interview, Hathaway said the project is “not yet greenlit,” adding that the team is still “working on it” and wants it to be “perfect” before moving ahead with production. She also said that the timeline has been affected by scheduling, including that of her own other projects.
Beyond Hathaway, no returning cast members have been officially confirmed. Andrews has expressed both openness and hesitation. In interviews, she has said she would be “very happy” to return, but added that she does not expect it to happen and would not want to “milk and milk and milk the subject… till it’s dead.”
Heather Matarazzo, who played Lilly, has also previously said she would return “in a heartbeat” if asked. Caroline Goodall, who played Mia’s mother Helen, has not publicly commented on the third film. Robert Schwartzman, who played Michael Moscovitz in the first movie, has said he has had early conversations about returning, while Mandy Moore, who played Lana Thomas, has said she would be open to returning, and on a recent podcast even suggested a redemption arc for the character, imagining Lana ‘running an animal shelter’ years later.
For now, The Princess Diaries 3 has a director, a script, and its lead actor attached, but no confirmed production timeline or cast beyond Hathaway.
(Edited by Insha Jalil Waziri)