Julie Andrews Confirms She Won’t Return for 'The Princess Diaries 3'

In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Julie Andrews confirmed that she will not be part of The Princess Diaries 3. At 90 years old, the actress explained that she is in a different phase of her career, focused on writing books, recording podcasts, and doing voice work, and that she no longer feels comfortable acting in front of the cameras.

“I think the absolute truth is that I think I’m really past all that now. "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." The actress emphasized that it is not a lack of enthusiasm, but a personal choice. "It isn’t that I’m not enthusiastic for it. It’s just that I really don’t feel I should be part of it now."

The third film in the franchise, which will bring Anne Hathaway back as Mia Thermopolis, was announced in 2024 and will be directed by Adele Lim. Debra Martin Chase, producer of the original, is returning as producer. The author of the books, Meg Cabot, read the script and approved it: "I read a script, and it was amazing. I told them not to send anymore, because I love it so much."

Hathaway, who is pregnant with her third child, confirmed that the project is on hold. "I’m busy making baby No. 3 and that has sort of taken the place of knowing exactly when I can make Princess Diaries 3," the actress said in an interview with SiriusXM. " I think we are moving in the right direction. The script that we were working on — we kind of had to start over with this new direction, which is not the update I think anybody wants, but we all feel really good that this is gonna be the one."