Yes, you read that correctly. 14 years after the release of the original, Princess Diaries 3 could be coming our way.
According to reports, Disney is working on a Princess Diaries 3 film that they intend will “launch a reboot of the franchise.”
Of course, it could all be rumors. However the recent release of two brand new Princess Diaries books from author Meg Cabot do have us hoping that there is some merit to these reports. After all, we now have two brand new stories for Disney to work it. And those aren’t the only ways Princess Diaries 3 could play out.
Option 1: A strict ‘Princess Diaries’ sequel
This would be the easiest option for Disney. The Princess Diaries movies have already deviated from the books, so why not just go with it. In a new sequel, we could see Anne Hathaway reprise her role as Princess Mia, and Chris Pine take a break from going where no man has gone before to return as Lord Nicholas Devereaux.
In this option, we would see a continuation of the events of The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement. As Mia has now been crowned the Queen of Genovia, Princess Diaries 3 could show us Princess Queen Mia as she attempted to navigate the new phase of her life. And what would Clarisse Renaldi be up to, now that she’s out of a job?
Option 2: A ‘Royal Wedding’ rewrite
Released in June, Royal Wedding is the brand new adult instalment of the Princess Diaries books. It follows Mia as she becomes engaged to her high school boyfriend Michael (yes, in the books they are still together) and her attempts to plan their wedding while family drama ensues (see option 3 for a hint of that drama).
To adapt this book for screen, Princess Diaries 3 could show Mia reconnecting with Michael (played in the first film by Robert Schwartzman) and the pair navigating their relationship in the public eye. It would be a nice way for the movie plot to return to the books, especially as Princess Diaries 2 was such a departure.
Option 3: A ‘Middle School Princess’ introduction
This option is difficult because unlike in the movies, in Meg Cabot’s book series Mia’s father is very much alive. So alive in fact that he has fathered another secret daughter, an adorable 12-year-old named Olivia. Olivia is introduced to readers in From the Notebooks of a Middle School Princess, which was published in May of this year.
Of course, with Mia’s father already dead in the films, it does make it difficult for her to suddenly have a much younger sister. Maybe Olivia could be a cousin, or an adopted sister; there is always a way to introduce her. This option is our pick, because it would include Hathaway in one more Princess Diaries film, while leaving open the option to extend the franchise even without Hathaway’s continued involvement.
Option 4: A ‘Princess Diaries’ reboot
This is the option we don’t want. If Disney can’t get Hathaway back to reprise her role, there is a chance that they would simply reboot the entire franchise a la Spider-Man. In this scenario, we would get to see a brand new Mia become a princess, but one who had grown up in the 2000s, rather than in the 1990s. We might even get the films set in New York City like the books are, rather than San Francisco.
But while seeing Mia deal with paparazzi in the age of camera phones could be a fun twist, let’s be real, we all want to see the Anne Hathaway and Julie Andrews dream team. This is a worst case scenario. Disney might be obsessed with reboots, but please don’t let The Princess Diaries be their next victim.
