Anne Hathaway Reacts to Julie Andrews’ Absence From Princess Diaries 3

Aug 20, 2026 - 16:09
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Anne Hathaway Reacts to Julie Andrews’ Absence From Princess Diaries 3

Julie Andrews Reveals She Won’t Be in ‘The Princess Diaries 3’

Anne Hathaway knows sometimes you just have to breakaway.

After her Princess Diaries costar Julie Andrews, 90, shared she wouldn't be returning for the film's third installment, Hathaway reflected on the queen of Genovia officially stepping back from the throne.

“First of all, I just want to say if she has a change of heart, we’re down,” Hathaway told Entertainment Tonight in an interview published Aug. 17. “But we also want to be respectful. For goodness sakes, if anybody has contributed to the world of entertainment and to our collective joy, it’s her.”

But that’s not to say the team behind the franchise didn’t try to hold court.

“Whatever she wants, we completely understand,” the Devil Wears Prada star noted. “We did push really hard to see if she would want to do it.”

As for the premise of the third film itself, Hathaway, 43, simply hopes fans won’t be able to shut up once they’ve watched.

“I just want it to be fun,” she explained. “The women who were six when the first one came out a lot of whom are now mothers themselves, maybe even with 6-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.”

“And that means doing it justice and that means taking the time that it takes to really build it right,” she added. “That’s a lot of pressure, but I feel like this is a great team.”

Moviestore/Shutterstock

Hathaway’s insight into the royal production comes after Andrews confirmed she would be passing her crown down as Queen Clarisse.

"I'm not going to be in it," Andrews told Today.com in an interview published Aug. 10. "I think the story is slightly different, and I'm not quite sure how they're dealing with that. But it's too late for me to do it. I think the story has to continue in Princess Mia."

Indeed, the Bridgerton star noted, "It's her story. It's not really mine."

And as for onscreen roles altogether, Andrews is much too busy focusing on the ton.

"I think I'm retired, really, would be about the best description for that," she told InStyle, adding that the film's creative team asked her “all last year” if she “would be keen to do it.”

“It was very, very hard to say 'no,'” she admitted, “but I did."

Keep reading to see what the Princess Diaries cast is up to now...

Ron Batzdorff/Brownhouse Prod/Botnp Inc/Kobal/Shutterstock, Owen Hoffmann/Getty Images for Netflix

Anne Hathaway

The Princess of Genovia is all grown up. Since appearing in the 2001 Disney movie, Anne Hathaway has earned rave reviews (and one Oscar!) for her performances in Les MisérablesThe Devil Wears Prada, The Dark Knight Rises, Ocean's Eight and more films. And, no, she will not shut up about her most famous roles. Before filming 2026's follow-up to The Devil Wears Prada, she hinted at her return for Princess Diaries 3

"Miracles happen," she captioned an October 2024 post. “Back to Genovia with @adeleblim @disney @somewherepictures. The fairy tale continues.”

And speaking of happily ever afters, following her 2012 marriage to jewelry designer Adam Shulman, the pair welcomed sons Jonathan in 2016 and Jack in 2019, then announced Hathaway's third pregnancy in June 2026. 

Ron Batzdorff/Brownhouse Prod/Botnp Inc/Kobal/Shutterstock, Lester Cohen/Getty Images for Universal Music Group

Mandy Moore

While her character—bully Lana Thomas—wasn't exactly beloved by Mia in The Princess Diaries, Mandy Moore has maintained a huge fan base thanks to her singing career and Emmy-nominated role as Rebecca Pearson in NBC's hit series This Is Us.

Other credits include her own Disney princess moment, voicing Rapunzel in 2010's Tangled, a starring role in Peacock's Dr. Death and the 2026 comedy The Breadwinner

She tied the knot musician Ryan Adams in 2008, but the pair divorced in 2016. She wed musician Taylor Goldsmith in 2018, and the two went on to welcome sons August "Gus" Harrison in 2021 and Oscar "Ozzie" Bennett in 2022 and daughter Louise "Lou" Everett in 2024.

Moviestore Collection/Shutterstock, Charles Sykes/Bravo

Julie Andrews

Bow down to Hollywood royalty. Ever since her role as Queen Clarisse Renaldi, Julie Andrews has appeared in family friendly flicks like Tooth Fairy, Ella Enchanted, Despicable Me and the Shrek franchise. 

In addition to her lead roles in The Sound of Music and Mary Poppins the Oscar winner is also a best-selling author thanks to her assortment of children's books in The Very Fairy Princess series. 

And, yes, you've definitely heard from her more recently as she's voiced Bridgerton's one and only Lady Whistledown!

Married to set designer Tony Walton in 1959 (Maggie Smith was a guest at their wedding!), they welcomed daughter Emma in 1962 before divorcing in 1968. She married director Blake Edwards in 1969, becoming a step mom to his children Jennifer and Geoffrey. Together, they had daughters Amelia and Joanna and were married 41 years until his death in 2010. The actress is now a grandmother to nine and great-grandma to four. 

Ron Batzdorff/Brownhouse Prod/Botnp Inc/Kobal/Shutterstock, Joshua Blanchard/Getty Images for IFC Films

Heather Matarazzo

How can fans forget Mia's best friend Lilly, who not only had her own cable access TV show called Shut Up and Listen but also shut down Mia's haters. While Heather Matarazzo's career is still going strong with TV appearances on Grey's Anatomy and Exes & Ohs and roles in films like Hostel: Part II, she has left the city of Hollywood behind for wife Heather Turman's home state. 

"My wife was born and raised in Michigan," the star, who appeared in the second season of Wednesday, shared in an August 2024 TikTok video. "We met in L.A. about eight years ago, and a year and a half ago, we kind of looked at each other and were like, 'Do we wanna be in Los Angeles anymore?'"

Noting their answer was a "big fat no," the actress raved, "I just love it here so much. There's such an abundance of nature, and everyone's just been so incredibly kind."

Walt Disney Pictures, Noam Galai/Getty Images for Tibet House

Sandra Oh

Vice Principal Gupta, the queen is coming! While Sandra Oh's role in the film was brief, fans will never forget her iconic lines that brought laughs to the masses. Outside of the franchise, Oh has been a fan-favorite on Grey's Anatomy and Killing Eve and voices Debbie Grayson on the animated series Invincible. Class dismissed!  

In 2003, the Emmy-winning star married filmmaker Alexander Payne, but the two divorced in late 2006.

Ron Batzdorff/Brownhouse Prod/Botnp Inc/Kobal/Shutterstock, Kris Connor/Getty Images for Utopia

Robert Schwartzman

Fans will remember Robert Schwartzman for his role as Mia's loyal friend Michael Moscovitz both before and after she became a princess. After starring in the Disney film, Schwartzman—who is the younger brother of actor and musician Jason Schwartzman—became a recording artist as the lead vocalist of rock/pop band Rooney and a director with 2016's Dreamland, 2018's The Unicorn and 2023's The Good Half

He's also served as a producer on films like The Last Showgirl, Takin' Care of Business and I Live Here Now. In 2017, Schwartzman married photographer Zoey Grossman. "We met in elementary school, in first grade," he wrote in a 2021 Instagram anniversary tribute. "I took her back there and proposed where we took our yearbook photos. I married my best friend, I couldn’t ask for anything more. It gets better every moment."

She shared in February 2022 that they had welcomed twin sons Lennox and Nino

Walt Disney Pictures, Getty Images

Erik Von Detten

How can we forget Mia's crush Josh Bryant? Days of Our Lives alum Erik Von Detten went on to star in the short-lived sitcom Complete Savages in 2004, reprised his Toy Story role of Sid in all the sequels up to the 2010 film Toy Story 3 and did other voice-over and TV work. Having not been on screen since appearing on a 2008 episode of Bones, he appeared in the 2024 TV movie My Acting Coach Nightmare.

He and his real estate agent wife Angela Von Detten share daughter Claire (born in May 2019) and sons Thomas (March 2021) and Nicholas (December 2022). 

"Since I was a kid, I wanted to have a large family," he explained to E! News in 2021, explaining why he largely abandoned the "fickle" acting industry. "Luckily, simultaneously when things started to slow down in acting in my early 20s, another opportunity presented itself for me with a company that I started working with at age 25. And I've been with that company ever since. It's a sales position with a company working in finance. I've grown into a management position and it's worked out really well."

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