Julie Andrews has confirmed that she will not reprise her role as Queen Clarisse Renaldi in The Princess Diaries 3 alongside Anne Hathaway, states The Hollywood Reporter.
In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter about her new children’s book Shy, which she co-wrote with her daughter Emma Walton Hamilton, Andrews explained that she feels she has moved beyond on-camera acting.
“I think the absolute truth is that I’m really past all that now,” Andrews said.
“I’m not completely retired, but it’s a different kind of work that I do these days — books, and I do a lot of recording of podcasts and voiceovers. But truly, I don’t think I should be a part of it.”
The 90-year-old actor added that she remains enthusiastic about working, but prefers projects that do not necessarily require her to appear on camera.
“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,” she said.
While Andrews will not return, she remains curious about where the story will go.
Reflecting on The Princess Diaries 3, she noted that Anne Hathaway’s character, Mia Thermopolis, has also grown older since the second film.
“I think it proceeds from the second Princess Diaries. It moves on, but by now Annie too is a little older than she was when she did it. I’m interested to see what Meg [Cabot] and Annie and everybody comes up with,” Andrews said.
The original The Princess Diaries recently marked its 25th anniversary.
Andrews recalled her experience making the film with director Garry Marshall fondly, describing him as “the sweetest director you could imagine”.
A third Princess Diaries film was officially announced in 2024, with Hathaway set to reprise her role as Mia Thermopolis, now the Queen of Genovia.
Adele Lim, known for Crazy Rich Asians and Joy Ride, is directing the film. Debra Martin Chase, who produced the original movie, is returning as producer, alongside Naia Cucukov and Melissa Stack as executive producers.
Hathaway previously celebrated the announcement on Instagram with the message, “The fairy tale continues.”
Author Meg Cabot, whose books inspired the films, has also expressed enthusiasm for the new instalment.
She revealed that she had read a recent version of the script and called it her favourite so far.
However, the project has hit a temporary pause. Hathaway recently revealed that her pregnancy with her third child has affected the production schedule.
“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,” she said.
The actor added that the filmmakers had experienced a breakthrough with the story but had to restart work on the script following a new creative direction.
