Adele Lim to direct The Princess Diaries 3

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian filmmaker Adele Lim, known for her work on Crazy Rich Asians, is set to direct Disney’s romantic comedy The Princess Diaries 3, featuring Anne Hathaway.

The Straits Times reported yesterday that Lim, who penned the screenplay for Crazy Rich Asians (2018) and directed the Asian-led comedy Joy Ride (2023), will take on the role of director for the upcoming film, while Hathaway, 41, will also serve as a producer through her company, Somewhere Pictures.

Hathaway made her film debut in The Princess Diaries (2001) and reprised her role in the 2004 sequel, playing Mia Thermopolis, a teenager who discovers she is the heir to the fictional European kingdom of Genovia and must learn to navigate her new royal life. British actress Dame Julie Andrews portrayed Mia’s grandmother, the Queen of Genovia.

The films are based on the novel series by American author Meg Cabot. Recently, Hathaway confirmed her involvement in The Princess Diaries 3 through a video shared on her social media, in which she interspersed memorable scenes of herself and Andrews exclaiming “Shut up!” while gesturing the numbers one, two, and three, referencing the previous films and the new sequel.

In her post, she wrote: “Miracles happen. Back to Genovia with Adele Lim, Disney, and Somewhere Pictures. The fairy tale continues.”

Lim expressed her enthusiasm in a statement: “As a diehard fan of the original Princess Diaries, I’m beyond excited to be a part of bringing the third installment of this beloved franchise to life. The Princess Diaries celebrates and shares with global audiences the core tenets of female power, joy, and mentorship.”

Additionally, Hathaway’s popular film from the 2000s, The Devil Wears Prada (2006), is also making a return, with a sequel currently in development. In that film, Hathaway portrayed an assistant to Miranda Priestly (Meryl Streep), the editor-in-chief of the fictional Runway magazine, based on the novel by Lauren Weisberger.