Mia (Anne Hathaway) looking into Nicholas' (Chris Pine) eyes in The Princess Diaries 2.

It was recently revealed that Princess Diaries 3 will have a different director from the original two movies, and their connection to another outstanding comedy movie makes this upcoming sequel even more exciting. In 2001, Anne Hathaway and Julie Andrews starred in The Princess Diaries, a coming-of-age movie that followed nerdy teenager Mia Thermopolis who discovers that she is next in line to inherit the throne of a small European country called Genovia. Released three years later, The Princess Diaries 2 follows Mia on her quest to find a husband so she can become queen.

It has been many years since The Princess Diaries’ success, but the franchise is returning with Princess Diaries 3. It is unclear what the new movie will be about, but The Princess Diaries 2 ends with Mia taking on the throne of Genovia as her grandmother steps down to pursue her own romance. It is possible that the sequel will pull from one of Meg Cabot’s various sequels to the book series, which continued far past the movies. Most importantly though, Princess Diaries 3 will see the return of Anne Hathaway, and will introduce a Princess Diaries newcomer, Adele Lim, behind the camera.

Joy Ride’s Adele Lim Is A Great Choice To Direct Princess Diaries 3

What Has Adele Lim Previously Worked On

The Cast of Joy Ride

It is official that Adele Lim will be stepping in to direct Princess Diaries 3, replacing the late Garry Marshall. Lim is a screenwriter and director who is best known for her directorial debut, 2023’s, Joy Ride. The comedy follows a woman whose business trip to Asia goes awry, leading her to embark on a strange and wacky trip with her three friends. Despite its low box office performance, the movie earned an impressive 90% on Rotten Tomatoes. Lim is also the screenwriter of Raya and the Last Dragon and Crazy Rich Asians.

Ultimately, Lim is a fantastic choice to direct Princess Diaries 3. She has proven through her screenwriting and producing roles that she is well-equipped to handle big projects. Plus, the success of both Crazy Rich Asians and Joy Ride shows that she is a great storyteller who is a critical darling. Based on her previous work, Lim is a funny and heartfelt writer that can almost certainly recreate the sweet and comedic energy of the Princess Diaries franchise.

Adele Lim’s Hiring Finally Puts A Woman In Charge Of Princess Diaries

Why Princess Diaries Needs A Female Director

Anne Hathaway smiling with crown as Mia in Princess Diaries 2

Another amazing aspect of Lim directing Princess Diaries 3 is that she will be the first woman to lead the franchise. Both Princess Diaries and Princess Diaries 2 were directed by Garry Marshall, and though he did a great job, it is exciting for Mia’s story moving forward to be told from a female perspective. The core themes of Princess Diaries are female empowerment and loving female relationships. In this way, Lim can bring her own experiences as a woman into the new movies, making the project feel even more authentic.

At this point, Princess Diaries 3 has a strong foundation. With Adele Lim and Anne Hathaway as part of the cast and crew, the movie will have a fresh perspective mixed with the original actress that audiences fell in love with in the first place. Hopefully, this sequel can live up to expectations and honor the beloved movies that came before it. Furthermore, Princess Diaries 3 is Adele Lim’s chance to prove that she has what it takes to be a notable director.