“I have more people probably come up to me about that than anything I’ve ever done,” Pine said of his work in the franchise before addressing whether he’d star alongside Anne Hathaway in the third installment.
Chris Pine is reacting to the news that another Princess Diaries film is underway.
While appearing on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon on Tuesday, Pine addressed the big announcement that Anne Hathaway will return to star in a Princess Diaries 3. Pine starred alongside Hathaway in The Princess Diaries 2: The Royal Engagement which marked his film debut at the time.
In the film, Pine portrayed Nicholas Devereaux, who fell in love with Hathaway’s Mia Thermopolis. They professed their love to each other at the end of the 2004 sequel.
“It’s been 20 years. It’s been a long time. Can’t believe it’s been that long. But I have more people probably come up to me about that than anything I’ve ever done. And I’m very happy. It was an incredible experience,” Pine told Fallon.
Despite the excitement, Pine admitted that he has no details to share about the film. “The first time I heard about it was on the internet when someone sent me a screenshot,” he said.
However he did quip about Hathaway’s announcement in which she could be seen seemingly lounging outside as she shared the news. “She was lounging in a some sort of very nice garden with her glasses on,” Pine said of the actress’s Instagram post in which she teased, “The fairy tale continues.”
When looking back at the role, Pine joked that he couldn’t get over how his hair looked, “It’s just huge hair,” he said as Fallon showed a photo of him from the film.
While also appearing on Today with Hoda & Jenna, Pine continued to address the speculation that he would star in the third installment. “I don’t know anything,” he said.
“Call Disney. Call [Disney CEO] Bob Iger,” he joked. “The answer is I gotta see. I don’t know anything about it. I think it’s fantastic.”
News of the third film comes amid the 20th anniversary of The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement, which followed the success of the original The Princess Diaries.
Adele Lim, a scribe who has worked on Crazy Rich Asians and Joy Ride, is set to direct the third feature. Garry Marshall, who directed the original, which adapted the book by Meg Cabot, died in 2016.
Debra Martin Chase, one of the producers of the original, will return to produce the third film. Naia Cucukov, who is Lim’s producing partner, is an executive producer, as is Melissa Stack. Flora Greeson wrote the latest script.
The Princess Diaries follows teen Mia Thermopolis, who discovers she is heir to the throne of a European nation named Genovia. Her royal grandmother (Julie Andrews) then works on preparing Mia to be ready for her royal title. Mandy Moore, Heather Matarazzo and Hector Elizondo also starred in the film.
“As a diehard fan of the original Princess Diaries, I’m beyond excited to be a part of bringing the third iteration of this beloved franchise to life,” Lim said in a statement. “We look forward to celebrating its core tenants of female power, joy and mentorship with audiences worldwide.”
