[REVISION HISTORY]

Disney casting backlash and film updates

Updated 7 times since CLSTR started tracking revisions of this situation.

What changed

2026-08-18 05:46 UTC → 2026-08-19 03:24 UTC · added ~~removed~~

Late June 2026 Disney announced simultaneous developments. Meg Cabot praised the *Princess Diaries 3* script and confirmed European filming; Anne Hathaway confirmed she will reprise Queen Mia Thermopolis and Adele Lim was tapped to direct. Singer Chloe Bailey described the racist online backlash her sister Halle faced after being cast as Ariel in the live-action *Little Mermaid*, citing Beyoncé’s advice to ignore hateful comments. July 1, Bailey discussed a personal incident on the *Call Her Daddy* podcast, highlighting the sisters’ support for each other. July 18-19 reports revealed a full creative reset for *Princess Diaries 3*. Hathaway said the original screenplay was discarded after a “story breakthrough,” requiring writers to start anew. She also announced she is pregnant with her third child, creating uncertainty about filming dates; no release schedule has been set. Disney retained director Adele Lim and writer Flora Greeson. In a July 19 SiriusXM interview, Hathaway reiterated the script rewrite and emphasized that the team feels confident about the new direction despite the delay. She added that her pregnancy and a packed schedule—including work on *The Devil Wears Prada 2* and *The Odyssey*—push production further back. On August 11, Julie Andrews confirmed she will not return for the third installment, stating she feels it is time for the story to focus on the character of Mia. During the D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event in Anaheim on August 15, Anne Hathaway was inducted into the Disney Legends Hall of Fame. At the event, she ~~reaffirmed~~ expressed gratitude, stating, “I am here today because I’m one of the most insanely lucky people in the world.” Hathaway also addressed Julie Andrews’ absence from the film, noting that *The Princess Diaries 3* is moving forward despite the ~~slower pace caused by script revisions and her pregnancy.~~ production team “did push really hard to see if she would want to do it,” but they remain respectful of Andrews’ decision.

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