Julie Andrews has confirmed she will not reprise her role as Queen Clarisse Renaldi in the upcoming third installment of The Princess Diaries. After years of speculation about a possible royal reunion, the 90-year-old actor said she believes the franchise now belongs to Anne Hathaway’s Mia Thermopolis.
“I’m not going to be in it,” Andrews told Today.com. “I think the story is slightly different, and I’m not quite sure how they’re dealing with that. But it’s too late for me to do it.”
Andrews added that the sequel should remain focused on Mia as she continues her journey as the ruler of Genovia.
“It’s her story,” she said. “It’s not really mine.”
In a separate interview with InStyle, Andrews revealed that the team behind the sequel spent much of the past year trying to convince her to return. Although turning down the invitation was difficult, she ultimately felt it was time to let the next generation take the throne.
“I think I’m retired, really, would be about the best description for that,” Andrews said. “It was very, very hard to say ‘no,’ but I did because I thought I had a wonderful ride, and this one I felt would flourish very well and wouldn’t need Granny going in there at my age.”
Andrews first played Queen Clarisse in 2001’s The Princess Diaries, guiding Mia through royal makeovers, diplomatic dinners and more than a few Genovian disasters. She returned for the 2004 sequel, The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement, which ended with Clarisse stepping aside as Mia became queen.
While Andrews will not be returning to Genovia, Hathaway remains attached to reprise the role that made her a star. The actor recently revealed that development on the third film is continuing after the creative team scrapped an earlier version of the script.
“We had a story breakthrough,” Hathaway said during an appearance on SiriusXM’s “Radio Andy.” “I think that we’re moving in the right direction.”
Hathaway explained that the team had to start over with a new approach but said everyone involved feels confident about the latest direction.
Adele Lim, whose credits include Joy Ride and Crazy Rich Asians, is set to direct the sequel. Disney has not announced when production will begin or when the film will be released.
Although it will be difficult to imagine Genovia without Clarisse, Andrews is giving Mia her blessing to rule on her own. After all, a queen is never late. She simply knows when it is time to make a graceful exit.
