Almost 25 years on we are finally getting somewhere, The Princess Diaries 3 is in production, but things have changed since the time that this news was first announced and the much-anticipated reunion of the cast will never be the same. Anne Hathaway will take on the role of Mia Thermopolis again Yet Julie Andrews has now confirmed that she will not be reprising her role as Queen Clarisse Renaldi. This news represents a significant loss for Disney’s established and beloved royal comedy series.

Andrews played Queen Clarisse in 2001’s The Princess Diaries as well as 2004’s The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement, forming an integral part of the series with Hathaway’s Mia. Her absence from the franchise will mean the third film will have to sustain its story of Genovia without its most iconic character.

Andrews, now 90, recently revealed that she is retired from live-action filmmaking. The new story has “more, much more of [Mia] in it, “and by the time they had recommenced the project, it had “been a long time.”While some of the fans wanted the two actresses to work together again, Andrews decided to retire. Hathaway has still been quick to warmly respond to Andrews’ decision, commenting on how significant her fellow erstwhile ensemble member has been to her throughout her career.

I am determined to yet bring Mia back to the big screen. The third film has already been in development for a long time. The project was announced by Disney many years ago; this went alongside Adele Lim, who directed Crazy Rich Asians and Joy Ride.

Lim has stated that they are keen to get it right because the story means a great deal to the fans of the original movies who have been waiting for this new installment, so it will also be interesting to see how the upcoming story will cater to the maturing characters as well as their adult fans. Hathaway not long ago unveiled a positive new development, describing the film to be ‘in the midst of a story breakthrough’ and on course.

Hathaway stated that the writing team had gotten a fresh start on the script but acknowledged that the cast and crew felt more optimistic about the current draft of the screenplay.

The film’s not yet in production so there is no reason to anticipate a release in theaters anytime soon. But the greatest question of all has to be the other actors. Hathaway has signed on to do the movie, but perhaps some of the other familiar actors that we loved from the second movie will be coming back.

For example, Hollywood Reporter is reporting that Chris Pine (Lord Nicholas Devereaux) is possibly returning to the cast of the third movie, and many other original cast members. Can I mention that Meg Cabot said that she has heard that it is written into the script that many of the original characters will have a role, but that’s hardly hand in hand with an official casting announcement! She is now an adult woman who has spent years running Genovia, so the new film can now deal with love power family and the strain of leadership in a much more serious (and that means human) way.