Anne Hathaway thrilled by fan reaction to ‘Princess Diaries 3’ news

‘Princess Diaries 3′ is happening and actress Anne Hathaway reveals that she loves the anticipation and excitement from the fans.

Hathaway, who played Mia Thermopolis in both the 2001 film ‘Princess Diaries’ and the 2004 sequel ‘The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement,’ is ready to reprise her iconic role and head back to the land of Genovia in the upcoming third film.

When asked about what is to come for the beloved franchise during an interview with PEOPLE and the Sundance Film Festival, Hathaway explained her excitement as well as the fans’ “thrilling level of excitement” to the news.

“We feel the exact same, and I know it’s probably very frustrating,” Hathaway said. “It’s a process that requires patience, and so everybody should consider themselves a part of the movie business now, because this is how long it actually takes to make things.”

Back in 2019, when Hathaway looked back at the history of the film with PEOPLE she said it was an “electric” feeling to receive the original script.

“Getting the script, it just had that feeling...I touched it, and it was electric. Getting to make it and be on set every day, I got to hug Julie Andrews every day, that part was also very, very, very magical,” Hathaway said.

“Then it came out and it was received. That part even, by the way, was magical.”

What will ‘Princess Diaries 3′ be about?

Although there is no official word as to what the third film will be about, director Garry Marshall told PEOPLE back in 2016 what ideas were floating around.

“It looks like we want to do ‘Princess Diaries 3′ in Manhattan. Anne Hathaway is very pregnant, so we have to wait until she has the baby and then I think we’re going to do it,” Marshall said.

He also hinted at actor Chris Pine’s return as Nicholas Devereaux but ultimately said it was a “maybe” since he’s “quite big now.”

Sadly Marshall passed away in July 2016, and as of now, the third film’s new director has yet to be revealed.

Will Julie Andrews reprise her role in ‘Princess Diaries 3′?

To fans’ disappointment, it seems as though Julie Andrews will not be reprising her iconic role of Queen Clarisse Renaldi.

“I think we know that it’s probably not going to be possible,” Andrews told Access Hollywood. “It was talked about very shortly after [the second sequel] came out, but it’s now how many years since then? And I am that much older, and Annie the princess, or queen, is so much older. And I am not sure where it would float or run.”