Mandy Moore returning to The Princess Diaries franchise? Shut up!
The This Is Us star recently marked the 23rd anniversary of the film—which starred Anne Hathaway and Julie Andrews—on social media with a shoutout that had many wondering if she was subtly indicating she’ll return for the possible third installment.
“And just like that, #ThePrincessDiaries turns a year older and a year sweeter! What a gift,” Moore—who is currently pregnant with her and husband Taylor Goldsmith’s third baby—captioned a series of pics from the set. “And as I look through old photos, which brings back old memories, I realize how much I like the number 3.”
Given the rumblings of the third film in the franchise, the number three callout had fans hoping it meant they’d see more of her mean girl character Lana Thomas in the highly anticipated film.
"As in...you will be in the THIRD princess diaries movie??" one fan wrote.
"Taylor Swift has trained my brain into looking for Easter eggs and there are so many rumors about a 3rd movie that I feel like you're trying to tell us something," another fan commented.
However, the actress’ post featured a series of photos of herself in various trios, including on the A Walk to Remember and This Is Us sets. She also shared a photo of herself and husband Goldsmith with their son Gus, 3. (The duo, who are expecting a baby girl, are also parents to son Ozzie, 20 months.)
If she did return for Princess Diaries 3, it would be the first time fans have seen her in the series since the beloved 2001 film—loosely based on the book by Meg Cabot. Moore did not reprise her role in 2004’s The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement. After all, the film traded in its San Francisco setting as Hathaway’s Mia prepares to succeed her grandmother (Andrews) and Queen of the fictional Genovia.
In the two decades since the sequel—which saw Chris Pine join the cast in his film debut—there has been much talk of a third film, though the project was put on hold following the 2016 death of original director Garry Marshall.
And while earlier this year, Andrews told TODAY.com, “sometimes it’s best to leave a good thing alone,” she noted she would be “very happy” if a third film was made. However, she added, “But I don’t expect to."
Meanwhile, Moore has expressed interest in returning for more.
“I would be down,” she told IndieWire in June. “I also understand that it’s hard to think of how my character would be part of the story now unless it were some sort of redemption.”
Many of the stars of The Princess Diaries have gone on to have impressive careers. Look back at some of their biggest transformations.
Anne Hathaway
The Princess of Genovia is all grown up. Since appearing in the 2001 Disney movie, Anne Hathaway has earned rave reviews (and one Oscar!) for her performances in Les Misérables, The Devil Wears Prada, The Dark Knight Rises, Ocean's Eight and more films. And, no, she will not shut up about her most famous roles. Currently filming a follow-up to The Devil Wears Prada, she hinted at her return for Princess Diaries 3.
"Miracles happen," she captioned an October 2024 post. “Back to Genovia with @adeleblim @disney @somewherepictures. The fairy tale continues.”
And speaking of happily ever afters, after marrying jewelry designer Adam Shulman in 2012, the pair welcomed sons Jonathan in 2016 and Jack in 2019.
Mandy Moore
While her character—bully Lana Thomas—wasn't exactly beloved by Mia in The Princess Diaries, Mandy Moore has maintained a huge fan base thanks to her singing career and Emmy-nominated role as Rebecca Pearson in NBC's hit series This Is Us.
Other credits include her own Disney princess moment, voicing Rapunzel in 2010's Tangled, a starring role in Peacock's Dr. Death and the upcoming comedy feature The Breadwinner.
She tied the knot musician Ryan Adams in 2008, but the pair divorced in 2016. She wed musician Taylor Goldsmith in 2018, and the two went on to welcome sons August "Gus" Harrison in 2021 and Oscar "Ozzie" Bennett in 2022 and daughter Louise "Lou" Everett in 2024.
Julie Andrews
Bow down to Hollywood royalty. Ever since her role as Queen Clarisse Renaldi, Julie Andrews has appeared in family friendly flicks like Tooth Fairy, Ella Enchanted, Despicable Me and the Shrek franchise.
In addition to her lead roles in The Sound of Music and Mary Poppins the Oscar winner is also a best-selling author thanks to her assortment of children's books in The Very Fairy Princess series.
And, yes, you've definitely heard her voice more recently as she's voiced Bridgerton's one and only Lady Whistledown!
Married to set designer Tony Walton in 1959 (Maggie Smith was a guest at their wedding!), they welcomed daughter Emma in 1962 before divorcing in 1968. She married director Blake Edwards in 1969, becoming a step mom to his children Jennifer and Geoffrey. Together, they had daughters Amelia and Joanna and were married 41 years until his death in 2010. The actress is now a grandmother to nine and great-grandma to three.
Heather Matarazzo
How can fans forget Mia's best friend Lilly, who not only had her own cable access TV show called Shut Up and Listen but also shut down Mia's haters. While Heather Matarazzo's career is still going strong with TV appearances on Grey's Anatomy and Exes & Ohs and roles in films like Hostel: Part II, she recently left Hollywood behind for wife Heather Turman's home state.
"My wife was born and raised in Michigan," the star, set to appear in the second season of Wednesday, shared in a August 2024 TikTok video. "We met in L.A. about eight years ago, and a year and a half ago, we kind of looked at each other and were like, 'Do we wanna be in Los Angeles anymore?'"
Noting their answer was a "big fat no," the actress raved, "I just love it here so much. There's such an abundance of nature, and everyone's just been so incredibly kind."
Sandra Oh
Vice Principal Gupta, the queen is coming! While Sandra Oh's role in the film was brief, fans will never forget her iconic lines that brought laughs to the masses. Outside of the franchise, Sandra has been a fan-favorite on Grey's Anatomy and Killing Eve. Class dismissed!
In 2003, the Emmy-winning star married filmmaker Alexander Payne, but the two divorced in late 2006.
Robert Schwartzman
Fans will remember Robert Schwartzman for his role as Mia's loyal friend Michael Moscovitz both before and after she became a princess. After starring in the Disney film, Robert—who is the younger brother of Jason Schwartzman—became a recording artist as the lead vocalist of rock/pop band Rooney and a director with 2016's Dreamland, 2018's The Unicorn and 2023's The Good Half.
He's also served as a producer on films like The Last Showgirl, Takin' Care of Business and I Live Here Now. In 2017, he married photographer Zoey Grossman. "We met in elementary school, in first grade," he wrote in a 2021 Instagram anniversary tribute. "I took her back there and proposed where we took our yearbook photos. I married my best friend, I couldn’t ask for anything more. It gets better every moment."
Erik Von Detten
How can we forget Mia's crush Josh Bryant? Days of Our Lives alum Erik Von Detten went on to star in the short-lived sitcom Complete Savages in 2004, reprised his Toy Story role of Sid in all the sequels up to the 2010 film Toy Story 3 and did other voice-over and TV work. Having not been on screen since appearing on a 2008 episode of Bones, he appeared in the 2024 TV movie My Acting Coach Nightmare.
He and his real estate agent wife Angela Von Detten share daughter Claire (born in May 2019) and sons Thomas (March 2021) and Nicholas (December 2022).
"Since I was a kid, I wanted to have a large family," he explained to E! News in 2021, explaining why he largely abandoned the "fickle" acting industry. "Luckily, simultaneously when things started to slow down in acting in my early 20s, another opportunity presented itself for me with a company that I started working with at age 25. And I've been with that company ever since. It's a sales position with a company working in finance. I've grown into a management position and it's worked out really well."