More than two decades after The Princess Diaries introduced audiences to the unlikely royal Mia Thermopolis, a third installment of the Disney franchise may be inching forward—and this time, it could be heading to Central Europe. According to a June 2 article in The New York Post, the film’s location scouts have recently been “castle shopping” in the Czech Republic.

While The New York Post is not a reliable source of intel, the Czech Republic is a frequent filming destination for international productions requiring ornate palaces and historical backdrops. With the country’s dense concentration of well-preserved castles and cost-efficient production incentives, the idea isn’t entirely far-fetched.

Production plans for The Princess Diaries 3

Plans for The Princess Diaries 3 were first confirmed by The Hollywood Reporter in 2022. The film is set to continue the story of Mia Thermopolis, played by Anne Hathaway, rather than reboot the series. In October 2024, Hathaway confirmed her return in a social media post, reciting the iconic “Shut up!” line from the original film.

Adele Lim—known for co-writing Crazy Rich Asians and directing Joy Ride—was named as the sequel’s director by Variety last October, with Debra Martin Chase returning to produce. Flora Greeson (2020’s The High Note) is penning the script, and producing duties are split between Hathaway’s Somewhere Pictures and Lim’s 100 Tigers.

Despite the high-profile creative team, the project has remained in development without a production start date, casting updates, or confirmed filming locations.

Whether Julie Andrews will reprise her role as Queen Clarisse Renaldi remains uncertain. Now 89, Andrews told Forbes in 2023 that she is “pretty much retired” from acting, focusing instead on voice work. Chris Pine, who played Mia’s romantic interest in the 2004 sequel The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement, told The Tonight Show last year that he had not been contacted about the film and only heard about it online.

Czechia offers real castles for a fictional kingdom

Although unconfirmed, the report that The Princess Diaries 3 location scouts visited the Czech Republic follows a long tradition of foreign productions utilizing the country’s architecture and film infrastructure. With more than 200 castles and chateaux scattered across its landscape, Czechia offers a variety of grand backdrops suitable for Genovia’s royal court.

Notable candidates could include Lednice Castle in South Moravia, a sprawling neo-Gothic estate with lush gardens, or Hluboká Castle (pictured above), often called the “Czech Windsor” for its resemblance to British royal residences.

Český Krumlov Castle, perched above a historic town of the same name, offers both fairytale charm and cinematic potential. All three locations have hosted international film crews in the past and are equipped to support large-scale productions.

Czechia’s appeal doesn’t end with aesthetics. The country provides attractive financial incentives to foreign filmmakers, including a new 25% cash rebate on qualifying expenditures. It also boasts experienced local crews and studios, including Prague’s Barrandov Studio, a historic production site recently utilized for projects like Nosferatu and Interview with the Vampire.

The second Princess Diaries installment filmed extensively at Longford Castle in Wiltshire, England, which stood in for Genovia’s royal palace. A potential move to Czechia would shift the fictional monarchy’s setting some 1,500 kilometers east.

At this stage, the New York Post report should be taken with a grain of salt. With no release date and no production schedule announced, fans will have to wait longer to see whether Genovia’s return to the big screen in The Princess Diaries 3 will come with a Czech backdrop.

Lead photo: Anne Hathaway in The Princess Diaries (2001) / Hluboká Castle via Wikimedia Commons / Czcharlie