Mandy Moore has a pretty packed schedule right now with her hit show This Is Us, her movie career, and her continuing role as the voice of Disney's Rapunzel. Yet, that wouldn't stop her from appearing in another beloved Disney franchise if a third film were ever to be made. In an interview with Elle.com, Moore said she'd be in The Princess Diaries 3. Yet, before The Princess Diaries purists get upset wondering what involvement Lana Thomas could possibly have in the life of the Queen of Genovia nowadays, Moore was quick to note that her character returning for a significant part wouldn't make any sense.
Moore avoided being typecast as the "good girl" when she portrayed mean high school cheerleader Lana in her first onscreen role in a major film back in 2001's The Princess Diaries. While she was more known than Anne Hathaway at the time because of her singing career, Hathaway played the lead Mia Thermopolis and Moore was her villainous foil. Lana wasn't a major part and when 2004's The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement moved to the fictional country Genovia, Moore didn't return (but, hey, Chris Pine showed up). And so if The Princess Diaries 3 were to happen, Moore said, "I don't think it would make sense for my character, the high school bully, to appear."
However, for fans who have wondered quietly to themselves if Lana would return for Princess Diaries 3, but never dared to say it out loud, all hope is not lost. Moore continued, and said,
"Maybe I would make some quick cameo. I would like to see this woman evolve. If I'm going to be involved, I would be down for a cameo — maybe she could make amends with Mia and apologize for being a bully when she was younger. She was insecure, going through a difficult time in her life and [has now] reflected on why that wasn't okay."
Although Mia said that Lana would "never stop being a jerk," even people who despised Moore's character have to admit this would make for a touching, very Princess Diaries-esque scene that Julie Andrews would approve of.
As for if The Princess Diaries 3 will even happen, Garry Marshall, the director of both previous films, said in April 2016 that he was in talks with Disney about creating a third installment of the series. But after Marshall died in July 2016, the future of Princess Diaries 3 was uncertain. However, in an interview with BuzzFeed News in February, Andrews said she was still interested in Princess Diaries 3 — and that Hathaway was also "very keen to do it."
Since then, there haven't been any updates on the potential third addition to the franchise, but Moore's response is pretty exciting since it further proves that The Princess Diaries still has the ability to draw big-name stars.
With Moore agreeing to make a cameo in The Princess Diaries 3, it's time to really start wishing that this film happens — and perhaps even fruitlessly hope that Erik von Detten would make an appearance too.
