Making waves: Lim took home the Director Award at the 21st Unforgettable Gala for her 2023 film ‘Joy Ride’. — Photo taken from Lim’s Instagram
PETALING JAYA: Malaysian producer and screenwriter Adele Lim is living her own fairytale, having been tapped to direct the third instalment of Disney’s iconic Princess Diaries franchise.
A diehard fan of the original films, the filmmaker, who is based in the United States, is “beyond excited” to bring the next iteration of this beloved series to life.
“We look forward to celebrating its core tenants of female power, joy and mentorship with audiences worldwide,” she said in a statement, quoted by US magazine Variety.
She also shared her joy on Instagram, saying: “Here to celebrate the Queens and Princesses in all of us. Over the moon to be back in the Disney family.”
Lim is best known for penning the screenplay for 2018 blockbuster Crazy Rich Asians, which became the highest-grossing romantic comedy of the 2010s, earning over US$239mil (RM1.02bil) globally.
The film bagged multiple accolades, including nominations at the Golden Globe Awards and Producers Guild Awards.
The film, based on Kevin Kwan’s 2013 novel, won Best Comedy at the 24th Critics’ Choice Awards.
In 2021, Lim followed up with Disney’s Raya And The Last Dragon, which received an Oscar nomination for Best Animated Feature.
She made her directorial debut with the 2023 comedy Joy Ride and won the Director Award at the 21st Unforgettable Gala for the movie.
Lim kickstarted her career in television as a writer-producer on shows like One Tree Hill and Lethal Weapon.
Last year, she partnered with executive producer Naia Cucukov to set up the production company 100 Tigers, which seeks to “foster and empower artistes and projects that share our passion for female-forward, cross-cultural stories with global appeal and a glossy edge”.
Princess Diaries 3 has been in development since 2022, continuing the franchise that began with the release of the first film in 2001, followed by its sequel Princess Diaries: Royal Engagement in 2004.
American actress Anne Hathaway, who rose to fame as the humble teen Mia Thermopolis in the franchise, is set to return for the third instalment.
However, it remains uncertain whether other original cast members, including actress Julie Andrews, will return for the upcoming film.
