Key Takeaways:
- Anne Hathaway’s career has come full circle with Disney’s highest honour.
- 2026 is shaping up to be a major year for Hathaway’s career resurgence.
- ‘The Princess Diaries 3’ signals a new era for the franchise.
Anne Hathaway has officially been named a Disney Legend, receiving one of the company’s highest honors at the 2026 D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event in Anaheim, California. The recognition comes 25 years after she made her breakthrough as Mia Thermopolis in The Princess Diaries, the Disney film that transformed her into a household name.
Hathaway was among 11 honorees inducted into the 2026 Disney Legends class. The group also included Dwayne Johnson, Lin-Manuel Miranda, the Jonas Brothers, Jerry Bruckheimer, and former Disney CEO Bob Iger. During the ceremony, Hathaway became emotional as she reflected on the career opportunities that followed her first major film role and the people who helped shape her journey.
Hathaway’s association with Disney began with The Princess Diaries in 2001. Playing Mia Thermopolis, an ordinary teenager who suddenly discovers that she is heir to the fictional kingdom of Genovia, Hathaway quickly became one of the most recognizable young stars of her generation.
She returned as Mia in The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement in 2004, sharing the screen with Julie Andrews, who played Queen Clarisse Renaldi. The two films became an important part of Hathaway’s early career and helped establish a character whose popularity has endured for decades.
The significance of the Disney Legends honor was particularly evident during Hathaway’s acceptance speech. She reflected on the impact of her early work and paid tribute to the people who supported her career. Her comments also carried added weight as The Princess Diaries franchise prepares to enter a new phase without one of its most important original stars.
Hathaway’s recognition comes during a year in which several of her best-known screen roles have returned to public attention. Her career has since expanded well beyond her Disney beginnings, with acclaimed performances in films including Les Misérables, for which she won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress, as well as The Dark Knight Rises, Interstellar and Ocean’s 8.
‘The Devil Wears Prada 2’ Adds to a Major 2026
The Disney Legends ceremony arrives as Hathaway is also revisiting another defining character. She has returned as Andy Sachs in The Devil Wears Prada 2, nearly 20 years after the original 2006 film.
The sequel reunites Hathaway with Meryl Streep, Emily Blunt and Stanley Tucci, bringing the characters back into the world of fashion journalism. Hathaway’s return as Andy has given audiences another opportunity to see one of her most recognizable performances evolve years after the original story.
The timing has contributed to an unusually significant year for Hathaway. According to Variety, her films released in 2026 have collectively crossed the $2 billion mark at the global box office. Disney’s D23 profile also highlights her return as Andy Sachs, alongside her long-standing connection to the company through The Princess Diaries.
The combination of the Disney honor, The Devil Wears Prada 2 and renewed interest in The Princess Diaries has placed Hathaway at the center of several major nostalgia-driven film conversations this year.
‘The Princess Diaries 3’ Moves Forward Without Julie Andrews
Hathaway’s Disney recognition also comes as The Princess Diaries 3 continues to take shape. The long-awaited third film remains in development, with Hathaway returning as Mia and Adele Lim attached to direct. Hathaway confirmed earlier this year that the project was still moving forward, although production has faced delays.
One of the biggest changes to the upcoming film is the absence of Julie Andrews. Andrews recently confirmed that she will not return as Queen Clarisse Renaldi. At 90, the veteran actor has stepped away from live-action acting, bringing an end to speculation about whether she would reprise the role that became closely associated with the franchise.
Hathaway has spoken warmly about Andrews and the influence she had on her early career. At D23, that connection became part of the emotional context surrounding Hathaway’s Disney Legends induction. Andrews’ absence means the third film will have to continue the story of Genovia while moving forward without the character who served as Mia’s mentor and royal guide in the first two installments.
For Hathaway, the Disney Legends honor therefore represents both a celebration of the past and a marker of what comes next. The actress who first stepped into the spotlight as an inexperienced teenager discovering her royal identity is now being recognized for a career spanning more than two decades.
With The Princess Diaries 3 still in development and The Devil Wears Prada 2 bringing another iconic role back to cinemas, Hathaway’s 2026 milestone reflects the lasting impact of characters that audiences first encountered years ago. Her induction as a Disney Legend makes that legacy official while leaving the door open for another chapter in her relationship with Mia Thermopolis and the world of Genovia.
