A sequel to the early 2000s comedy, "The Princess Diaries 3," is officially in development, following the success of the recent "Freaky Friday" sequel. Anne Hathaway announced over a year ago that the film is in the works, with Adele Lim set to direct. As fans eagerly await production, original cast member Robert Schwartzman has shared insights about the potential return of his character, Michael Moscovitz.

In the original 2001 film, Hathaway's character, Mia Thermopolis, has a crush on Michael, played by Schwartzman. Their romance culminates in a kiss at Mia's royal ball. However, the sequel shifted focus to Chris Pine's character, Nicholas Devereaux. Schwartzman recently revealed that he has had preliminary discussions regarding his involvement in the third installment.

"For me, I'm just in standing-by mode waiting to see what the filmmakers want to do with this next chapter," Schwartzman said. He expressed enthusiasm about the possibility of returning, noting, "If they want to bring Michael back to be a part of the journey of the characters, I'm obviously happy to support the efforts of the filmmakers."

Schwartzman, now 42, mentioned that he has had "very early days" talks about the project. He added, "I've been told that they're starting to imagine this world and how it's going to be told, but I don't know much beyond that." He acknowledged the mixed feelings among fans regarding Mia's romantic interests, whether it be Michael, Nicholas, or a storyline without a romantic plot.

He believes that fan enthusiasm could influence the filmmakers' decisions. "Certainly the opportunity is there for people to create that tidal wave of interest. And I'm sure the people on the other side will be listening to it," he said.

In August, director Adele Lim issued an open casting call for a new character named Olivia Robinson, described as a mixed-race 15-year-old who is "smart, sarcastic, armored and observant." There has been no update on the casting or other developments regarding the film, including whether Julie Andrews will reprise her role.

Meanwhile, Hathaway has been busy filming "The Devil Wears Prada 2" alongside Meryl Streep, Emily Blunt, and Stanley Tucci. The film recently wrapped production, leading fans to speculate that updates on "The Princess Diaries 3" may be forthcoming soon.

As anticipation builds for the sequel, fans remain hopeful for the return of beloved characters and new developments in the story.