Why Disney killed off Anne Hathaway's on-screen dad in 'The Princess Diaries'

In 2001, Disney released The Princess Diaries, a coming-of-age comedy starring Anne Hathaway and Julia Andrews.

Though it was a smash hit at the box office, startling new information has now emerged about the movie.

Meg Cabot, who authored The Princess Diaries, shared it herself.

In her interview with CBS Mornings, she alleged Disney – to give more screen time to Andrews – has killed off Mia Thermopolis's (Hathaway) father's role in the movie despite him being a key character in the books.

“They actually called me and they go, ‘Well, we have some bad news. We have to kill the dad in your book,’” she remembered.

“And I was like, ‘Why? What did he do?’” Cabot asked in seemingly disbelief.

Disney explained to the author that it wanted Andrews – portraying Queen Clarisse Renaldi – to have more dialogue.

“We have an actress that we want to play the grandmother, and she’s a really great actress, and she hasn’t done anything in a while, and we really want to give her more lines."

"So, we’re going to kill the dad and give this actress the dead dad lines," the studio alleged, telling Cabot.

In turn, the writer agreed, joking, 'I said, "Kill the dad. Bye, Dad! It’s Julie. You’re out.”

So, it was done, and Mia's father, Prince Philippe Renaldi, played by René Auberjonois, had scenes only in flashbacks in the film.