The Princess Switch | |
---|---|
Based on | Characters created by Robin Bernheim & Megan Metzger |
Production company | Netflix Original Films |
Distributed by | Netflix |
Release date | 2018–2021 |
Country | United States |
Language | English |
The Princess Switch film series consists of American Christmas romantic-comedies, [1] [2] [3] including three feature films. Starring Vanessa Hudgens in multiple roles, alongside Sam Palladio and Nick Sagar, the plot is based loosely on the 1881 novel The Prince and the Pauper by Mark Twain. Hudgens stars as Stacy De Novo and Lady Margaret Delacourt Dutchess of Montenero, two strangers who discover that they look exactly alike and decide to trade places and roles for Christmas. The films show their experiences while doing so, while Hudgens additionally portrays Lady Fiona Pembroke in the sequels.
The series is produced by Netflix and released exclusively through its streaming services as Netflix Original Films. The first film, released in 2018 was received with positive critical reception. [4] Following its success, Netflix quickly began developing sequels. [5] The second was released in 2020, to mixed critical reception. [6] The third film The Princess Switch 3: Romancing the Star, was released November 2021, again to mixed critical reception. [7]
Film | U.S. release date | Director | Screenwriter(s) | Producers |
---|---|---|---|---|
The Princess Switch | November 16, 2018 | Mike Rohl | Robin Bernheim & Megan Metzger | Amy Krell, Brad Krevoy and Linda L. Miller |
The Princess Switch: Switched Again | November 19, 2020 | Robin Bernheim Burger & Megan Metzger | Steven R. McGlothen, Vanessa Hudgens and Brad Krevoy | |
The Princess Switch 3: Romancing the Star | November 18, 2021 | Robin Bernheim Burger | Vanessa Hudgens and Brad Krevoy |
Stacy DeNovo, a talented young baker, with a type-A personality with a habit of planning and creating schedules, takes a spontaneous trip during Christmastime at the suggestion of her sous-chef and best friend, named Kevin. Upon arriving in Belgravia, Stacy commences enjoying the holiday festivities. While preparing for the local Royal Christmas Baking Contest, she meets her identical doppelgänger who has a personal request. Lady Margaret Delacourt, who serves as Duchess of Montenaro, a free-willed and spirited woman with obligations to her position of power, asks that the pair change places for the event so that she can enjoy her last chance at normalcy before accepting her bethrothal to the Crown Prince of Belgravia. When the women swap roles, they soon discover that their interests lie with each other's respective men. [8]
Following unexpected events, Lady Margaret Delacourt inherits the throne to the kingdom of Montenaro. As she struggles with her new responsibilities and duties as Queen, a series of cumbersome events convince her that she needs help from her look-alike friend Stacy DeNovo. Longing to spend time with Kevin who she met while previously living as Stacy, she asks Stacy to once again switch places with her. As the women trade positions and assume their roles in impersonating each other, Lady Margaret's party-life cousin named Lady Fiona Pembroke, who also looks remarkably like the two other women, comes to visit Montenaro for the Christmas season. The three women are involved in a comedic series of events, while trying to gain control of their respective love lives. [9]
Once again during Christmas preparations, a priceless heirloom of the kingdom of Montenaro is stolen. Queen Margaret and Princess Stacy work together, with the help of Fiona and her ex-boyfriend, to retrieve the relic. While each of the women trade places, events of adventure and romance ensue. [10]
This section includes characters who will appear or have appeared in more than two films in the series.
Character | Films | ||
---|---|---|---|
The Princess Switch | The Princess Switch: Switched Again | The Princess Switch 3: Romancing the Star | |
Stacy De Novo-Wyndham Princess of Belgravia | Vanessa Hudgens | ||
Lady Margaret Katherine Claire Delacourt former-Duchess of Montenaro Queen of Montenaro | Vanessa Hudgens | ||
Lady Fiona Pembroke | Vanessa Hudgens | ||
Prince Edward Wyndham | Sam Palladio | ||
Kevin Richards | Nick Sagar |
Film | Crew/Detail | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Composer(s) | Cinematographer(s) | Editor | Production companies | Distributing company | Running time | ||
The Princess Switch | Terry Frewer | Viorel Sergovici & Lulu de Hillerin | Charles Norris | Netflix Original Films, Motion Picture Corporation of America | Netflix | 102 minutes | |
The Princess Switch: Switched Again | Alan Lazar | Fernando Argüelles Fernandez | Lara Mazur | Netflix Original Films, MPCA, Brad Krevoy Television | 98 minutes | ||
The Princess Switch 3: Romancing the Star | Jina Hyojin An & Shirley Song | Lee Haxall | 106 minutes |
Film | Rotten Tomatoes | Metacritic |
---|---|---|
The Princess Switch | 71% (14 reviews) [4] | —(0 reviews) [11] |
The Princess Switch: Switched Again | 58% (24 reviews) [6] | —(2 reviews) [12] |
The Princess Switch 3: Romancing the Star | 50% (14 Reviews) [13] | — [14] |
The Prince and the Pauper is a novel by American author Mark Twain. It was first published in 1881 in Canada, before its 1882 publication in the United States. The novel represents Twain's first attempt at historical fiction. The plot concerns the accession of nine-year-old Edward VI of England in 1547 and his interactions with look-alike Tom Canty, a London pauper who lives with his abusive, alcoholic father.
The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement is a 2004 American romantic comedy film directed by Garry Marshall. Produced by Walt Disney Pictures, it is the sequel to 2001's The Princess Diaries. Unlike the first film, it is not based on any existing book, and has no relation to the second installment in the book series, The Princess Diaries, Volume II: Princess in the Spotlight. In the film, Mia Thermopolis learns that before she can succeed her grandmother as queen of Genovia, she must marry or else relinquish the throne.
Vanessa Anne Hudgens is an American actress and singer. After making her feature film debut in Thirteen (2003), Hudgens rose to fame portraying Gabriella Montez in the High School Musical film series (2006–2008), which brought her mainstream recognition. Through Hollywood Records she released two albums, V (2006) and Identified (2008).
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Vanessa Nuala Kirby is an English actress. She made her professional acting debut on stage, with acclaimed performances in the plays All My Sons (2010), A Midsummer Night's Dream (2010), Women Beware Women (2011), Three Sisters (2012), and as Stella Kowalski in A Streetcar Named Desire (2014).
Robin Jill Bernheim is an American television producer and writer, as well as a story editor and creative consultant.
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The Princess Switch is a 2018 American Christmas romantic comedy film directed by Mike Rohl from a screenplay by Robin Bernheim and Megan Metzger. The film stars Vanessa Hudgens, Sam Palladio, and Nick Sagar.
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The Princess Switch: Switched Again is a 2020 American Christmas romantic comedy film directed by Mike Rohl. As the second installment in The Princess Switch trilogy, it stars Vanessa Hudgens, Sam Palladio, Suanne Braun, and Nick Sagar. The story follows Margaret Delacourt, the Duchess of Montenaro, who suddenly inherits the throne to her home country of Montenaro. As her Christmas coronation approaches, she and Stacy switch places once again so Margaret can fix her relationship with Stacy's friend Kevin. Unbeknownst to both women, a third look-alike, Margaret's evil cousin Lady Fiona, disguises herself as Margaret in a scheme to steal the throne.
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The Princess Switch 3: Romancing the Star is a 2021 American Christmas romantic comedy film directed by Mike Rohl and written by Robin Bernheim Burger, based on the characters created by Burger and Megan Metzger. The third film in The Princess Switch franchise, stars Vanessa Hudgens, Sam Palladio, Suanne Braun, Nick Sagar and Hazel Beattie. The story follows Margaret Delacourt, Queen of Montenaro, Stacy Juliette DeNovo Wyndham, Princess of Belgravia and Lady Fiona Pembroke, Margaret's cousin. When a priceless Christmas relic is stolen, the trio come together and track down a mysterious jewel thief.
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