Chris Pine Says He Was Paid $65,000 for His Big Break in “Princess Diaries 2”: 'My Life Had Changed'

Pine recalled the 'earth-shattering' moment he learned he'd landed the romantic lead opposite Anne Hathaway in the 2004 sequel to 'The Princess Diaries'

The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement was a major career moment for Chris Pine.

The actor, who makes his directorial debut with the upcoming release of his new film, Poolman, recalled getting his big break with the 2004 rom-com opposite Anne Hathaway during an interview for an upcoming episode of Sunday TODAY.

"I was on my little Verizon tiny flip phone, my silver one, and I got a call from my agents that I booked the job," recalled Pine, 43, in a preview from his chat with host Willie Geist. “I pulled over onto the side of the freeway and they said, ‘You’re getting paid $65,000.’ "

For the actor, who 24 when the film was released in theaters, "it was like they had just told me I’d made $50 million," he told Geist, 49, adding, "It was absolutely earth-shattering.”

"I just remember distinctly knowing in that moment that my life had changed somehow, even though [$65,000] at the end of the day turned out to be about $15,000,” Pine continued, laughing.

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Related: 17 Stars Who Were Broke When They Got Their Big Breaks

But, he said, the feeling was fleeting and "lasted no time at all." In fact, he "owed [his] parents rent money" and his bank account was overdrawn at the time.

"But that is a wild feeling. I’ll never forget that,” the Wonder Woman 1984 star added.

Pine made his film debut in The Princess Diaries 2 as Nicholas Devereaux, whom Hathaway's Mia Thermopolis falls in love with by the end of the sequel. The movie is a follow-up to 2001's The Princess Diaries, in which Hathaway, 41, originated the role of Mia on-screen.

Now, 20 years later, Pine directed, co-wrote and stars in Poolman as Darren, "a native Los Angeleno who spends his days looking after the pool of the Tahitian Tiki apartment block and fighting to make his hometown a better place to live," according to a synopsis.

"When he is tasked by a femme fatale to uncover the truth behind a shady business deal, Darren enlists the help of his friends to take on a corrupt politician and a greedy land developer," the synopsis added. "His investigation reveals a hidden truth about his beloved city and himself."

Related: 'The Princess Diaries' Cast: Where Are They Now?

Even though it's been two decades since he appeared in The Princess Diaries 2, Pine said in 2023 that he would be happy to receive a pitch to reprise his role in a future sequel.

"Yeah, I'm here! I'm here for it," he told Entertainment Tonight when asked about reports of a third movie in the works. "Give me a phone call or an email."

The Star Trek actor added that if he were to return for another installment, he would choose a "low-profile hair helmet" over the longer locks he rocked in the 2004 sequel.

Rumors that Disney is developing a third Princess Diaries film first emerged back in November 2022. And while there hasn't been any official announcement, Pine and Hathaway's costar, Julie Andrews, told TODAY.com in March that she'd "be very happy if we did do another one. But I don’t expect to."

"It’s quite a long time now since the two Diaries were done, and I’m not sure, but sometimes it’s best to leave a good thing alone," Andrews, 88, added.

Geist's full interview with Chris Pine airs May 5 on NBC News' Sunday TODAY.

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