Feeling confident about the novel's film potential, Cabot's agent pursued producer Debra Martin Chase about adapting "The Princess Diaries" into a feature-length film, an idea she pitched to Disney upon reading the book. After obtaining the film rights, Disney originally greenlit the project under the title "The Princess of Tribeca", reverting it once its setting was changed from New York to San Francisco, where the majority of the film was shot between September and December 2000. Marshall, who was known for helming several romantic comedies, agreed to direct because he found the story ideal for family entertainment. Despite having little involvement in the film's development, Cabot was consulted about various changes to its story and characters. Hathaway won the lead role over several established young actresses in her motion picture debut, while "The Princess Diaries" commemorated the end of Andrews' semi-retirement from acting and return to Disney films, her first since "Mary Poppins" (1964).