The Emma Thompson film Nanny McPhee delighted audiences and even earned a sequel called Nanny McPhee Returns, but will there ever be a Nanny McPhee 3?

The 2005 movie Nanny McPhee was a surprise hit that even spawned a sequel in 2010, but will there ever be a Nanny McPhee 3? Based loosely on the classic British book series Nurse Matilda by Christianna Brand, the first movie was penned by its star Emma Thompson and concerns a governess who uses her magical abilities to rein in her unruly charges. Remembered for its British sensibility and cheeky sense of humor, Nanny McPhee was an obvious passion project for Thompson, and the film was rewarded by a positive critical response (via Rotten Tomatoes). A franchise began to blossom when Nanny McPhee Returns five years later.

Nanny McPhee was something of a sleeper hit when it was released in 2005, and it managed to gross an impressive $120 million (via Box Office Mojo) against a much smaller budget. In 2010, Nanny McPhee Returns attempted to capture the magic of the original and was met with positive reviews overall (via Rotten Tomatoes). However, the sequel's box office take was not as significant as the first, and no additional sequels have been produced since. Despite featuring one of Emma Thompson's funniest roles, and having a heap of franchise potential, the Nanny McPhee series seemingly ended with the release of the second film.

Nanny McPhee 3 Latest News

As no news has actually come regarding Nanny McPhee 3, the latest update on the franchise overall came on June 1, 2023, when both of the existing movies were added to Netflix. Though they have streamed elsewhere in the past, their addition to Netflix helps them reach a much larger audience than they might have had on another service. With over a decade since the last Nanny McPhee film, a Netflix revival might be the nostalgic boost that Nanny McPhee 3 needs to get rolling. Though the movies are buried among everything coming to Netflix in June 2023, their popularity could push them to the top of Netflix's top 10.

Nanny McPhee 3 Is Not Confirmed

According to The Sun, Nanny McPhee star Emma Thompson had actually penned the third film in the series but was turned down because the second installment didn't make enough money. While that is damning news for the possibility of a Nanny McPhee 3, it did at least prove that Thompson was interested in making more. It goes without saying that it's not confirmed, yet in an age of nostalgia-based media, no property is ever really dead. A sudden spike in interest could potentially entice a studio to take another chance on the magical mistress, and Nanny McPhee 3 could arrive in the form of a film or a limited series.

Nanny McPhee 3 Release Date Info

With the project not even confirmed, speculation regarding the potential release date of Nanny McPhee 3 is difficult, but not impossible. If the project was to be put in motion soon, and based on the fact that the script was already written, it could possibly arrive as early as 2025. The first Nanny McPhee film was a sleeper hit that was released during the doldrums of January, but its sequel saw an August release and wasn't as handsomely rewarded. Therefore, Nanny McPhee 3 would likely see a release date early in the year as it would appeal to families looking for something to do during the gloomy winter months.

Nanny McPhee 3 Cast

The cast of the Nanny McPhee series was always anchored by the powerhouse personality of Emma Thompson (Love Actually), and for Nanny McPhee 3 to have any chance of success, she would need to return. Besides Thompson, no other major cast member reprised their role in Nanny McPhee Returns, and it's highly likely that the supporting cast of the second sequel would also be completely different. Introducing the nanny's new charges could give the filmmakers a chance to debut fresh-faced future stars, and there is a roster of notable British actors who would fit right in with the playful tone of the franchise if they were to join the cast.

Nanny McPhee 3 Story Details

The Sun article claims Emma Thompson had written the script for Nanny McPhee 3, but the only detail she ever revealed about the shelved screenplay was that she set it in space. While the prospect of a Victorian-era British nanny going to space is interesting, a modern version of Nanny McPhee 3 probably wouldn't be as outlandish. Judging by the plots of the first two films, Nanny McPhee 3 would most likely see the titular governess storm into the lives of a family in need and use magic to fix their problems. While it may seem formulaic, that structure is the heart of the franchise.