Twenty years after its initial release, a sequel to The Devil Wears Prada is set to hit theaters on May 1, bringing back Meryl Streep and Anne Hathaway in their iconic roles. The teaser released Wednesday confirms the return of Streep as Miranda Priestly, the ruthless editor-in-chief, and Hathaway as Andy Sachs, the ambitious assistant who navigated the magazine’s cutthroat world.
The original 2006 film, based on Lauren Weisberger’s novel, depicted the brutal realities of high fashion editorial. The Devil Wears Prada 2 picks up the story with a new challenge: the decline of print media. Both Miranda and Andy are now fighting to keep Runway magazine relevant in the face of digital competition, including a rivalry with Miranda’s former assistant Emily Charlton (Emily Blunt).
The sequel will also feature Stanley Tucci reprising his role as Nigel, Miranda’s trusted fashion ally. David Frankel, who directed the first movie, is returning for this follow-up. Streep’s original performance as Miranda earned her an Oscar nomination, and the character is widely believed to be inspired by Anna Wintour, the longtime editor-in-chief of Vogue.
The return of the franchise is a reminder of how much the fashion industry has changed in two decades. The sequel will likely explore those shifts, from the rise of social media influencers to the struggle of legacy magazines to stay afloat in a digital-first world. The film’s success hinges on its ability to capture both the glamour and the grit of an industry constantly reinventing itself.
The Devil Wears Prada 2 will test whether the original film’s sharp commentary on ambition, power, and sacrifice still resonates with audiences in the 2020s.
