29
29
Why The Devil Wears Prada 2 struck a chord
Nearly 20 years after the release of the cult classic The Devil Wears Prada, the sequel starring Meryl Streep, Anne Hathaway, and Emily Blunt came out on April 29th, 2026. Andrea Sachs, the once-shy assistant turned acclaimed reporter, is now facing the evolution of the world of fashion… A realistic plot that moved us deeply.
By Violaine Schütz.
Published on 28 July 2025. Updated on 1 June 2026.
A successful sequel to The Devil Wears Prada
It’s hard to imagine a more iconic movie about fashion… Nearly two decades after the release of the memorable The Devil Wears Prada, a sequel is currently being shot in New York. While the US release is scheduled for May 1st, 2026, the film is already out in French theatres since April 29th, 2026. The original film’s producer, Wendy Finerman, is developing that sequel backed by Disney, while David Frankel, who directed the first film, is expected to direct the second one as well. Aline Brosh McKenna, the original screenwriter of The Devil Wears Prada, is working on the sequel too. A sign of a high-quality production…
Meryl Streep and Anne Hathaway, two impressive actresses
But what excites us most is the comeback of the original actresses. The great Oscar-winning actress Meryl Streep will once again portray Miranda Priestly, the uncompromising and very chic editor-in-chief of the fictional fashion magazine, Runway. Emily Blunt will take back her role as Emily, the insufferable assistant to Meryl Streep’s character.
The talented and expressive Anne Hathaway, quite busy with her work schedule lately, stepped back into the iconic shoes of Andrea Sachs, the endearing protagonist who navigates the cutthroat world of fashion. Good news? The excellent Stanley Tucci is also back as the moving creative director, Nigel.
New blood at the Runway offices
The Devil Wears Prada 2 (2026) welcomes newcomers. Lucy Liu (Charlie’s Angels), Justin Theroux (The Leftovers) as an insufferable billionaire, B. J. Novak (The Office) and Pauline Chalamet, Timothée Chalamet’s sister, appear in the credits. Actor and director Kenneth Branagh will embody Miranda Priestly’s husband, while Simone Ashley (Bridgerton) will portray her new assistant.
More surprises? Singer Lady Gaga makes a cameo in a key sequence shot in Italy. The superstar and Doechii even unveiled an exclusive track, Runway, composed for the soundtrack of The Devil Wears Prada 2. The myriad flamboyant costumes, created by the greatest fashion houses, from Dior to Chanel and Louis Vuitton, are another strengths of this sequel.
A relevant narrative about the current state of journalism
However, The Devil Wears Prada 2 is far from a superficial spectacle resting on its glamorous trappings. This new instalment relies on a subtle and clever storyline that reflects the major changes that have taken place in the media since the first film. In the 2006 feature, the audience discovered the irresistible and shy Andrea Sachs. At the time, she had just moved to New York to become the assistant to the demanding editor-in-chief of a major fashion magazine, Runway. There, she met the cold and uncompromising Miranda Priestly.
In the sequel, the tyrannical Miranda Priestly is still at the helm of Runway, but the magazine is facing financial difficulties and her world is beginning to crumble. Confronted with a wave of bad buzz, she must reinvent and breathe something new into her magazine. Facing her is Emily Charlton (Emily Blunt), now working at Dior, one of the magazine’s advertisers. As for Andrea, she is fired at the beginning of the film from her job as an investigative journalist and must return to the publication where she started out, Runway. There, she attempts to pitch in-depth articles in the midst of the relentless race for clicks.
Moving sequences, between melancholy and glitter
Through these three characters, the film dives into the challenges faced by print media, now competing with the web and social networks, with accuracy. Reporter Andrea Sachs must compromise and adapt if she wants to survive in this world. She has even cut up her cerulean blue sweater from her early days to turn it into a more punk piece, ready for battle. A message that will resonate with many journalists, as it embodies the dilemmas between ambition and the search for meaning.
As for Miranda, now more vulnerable, she comes to understand how essential it is to be supported by others in order to keep doing what she loves. Ultimately, The Devil Wears Prada 2 is less a film about fashion than one about modern journalism. In twenty years, the media landscape has deeply changed. This sequel shows the price that passionate people must pay to hold on to their profession, in particular the emotional cost. This new feature may appear less biting and ironic, but is definitely deeper and more inclusive. There is less laughter and far more tears. For beneath the glitter, melancholy seeps through.
A biopic of our lives as journalists in a chaotic world
Several sequences are indeed striking in their power of identification. One thinks of Andrea’s argument with her new partner, a real estate developer who struggles to understand her work and its demands. Or the moment when Miranda explains that she was unable to spend enough time with her daughters because of her position, yet she keeps doing it because she loves it. Then, there is the scene in which Nigel, who has long remained in the shadow of his charismatic boss, finally steps into the spotlight.
Anyone who has ever fought to achieve their dream and to keep living it while navigating a sometimes hostile and toxic environment — even if it remains highly glamorous and, at times, amusing — will find themselves overwhelmed with emotion when watching the film. Much like the original The Devil Wears Prada, which allowed so many people to feel understood and seen.
The Devil Wears Prada 2 by David Frankel, out now in French theatres. The US release is scheduled for May 1st, 2026.
