"The Devil Wears Prada 2": What We Know & What We Hope

What we know so far

The original powerhouse quartet—Meryl Streep (Miranda Priestly), Anne Hathaway (Andy Sachs), Emily Blunt (Emily Charlton), and Stanley Tucci (Nigel)—are all returning. Joining them is Kenneth Branagh, reportedly playing Miranda’s husband. Given that Miranda’s second marriage was crumbling in the first film, this suggests a new dynamic—one that could either humanize her further or reveal fresh layers of her cutthroat persona.

The sequel’s rumored storyline centers on Miranda grappling with the decline of print media, forced to reckon with a digital-first world where her once-unassailable authority is under threat. Even more intriguing? Emily Charlton, now a high-powered luxury executive, holds the advertising dollars Miranda desperately needs, setting up a battle between the former assistant and her ex-boss.

This premise feels ripped from real-life headlines. Just days before filming began, Anna Wintour—the real-life inspiration for Miranda—stepped down as Vogue’s editor-in-chief after 37 years, though she retains immense influence as Condé Nast’s global chief content officer. The parallels are too perfect to ignore: Miranda, like Wintour, may be "stepping back" but is far from powerless.

Director David Frankel and screenwriter Aline Brosh McKenna are also back, which bodes well for the film’s tone. The original’s success hinged on McKenna’s ability to elevate Weisberger’s novel into a sharper, more empathetic story, so here’s hoping she brings that same alchemy to the sequel.

What we hope to see

Streep’s Miranda was a masterclass in controlled menace, a woman who could eviscerate with a whisper. Yet the film also gave her fleeting moments of vulnerability—her divorce confession in Paris, her quiet admiration for Andy’s ambition. The sequel must balance her ruthlessness with humanity, but without neutering what makes her terrifying.

Given Wintour’s recent career shift, Miranda’s arc could mirror her real-world counterpart: a leader forced to adapt, but still pulling strings from the shadows. As one article put it, Wintour is now the "invisible architect" of fashion—still ruling, just less visibly. That’s a far more interesting path than a simple downfall.

As for Hathaway’s Andy, she walked away from Runway to pursue journalism, so how does she fit into this world now? One theory: She could be covering Miranda’s career pivot, placing her back in the editor’s orbit as a journalist rather than an employee. Alternatively, Andy might represent the changing media landscape as someone who left print behind and thrived. Either way, her return shouldn’t feel forced.

With all that in mind, the worst thing this sequel could do is rehash the first film’s beats. Another montage of Andy’s fashion transformation? More "groundbreaking" cerulean sweater monologues? No thanks. The world, and these characters, have moved on. The sequel must reflect that, offering a fresh critique of power, privilege, and reinvention in a fractured industry.

Why this sequel could be brilliant (or a disaster)

The original Devil Wears Prada worked because it was both a scathing satire and a slyly earnest coming-of-age story. The sequel has the potential to delve deeper into how power shifts but never truly dissipates, especially for women like Miranda, who’ve spent decades at the top.

But the risks are clear:

• Fan service over substance: If the film leans too hard on callbacks without advancing the characters, it’ll feel hollow
• Misjudging Miranda: She can’t be reduced to a punchline or, worse, a softened mentor figure. Her edge is what makes her compelling
• Wasted new dynamics: Branagh’s role as Miranda’s husband could add fascinating layers, or be a forgettable subplot

Final verdict: Cautious optimism

With the original cast and creative team reassembled, The Devil Wears Prada 2 has the ingredients to be more than a cash-grab sequel. If it embraces the chaos of modern media, mirrors the real-world upheaval of figures like Wintour, and lets Miranda remain deliciously ruthless, it could be a worthy successor.

And if it fails? Well, as Miranda would say: "By all means, move at a glacial pace. You know how that thrills me."