The Devil Wears Prada 2 ★★★★

Released: 1 May 2026

Director: David Frankel

Starring: Meryl Streep, Anne Hathaway, Stanley Tucci, Emily Blunt

Twenty years have flown by, and with that has come a whole generational and societal shift. Fashion trends have come and gone, social media has become this beast we can’t escape from, and magazines are no longer a staple purchase. The Devil Wears Prada became an instant classic in 2006, putting into the spotlight the work ethics of those working in the world of fashion. Meryl Streep’s iconic persona Miranda Priestly is largely rumoured to be inspired by Anna Wintour’s reign at Vogue. The film became so culturally important that the desire for a sequel came with conflicting thoughts. Why ruin a masterpiece? Can we leave it alone please? But, at the same time, we craved more. Now, two decades later, David Frankel returns with The Devil Wears Prada 2 where the Runway team navigates the worrying state of publishing and journalism.

After leaving Miranda (Streep) in Paris and quitting her role as her assistant, Andy (Anne Hathaway) is now a well-established journalist in New York. Just as she is about to receive an award, her entire newsroom are laid off by text in just another brutal attack in what seems to be a now dying trade. She’s not the only one going through a tough time, Priestly is in hot water after failing to have full knowledge about a brand who uses sweatshop labour. Soon Andy – who is given a glowing recommendation by Nigel (Stanley Tucci) – is brought in to be the new features editor to help better Runway’s reputation.

Runway is on the mend when Andy scores a big interview with the reclusive ex-wife of a billionaire who hasn’t done an interview in years, with the team taking a big sigh of relief. But things go from good to bad when Irv Ravitz, owner of Runway’s parent company Elias-Clarke suddenly passes away, leaving the fate of the magazine in the hands of his son. Andy enlists the help of Emily (Emily Blunt) to find a way to help Miranda keep her editorial legacy going, but Emily only has her own interests at heart with the aim of having Runway for herself.

Sequels and reboots have consumed cinema over the last few years. Some have been okay and while others have made a not so good impact on a film’s legacy. When it was announced back in 2024 that a sequel had been greenlit, it was met with hesitation with fans, not because they weren’t excited but the scope for disappointment was large due to the recent slate of sequels that were coming and going in cinemas. Thankfully, The Devil Wears Prada 2 is not just some glamorous addition attempting to maintain its fashionista edge, but it actually has a tonne of substance. Its reflection on the current state of journalism and publishing is as accurately represented as it possibly could have been. Aline Brush McKenna’s screenplay showcases this through Andy’s speech about how journalism is needed still while getting laid off, and also the small details in talking about Runway’s demoted status to online only, with an occasional seasonal book – which no one is buying.

The film would not have worked without the original Fab Four – Streep, Hathaway, Blunt and Tucci. Together, their chemistry is effortless, even after twenty years, Streep remains as cold as ever as Miranda, but with the decline of Runway a softer side appears. This incorporates well with Andy becoming her own person and taking control, together Streep and Hathaway keep that hot and cold relationship going, just this time with far more heart to it.

The Devil Wears Prada 2 deserves a full round of applause. It’s effortlessly chic, humorous and actually has substance with real emotion. It succeeds with its intention of creating a sequel that has meaning to it, rather than doing it for all the wrong reasons. It will be interesting to see if the film’s box office success will cement a third film. How about we take this win and let the Prada legacy remain in its glory?