In 'The Devil Wears Prada 2,' Miranda Priestly Is Defanged and the Fashion World Has Moved On

Key facts

• The film opened in theaters in 2026, 20 years after the original.
• Anne Hathaway, Meryl Streep, Stanley Tucci, and Emily Blunt reprise their roles.
• New cast members include Kenneth Branagh, Simone Ashley, Caleb Hearon, and Helen J. Shen.
• Lady Gaga appears in a scene with Streep and performs an original song; she and Doechii released 'Runway' for the film.
• Donatella Versace makes a cameo, speaking Italian with Blunt and Hathaway.
• Screenwriter Aline Brosh McKenna and director David Frankel return; the sequel ignores Lauren Weisberger's 2013 sequel.
• Filming took place at 1221 Avenue of the Americas in July 2025, drawing crowds.

A Sequel Two Decades in the Making Arrives to Mixed Reactions

The long-awaited sequel to the 2006 cultural touchstone 'The Devil Wears Prada' has hit theaters, reuniting the core cast of Anne Hathaway, Meryl Streep, Stanley Tucci, and Emily Blunt. The film, directed by David Frankel and written by Aline Brosh McKenna, picks up 20 years later, with Andy Sachs now a seasoned journalist and Miranda Priestly facing an industry that no longer bows to her icy reign. The sequel has drawn both excitement for its familiar faces and criticism for what some see as a softened, less biting take on the fashion world.

Andy Sachs Returns to Runway Amid Industry Turmoil

Andy, now a jaded professional, is fired via text while accepting an award, alongside her entire table of colleagues. She returns to Runway as head of the Features department after a scandal involving a glowing review and exposed sweatshop involvement threatens the magazine's reputation. Miranda, meanwhile, is forced to adapt: she flies economy, treats her assistants with humanity, and navigates the death of Runway's owner, whose profit-obsessed son (B.J. Novak) wants to sell the publication. Emily Blunt's character, now leading Dior, and Stanley Tucci's Nigel round out the returning ensemble.

Cameos and New Faces: From Lady Gaga to Donatella Versace

The film is packed with cameos, including Lady Gaga, who shares lines with Streep and performs an original song; she and Doechii also released the track 'Runway' for the soundtrack. Donatella Versace appears in a scene with Blunt and Hathaway, conversing in Italian. Other cameos include Jenna Bush Hager, Caleb Hearon, and Helen J. Shen. Oscar-nominated hairstylist Frederic Aspiras, a longtime friend of Gaga, shares a scene with her. The 'Chicken Shop Date' host, who appears at the final press tour stop in London, told BBC News she 'can't believe' she's in the film, calling the original 'life-changing.'

Miranda Priestly's Transformation: From Apex Predator to Tamed Executive

One of the most notable shifts in the sequel is the defanging of Miranda Priestly. In the original, she was a sharp, terrifying figure who turned a rom-com into a couture horror story. Now, she is in a loving relationship with a sympathetic husband (Kenneth Branagh) and has lost her edge. The film confronts the current reckoning in media and fashion, with new assistant Amari (Simone Ashley) reminding Miranda what is and isn't appropriate. Critics have noted that the fashion journalism that grounded the original is missing; Miranda no longer makes decisions about fabric or style, and Andy writes uninspired articles.

New York City Locations Drive Tourism as Fans Flock to Filming Sites

The sequel leans heavily on real New York City locations, much like the original. The most recognizable is 1221 Avenue of the Americas, the 51-story Midtown tower that serves as the exterior for Runway's headquarters. Filming returned to the site in July 2025, drawing tourists and residents. Other locations include Miranda's upscale Manhattan apartment and various transit hubs. The film's release has already sparked a tourism frenzy, with fans eager to visit the backdrops of the story.

A Cash Grab or a Worthy Follow-Up? The Sequel Divides Opinion

While the film has been described as 'less inane, more duplicitous cash grab' than other sequels, it has also been praised for its measured ennui in confronting industry changes. The 119-minute runtime follows Andy's unmeteoric plateau with what one critic called 'paralyzed indifference.' The film ignores Weisberger's 2013 sequel 'Revenge Wears Prada: The Devil Returns,' opting for an original story. Whether the sequel can capture the magic of the original remains an open question, but it has already reignited conversations about the fashion world's evolution.

The bottom line

• The sequel reunites the original cast but presents a softer, more politically correct version of Miranda Priestly.
• Lady Gaga appears and performs an original song; she and Doechii released 'Runway' for the film.
• Donatella Versace makes a cameo, speaking Italian with Blunt and Hathaway.
• The film ignores Lauren Weisberger's 2013 sequel, creating an original story set 20 years later.
• Filming at 1221 Avenue of the Americas in July 2025 drew crowds, and the locations are driving tourism.
• Critics are divided, with some calling it a cash grab and others appreciating its reflection on industry change.