The iconic “The Devil Wears Prada” is back for a sequel, nearly 20 years after its release in June 2006. “The Devil Wears Prada 2” premiered in theaters on May 1, with stars Meryl Streep, Anne Hathaway, Emily Blunt, and Stanley Tucci reprising their roles. The original film’s director and writer, David Frankel and Aline Brosh Mckenna, respectively, also returned to lead the film.
“The Devil Wears Prada” follows the unfashionable Andy Sachs (Anne Hathaway), an aspiring New York journalist who becomes an assistant to Miranda Priestly, played by Meryl Streep, the intimidating and demanding editor-in-chief of one of the most famous fashion magazines, “Runway.”
The sequel features Andy Sachs returning to “Runway,” where she finds Priestly trying to navigate the decline of printed media, as well as compete with Sachs’ former co-assistant, Emily Charlton (Emily Blunt) who now leads a luxury brand.
The movie seems to have as much of a vibrant, bustling setting as the first, with it being filmed primarily in Manhattan, NY and Milan, Italy. These fashion capitals do wonders to showcase luxury fashion, runway shows, and extravagant events.
The film’s announcement immediately sparked excitement online, especially for fans who grew up watching the original movie. Many viewers have praised the sequel for updating the story to reflect the changing fashion and media industries as for all forms of journalism, the lack of print has changed landscapes completely. A Rotten Tomatoes review by David Gonzalez for the Cinematic Reel reads, “In a world where journalists and critics continue to lose access and job security, the film becomes a reflection on the fight to preserve journalistic integrity,” and another by Tomris Laffly for RogerEbert.com says, “Parent Company. Merging. Downsizing. Content. If you find any of these words and phrases triggering, well, you at least have a supposed ally in this sequel.”
The sequel has also introduced several new cast members, including Lucy Liu, Kenneth Branagh and Simone Ashley. Lady Gaga even makes a cameo appearance.
The original movie was based upon a 2003 novel of the same name by Lauren Weisberger. In 2013, Weisberger published a sequel, “Revenge Wears Prada: The Devil Returns.” Unlike the first movie, the sequel will not be faithful to the book. The book sees Sachs and Charlton working together as successful bridal magazine owners, but Sachs’ past with Priestly comes back to haunt her. Weisberger is positive about its changes though, describing it to PEOPLE as a “smart, sexy, fun romp of a movie.”
“The Devil Wears Prada 2” has had a great opening, earning about $233 million worldwide in its debut weekend, making it the second-best worldwide opening of the year. In that weekend, it also made over 70% of the lifetime theatrical gross of the original 2006 film.
It’s clear “The Devil Wears Prada” franchise still has a strong cultural impact nearly two decades later, and its combination of nostalgia and modern themes appeals to both longtime fans and new viewers. Fans can expect to see the same humor, iconic fashion looks, and critical commentary as the first movie in “The Devil Wears Prada 2.”
