Released May 1, 2026, the highly anticipated movie, The Devil Wears Prada 2, directed by David Frankel, follows the original cast as they face a new set of challenges in the fashion world in the Age of Modern Media. The spin off takes place two decades after the original movie, which took to screens in June of 2006. The protagonist, Andrea Sachs (played by Anne Hathaway), must return to the world of Runway and once again work under the fierce fashion icon Miranda Priestly (played by Meryl Streep) after her publication shuts down and she loses her job as a successful investigative reporter.
The original movie features a coming of age story following Andy and the challenges she faces navigating life in New York after graduating from Northwestern University. Bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, Andy takes a temporary job as Miranda Priestly’s assistant to build her resume, using the position as a stepping stone to acquire a job as a serious journalist. However, she quickly realizes she knows absolutely nothing about fashion and is constantly reprimanded by Miranda for her naivete and ignorance.
Andy goes to great lengths to impress Miranda, but always seems to fall short. Despite a rocky start, with the help of Miranda’s right-hand-man, Nigel (played by Stanley Tucci), she finally begins to gain her footing and Miranda’s begrudging respect. As the job starts to consume her life, Andy faces an entirely different obstacle; balancing her work and her personal relationships. Her dedication to her job eventually costs her several friendships and sours her long term relationship with her boyfriend, Nate Cooper (played by Adrian Grenier), leading to their separation.
At the end of the first film, Andy has an epiphany after watching Miranda coldly betray her long time friend, Nigel, in order to keep her job. She realizes she no longer wants to be a part of this cut-throat lifestyle, quitting her high-pressure job to preserve her integrity. She returns to New York, reconciles with her boyfriend, and secures a job at a newspaper after Miranda gives her a surprisingly glowing recommendation.
The new movie picks up 20 years later with Andy being called on to once again take a job under the sharp-as-ever Miranda Priestly. After the Runway accidentally gets caught up in a sweatshop scandal, Andy is re-hired as a Feature Editor for the Runway Magazine to help save the publications editorial credibility.
Unfortunately, due to digital domination and low budgets, journalism and print media is dying in the modern, corporate-run economy. Andy consistently publishes articles for the Runway Magazine but is met with almost zero interaction. Finally, she is able to secure a crucial, exclusive interview with Sasha Barnes (played by Lucy Liu), a reclusive billionaire divorcee and ex-wife of a Silicon Valley mogul. Securing this interview and being the first to reveal Barnes’ recent engagement helps save Runway magazine and secures Miranda Priestly’s position.
However, it is soon revealed that there is a remaining issue at hand as Miranda confronts a new, surprising adversary; her former assistant and now rival, Emily Charlton (played by Emily Blunt). Charlton, now a top luxury brand executive, turns against Miranda, utilizing the scandal of a failing Runway to attempt a hostile takeover.
Andy and Miranda must then work together to thwart Charlton’s plan. Luckily, by securing Sasha Barnes as the new owner of Runway just in time, they preserve Miranda’s ability to become head of global content and allow Nigel to finally receive the spotlight he deserves.
The movie concludes with Miranda finally acknowledging Andy and Nigel as her equals, contrary to her previously callous and isolated leadership style.
It is not uncommon for original films to outdo their sequels, and although this remains true for this adaptation, the movie still met many of the high expectations of its audience. It touched on current struggles print journalists face in a digital world, the importance of flexibility in order to maintain relevance in a fast-moving society, and the threat corporate dominance poses to creative integrity and traditional media.
Despite a seemingly unnecessary side plotline surrounding an Australian love interest for Andy and a slight lacking in regard to Miranda’s original fire we all know and love, the movie was exceptional. In fact, the minor drawback of Miranda’s usual wit could be seen as an intentional play on the sensitivity of modern society in which the actions and words of public figures are constantly met with harsh online scrutiny. Miranda Priestly’s new assistant, Amari (played by Simone Ashley), serves as a modern filter for Miranda, helping her navigate present-day workplace standards set by HR.
Ultimately, it is Andy’s unrelenting determination and newfound confidence that carries this movie. She finally embraces both sides of herself, the film concluding in a full-circle scene showing Andy in a high-end cerulean vest upcycled from her original 2006 “lumpy blue sweater,” symbolizing her growth over the course of the two films. She is no longer an insecure, oblivious assistant, but rather a mature industry professional, proving once again that Andrea Sachs truly is the fabric that holds the team together. Sometimes, all you need is to understand the value of a simple turquoise belt to completely transform a frumpy dress into something truly fabulous.
