The hellishly hot trend in ‘The Devil Wears Prada 2’ is pink slips for the media industry

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The sequel to “The Devil Wears Prada” starts off feeling like a cheap imitation of the original. It relies heavily on repeating jokes from the first movie – like showing the same teal belts, a party with the unoriginal theme “Spring Florals,” and a blue carpet instead of a red one. These belts were famously the subject of Meryl Streep’s Oscar-nominated monologue, where her character, the powerful magazine editor Miranda Priestly, explains how she sets fashion trends that eventually reach everyone else.

The first movie, which is quickly becoming a classic, centers on Andy (Anne Hathaway), a recent college graduate who takes a humble job at Runway magazine – a clear stand-in for Vogue – hoping it will launch her journalism career. Unfortunately, she faces obstacles from three difficult colleagues: fellow assistant Emily (Emily Blunt), influential stylist Nigel (Stanley Tucci), and the intimidating Miranda (Meryl Streep), who seems like a force of nature. Miranda’s character is inspired by Anna Wintour, the former editor-in-chief of Vogue, who initially disliked the portrayal but later embraced it – understandably, considering Meryl Streep is playing her.

The movie took place in a glamorous world, but the challenges felt real. Andy’s journey from practical boots to high heels symbolized the hard work—and sometimes the pain—that comes with pursuing your goals, even as those goals change. While “The Devil Wears Prada” is often remembered for its makeover scenes, even Andy’s boyfriend mistakenly believed she only cared about the fashion. But it wasn’t about the clothes; it was about Andy recognizing and respecting her own dedication and work ethic.

The new movie, directed again by David Frankel and written by Aline Brosh McKenna, doesn’t really find its focus until it admits the classic ‘Cinderella story’ of succeeding in journalism feels outdated. The days when Miranda and Nigel could simply cancel a $300,000 photoshoot because it didn’t meet their expectations – and tell their wealthy publisher, Irv, about it – are over. Now, the story begins with Andy losing her job at the New York Vanguard when a powerful owner closes it down to claim a $500 million tax break. (A situation many in Hollywood likely recognize.)

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For the premieres and promotional events of ‘The Devil Wears Prada 2,’ Anne Hathaway, Meryl Streep, and Emily Blunt cleverly incorporated elements of their characters’ styles into their outfits, but kept things realistic and wearable.

Andy, still clever and charming, is back at Runway magazine, now working as an investigative features editor. The problem? Her articles get very few readers, according to website data. That changes when she reports on a celebrity breakup. Meanwhile, Miranda’s reputation has taken a hit online – she’s become a popular meme, even appearing in a GIF resembling Homer Simpson stuck in a bush.

McKenna has written a scene where Miranda admits her tough reputation actually helps her. However, it makes you wonder how Anna Wintour will react to this less powerful version of herself also vying for the same leadership position at Condé Nast. After establishing custom fashion as a high art, simply calling it “content” feels like a step down. Think of it this way: “content” is to serious journalism what fast fashion like Shein is to luxury brands like Chanel.

Two decades later, the publishing world is dominated by extreme wealth. It feels like there are as many billionaires involved in a potential “Devil Wears Prada 2” as there are entry-level employees. The powerful Miranda Priestly now has to cater to luxury brands and their celebrity spokespeople, whose funding keeps the magazine afloat—even Emily, once a stressed-out assistant, is now a Dior executive. The atmosphere is incredibly tense. The film ignores the author Lauren Weisberger’s 2013 sequel, but a third movie following her lead—and giving Emily, played by Emily Blunt, a central role as she has in Weisberger’s third book—would be fantastic.

The movie’s story feels a bit disjointed. It tries to offer a sharp, honest look at the world of fashion magazines, but also feels like light entertainment best enjoyed with a drink. Instead of being set in Paris, the story jumps between glamorous parties in the Hamptons and Milan, even featuring a dinner party in front of Da Vinci’s “The Last Supper” (a fitting location, considering Da Vinci often clashed with his wealthy clients). The first half of the movie feels slow, as we spend a lot of time with the characters before the main plot really begins. Several ideas are introduced but never fully developed. It’s unclear if we’re meant to read anything into Miranda agreeing to host a floral-themed event – something she usually hates – or if it’s just a funny moment. Ironically, no one at the party actually wears anything with flowers on it. This raises questions about whether Miranda is losing her edge, or if the costume design is simply off.

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The story begins with a funeral—though I won’t reveal who died, it feels appropriate given the struggles of the news industry. I started writing for newspapers shortly after Craigslist seriously hurt their classified ad revenue. My experience isn’t glamorous like in “The Devil Wears Prada”; it’s more gritty and realistic. At least the people in that movie looked good even at a funeral!

Everyone’s surprised to see Miranda forced to fly in coach class – she’s been a first-class passenger for as long as anyone can remember. But it’s not satisfying to watch her struggle with a cramped middle seat. If someone as powerful as Miranda can be treated like everyone else, it’s a worrying sign for all of us.

This sequel feels both sadder and overly sweet compared to the first film, with an excess of forced affection between characters who should be more realistic. While Tucci’s character, Nigel, finally gets his due recognition, the moment felt surprisingly cheesy. The original creators wisely kept things harsh, but this time they’ve added a needless romantic storyline for Andy with a contractor, which weakens the strong friendships from the first movie—it feels like pandering that fans probably don’t even want. Even Miranda has a new love interest, but his role is so minor I kept questioning if the actor was actually Kenneth Branagh.

Justin Theroux plays Benji Barnes, a wealthy and amusing character who constantly shares silly ideas and jokes about an impending, catastrophic event. Disturbingly, he talks about “humans” as if he’s no longer one of them. The film focuses on those harming journalism, and given his ex-wife’s description of their relationship as a confusing, self-absorbed experience, Barnes is clearly a parody of figures like Jeff Bezos and Elon Musk. This feels particularly relevant, as Bezos is sponsoring this month’s Met Gala, essentially branding the event with his image.

Let’s move past the economic themes of a potential “Devil Wears Prada 2” and talk about the fashion. I particularly liked the stylish, menswear-inspired outfits for both Andy and Miranda, with lots of vests and blazers. Ideally, though, a protagonist and her rival shouldn’t seem to share the same taste in clothes. However, in this case, they’re presented as allies, united in their defense of art, beauty, and journalism against those who don’t appreciate them. The true villains, it seems, are those obsessed with tracking their fitness.

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2026-04-29 22:31