Twenty years ago, a single pursed lip from Miranda Priestly could reduce an assistant to tears. Today, it can still stop social media in its tracks.
After years of rumours, wishful thinking and endless “what if?” conversations, The Devil Wears Prada 2 is officially returning, and Disney has confirmed that following its theatrical run, the sequel will stream on Disney+—bringing one of the most beloved fashion films of the 21st century to a whole new generation of viewers.
The original The Devil Wears Prada, released in 2006, became far more than a hit comedy-drama. It evolved into a cultural phenomenon. Meryl Streep’s Oscar-nominated performance as the terrifyingly composed Miranda Priestly transformed the fictional editor of Runway magazine into one of cinema’s most iconic characters. Anne Hathaway’s Andy Sachs gave audiences a relatable way into the glamorous yet ruthless fashion world, while Emily Blunt’s razor-sharp Emily Charlton and Stanley Tucci’s effortlessly stylish Nigel completed a cast that remains endlessly quotable.
If you’ve ever uttered “Florals? For spring?” with even the slightest hint of sarcasm, you’ve been influenced by this film.
The sequel reunites the original quartet, with Meryl Streep, Anne Hathaway, Emily Blunt and Stanley Tucci all returning. Director David Frankel and screenwriter Aline Brosh McKenna are also back, giving fans confidence that this won’t simply be a nostalgic cash grab dressed in designer labels.
This time, however, the fashion world looks very different.
Gone are the days when glossy magazines ruled the media landscape without question. In The Devil Wears Prada 2, Miranda Priestly finds herself navigating an industry transformed by digital publishing, influencers, social media and shifting advertising budgets. Andy Sachs returns to Runway as an accomplished journalist, while Emily Charlton has climbed the fashion ladder and now occupies a powerful position on the other side of the industry. Suddenly, the woman who once lived in fear of Miranda’s phone calls has become someone Miranda actually needs.
It’s a clever premise because the original film was never really about handbags or high heels. It was about ambition, compromise, reinvention and deciding how much of yourself you’re prepared to sacrifice in pursuit of success. Those themes feel just as relevant today—perhaps even more so in an age where careers are built online and reputations can change with a single viral post.
Of course, audiences are also returning for something far simpler.
They want to spend another couple of hours in Miranda Priestly’s world.
Few fictional characters have enjoyed the staying power of Miranda. She’s intimidating without shouting, devastating without swearing and capable of delivering career-ending criticism in little more than a whisper. Meryl Streep created a performance so influential that business leaders still cite Miranda when discussing leadership, while countless internet memes continue to recycle her most famous expressions almost two decades later.
That’s not bad for someone who made saying “That’s all” sound like a legal judgement.
The sequel also introduces several new faces, including Kenneth Branagh, Lucy Liu, Simone Ashley and Justin Theroux, broadening the world beyond the familiar offices of Runway magazine. Yet it’s the reunion of the original cast that has generated most of the excitement, proving that some screen partnerships simply don’t go out of style.
For Disney+, the film represents another significant addition to an increasingly impressive library of blockbuster movies following their cinema releases. The original continues to attract new audiences every year, helped by streaming platforms introducing younger viewers to Miranda, Andy and Nigel for the first time. The sequel looks set to repeat that success once it makes its way to subscribers after its theatrical window.
Fashion trends come and go. Mobile phones get smaller, then larger again. Skinny scarves quietly disappear, only to threaten a comeback every few years. But truly iconic films rarely lose their appeal.
Nearly twenty years after The Devil Wears Prada first reminded us that style isn’t just about clothes—it’s about confidence, ambition and surviving impossible bosses—the world’s most intimidating editor is walking back into the office.
And somehow, we’re all still desperate to hear what Miranda Priestly thinks of our outfit.
