Devil Wears Prada 2 delivers: what it got right

For anyone who grew up watching The Devil Wears Prada on repeat, the arrival of its long-rumored follow-up felt like both a promise and a threat. After two decades away, the sequel had a high bar to clear: recapture the original’s sharp satire and glamour without feeling like a warmed-over retread. Fortunately, this new installment mostly understands what made the first film sing — and it leans into nostalgia without becoming a museum piece.

That said, sequels are risky, especially when they arrive years after the original. This one does plenty to justify its existence: the principal players return, costume and production teams reconnect with the original tone, and new elements — from contemporary cameos to a soundtrack stacked with current stars — help the story feel rooted in 2020s culture rather than buried in 2006 flashbacks.

Warning: Spoilers for Devil Wears Prada 2 follow.

Familiar leads return, new characters arrive, and cameos land nicely

The biggest strength of the sequel is its casting choices. The film brings back the quartet who anchored the first movie — and surrounds them with younger supporting players who are written to feel up-to-date, not cartoonishly woke.

• Returning core cast: Meryl Streep as Miranda Priestly, Anne Hathaway as Andy Sachs, Emily Blunt as Emily Charlton, and Stanley Tucci as Nigel — their chemistry is intact and the film benefits from that continuity.
• Notable new additions: Simone Ashley and Caleb Hearon play Miranda’s contemporary assistants, while Helen Shen is Andy’s new aide. Lucy Liu and Justin Theroux show up in larger supporting roles with clear dramatic purpose.
• Camera-friendly cameos: Expect blink-and-you’ll-miss-it appearances from viral personalities, supermodels, and design icons. Rather than feeling gimmicky, these moments often function as world-building — a nod that fashion culture has a much broader, internet-fueled ecosystem now.

The casting feels deliberate: veteran actors anchor the satire and new faces provide fresh energy, making the ensemble feel modern without erasing what fans loved about the original.

How the story reflects today’s media upheaval

Rather than rehashing office politics for its own sake, the sequel integrates the upheaval now reshaping journalism and publishing. Legacy magazines are struggling to justify print runs, budgets are strained, and editorial priorities are being rethought in public. The movie uses these pressures as genuine story fuel, not just set dressing.

• Andy’s career arc touches on the precariousness of newsroom life: recognition and setbacks coexist, underscoring how quickly newsrooms can pivot or cut staff.
• Miranda faces corporate restructuring and a potential promotion that would widen her scope — a subplot that mirrors recent real-world shifts at major publishing houses.
• There’s a recurring theme about readers demanding ethical, transparent coverage — especially around fashion — which forces characters to wrestle with what “content” should mean in an era of platform-driven attention.

The script doesn’t shy away from bitter realities: advertisers pulling back, editorial teams scrambling, and the tension between viral hits and meaningful longform. Those dynamics give the sequel a topical backbone that keeps it from being purely decorative.

From Paris stress to Milan exuberance: the new fashion geography

The first film’s Paris sequence remains iconic for how it tested Andy’s priorities. The sequel flips the script by shifting a good portion of the action to Milan — and it treats the city almost like a character. Milan’s fashion week scenes are playful and kinetic, showcasing runway experimentation and the picturesque elements of Italian life.

Where Paris in the original took on a tense, career-defining quality, Milan here provides a warmer, more daring playground. The film leans into the city’s visual identity: architecture, splashes of Italian dialogue, and designers who push boundaries. Costume and production design use this relocation to stage some of the movie’s most memorable moments.

Plenty of Easter eggs and callbacks for longtime fans

If you loved the first movie’s beat-for-beat idiosyncrasies, the sequel throws you more than a few crumbs. But these references are handled with affection rather than laziness: they nod to the past while advancing new jokes and character beats.

• Closet and wardrobe nods — old staples are referenced, replaced, or reimagined to show how fashion tastes evolve.
• Familiar lines and situations resurface in clever permutations, giving fans that satisfying recognition without feeling repetitive.
• Small moments — shared cafeteria bites, pointed glances, the ritualized fashion critiques — are staged to reward viewers who know the original well.

These callbacks function as conversation starters for devoted viewers rather than cheap fan service; they reinforce continuity while letting the sequel carve its own identity.

Costume work argues that the sequel can be as stylish as the original

Costume designer Molly Rogers brings a feast of looks that range from everyday journalist thrift-chic to high-gloss runway excess. The film leans into the idea that style signals character, and wardrobes are used to track growth, compromise, and reinvention.

• Andy’s updated aesthetic emphasizes smart thrift finds and practical statement pieces — think monochrome suits, sleek jumpsuits, and a handful of standout secondhand treasures.
• Miranda and Nigel continue to embody designer extravagance, but with small updates that feel current rather than derivative.
• The production reportedly shot extra outfits that didn’t make the final cut, which speaks to how much attention was paid to dressing each scene.

There’s a persistent visual richness: the sequel supplies enough knockout ensembles to make fashion fans want to pause and replay scenes just to catalogue the looks.

The soundtrack blends the nostalgic with today’s breakout stars

Music was crucial to the tone of the original, and the sequel leans into that legacy by mixing familiar sonic cues with contemporary hits. Songs here do more than sit in the background — they punctuate key scenes and amplify the film’s emotional beats.

• Expect a mix of established and emerging artists: pop, alternative, and R&B tracks appear alongside original compositions created for the film.
• Several numbers underscore fashion montages and party sequences, giving the movie an energetic pulse that complements its visual flair.
• Certain original songs were written to echo the runway spirit and are crafted to be earworms — they’re meant to linger after the credits roll.

The soundtrack aims to connect generations: older fans will catch nods to the first movie’s musical DNA, while newer listeners will discover fresh pop moments to stream after seeing the film.

A plot twist lands hard — and the theater felt it

Without giving away the key revelations, the film builds to a genuinely surprising twist that reframes relationships and power dynamics in ways the audience didn’t expect. The sequence is staged to maximize audience reaction: muffled gasps, a collective intake of breath, and a running curiosity about who will emerge as the true antagonist in this modern fashion world.

Drama, rivalry, and shifting alliances drive the final act, and the twist reframes earlier events in a smart, sometimes uncomfortable light. It’s the kind of beat that rewards theater viewings: shared reactions make it feel larger than the screen.

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David Miller

David Miller is an entertainment expert with a passion for film, music, and series. With eight years in cultural criticism, he takes you behind the scenes of productions and studios. His energetic style guides you to the next big releases and trending sensations.