The first poster for The Devil Wears Prada 2 has arrived, featuring Meryl Streep in what appears to be full Miranda Priestly mode. And with it comes the question: Does anyone actually want this sequel?
The original 2006 film is a perfectly contained story. Anne Hathaway's Andy Sachs learns that success isn't worth compromising your soul. Meryl Streep gives an iconic performance as a fashion magazine editor who is brilliant, terrifying, and ultimately human. The film ends with Andy walking away from Runway magazine with her integrity intact. What more is there to say?
Apparently, quite a bit, according to the studio greenlit this sequel. The fashion industry has certainly changed since 2006. Print magazines are dying. Influencers have more power than editors. The whole ecosystem that The Devil Wears Prada satirized has been disrupted by social media and fast fashion.
Maybe that's the angle - Miranda Priestly navigating an industry that no longer revolves around her pronouncements. That could be interesting, especially with Streep playing a character watching her power erode. Or maybe it's just a cash grab trading on nostalgia for a beloved film.
The poster gives us nothing beyond Streep's steely gaze, which to be fair, is all you really need to sell a Devil Wears Prada sequel. Streep made Miranda Priestly into a cultural icon with that performance. "That's all" became a catchphrase. The cerulean sweater monologue is still quoted at fashion schools.
Whether Hathaway returns remains unclear from the poster alone. Does Andy come back to Runway? Has she become a successful journalist who must interview her former boss? Is she now the editor and Miranda the has-been? The possibilities range from genuinely interesting to deeply depressing.
