After 20 years of anticipation, The Devil Wears Prada fans can finally catch up with Miranda Priestly and Andy Sachs in the long-awaited sequel, released internationally on Friday. The film has already garnered rave reviews.
Plot Overview
The sequel sees Andy (Anne Hathaway) return to Runway to help Miranda (Meryl Streep) amid uncertainty over the magazine's future. Teaming up with Miranda's former assistant Emily Charlton (Emily Blunt), now at Dior, and loyal right-hand man Nigel Kipling (Stanley Tucci), the group must put aside their differences to save the magazine. While the sequel offers a fresh take on the fashion and media industry, it is filled with references to the 2006 original.
Opening Sequence
Both films open identically: a shot of Andy wiping down her bathroom mirror and preparing for the day. She then pounds the pavements of New York City, though her wardrobe has been upgraded. In a rush, Andy is almost hit by a yellow taxi but jumps out of the way—unlike Emily's fate in the original. The camera cuts to the Metropolitan Museum of Art for the Met Gala, themed 'Spring Florals'—a nod to Miranda's iconic line, 'Florals, for Spring? Groundbreaking.' The sequel also ends the same way, with Miranda uttering 'go.'
Familiar Locations
Andy has broken up with Nate (Adrian Grenier) and lives in a new apartment as a single woman, but she still visits Bubby's in Tribeca, the restaurant where Nate once worked. Miranda remains in her luxury townhouse, and viewers see her office unchanged, though she now must hang her own coat. The Runway office has been updated, but the fashion closet remains, with Nigel helping Andy pick an outfit. Andy also enjoys corn chowder at the canteen (despite the 'cellulite' warning) and an onion bagel on her way to work.
Familiar Faces and Phrases
The score by Theodore Shapiro and Madonna's 'Vogue' return. Screenwriter Aline Brosh McKenna includes references like Nigel greeting Andy with 'hello six' (her clothing size), and the line 'a million girls would kill for the job.' Miranda tells a designer to lose a bow on a dress, echoing her dislike of a bow dress in the first film. Emily describes herself as 'fresher and younger,' a jab Miranda once received. Miranda's cerulean jumper appears as a vest, modified by Hathaway herself. Costume Designer Molly Rogers said: 'She grabbed it in a fitting and chopped the sleeves off—we all screamed. But it was good because we were doing her menswear-inspired.'
Returning characters include Andy's best friend Lily (Tracie Thoms), Runway worker Paul (George C. Wolfe), Heidi Klum in a cameo, and Irv Ravitz (Tibor Feldman). Storylines also echo the original, such as Andy facing an 'impossible' task and a rescinded promotion, though spoilers are avoided here.
The Devil Wears Prada 2 is in cinemas now.
