On May 1st of 2026, The Devil Wears Prada returns with a sequel, invigorating fashion lovers worldwide.

First released in 2006, The Devil Wears Prada tells the story of a young journalist, Andrea Sachs, who’s starting her professional career in New York. Seeking to work at a journal, she lands a job at one of the world’s most prestigious fashion magazines, Runway, led by Miranda Priestley. As the latter’s assistant, Andrea’s life changes for the better, or the worse, sparking conflicted opinions among viewers. Upon its revival this May, public reception of the film’s trailer and sneak peeks has widely varied.

Production, Cast, Plot, and Mixed Opinions

Directed by David Frankel, written by Aline Brosh McKenna, and distributed by 20th Century Studios, The Devil Wears Prada 2 is an upcoming American comedy-drama film scheduled to be released on May 1st, 2026. Thus, Academy Award winners such as Anne Hathaway, Meryl Streep, Emily Blunt, and Stanley Tucci reprise their roles, bringing vibrancy and nuance to the world of fashion once again.

The plot is reportedly based on Lauren Weisberger's 2013 novel, Revenge Wears Prada: The Devil Returns. Hence, the story resumes the life of the protagonist, Andrea – Andy as her friends call her – twenty years later as she returns to Runway, not as an assistant but as a Features Editor. While Miranda navigates the ever-changing media landscape, they both reunite with Emily, another former assistant, who now runs a luxurious brand – her wealth potentially needed for Runway’s survival.

However, what sparks multiple questions and remarks from fans, is Miranda’s forgetful attitude. In the first movie, it is shown that Runway’s editor-in-chief is highly sophisticated and strict, specifically with her assistants. Therefore, she seems to be careless and never bats an eye. Yet surprisingly, as the story progresses, Miranda gradually shows signs of hope and hidden care for Andy, when in the last few scenes of the movie, she includes her in her statement: “Don’t be silly Andrea. This is what everyone wants. Everyone wants to be us.” 

Nevertheless, the new film’s trailer suggests otherwise: Miranda seems to overlook Andrea’s huge impact as her assistant, stirring concerns among fans and drawing significant criticism before the film’s release.

A Fashion Downgrade?

Not only was the plot questioned, but the styling in the movie was also hit with serious pejorative comments. While comparing the aesthetics of both productions, fashion enthusiasts all around the globe have complained about the emptiness of the new film, calling the style “lame”, “boring”, and too cheap. This comes from analyzing the appalling lack of personality in the characters’ outfits, which appear to be a lot more minimalistic.

Yet we often forget to remember that the film truly encapsulates today’s fashion industry, where minimalism has taken over. The Devil Wears Prada is not an animated catalog with glamorous looks, because it reflects a keen understanding of the fashion world and its changes, keeping a correct representation of enterprises worldwide. Accordingly, the styling in the film is rather neat, acting as a portrayal of the evolution of aesthetics in fashion.

Even so, a large number of excited fashion devotees have already marked their calendars on the 1st of May, as this film may be more centered on Miranda’s development arc, and may offer a fresh viewpoint on the fashion realm. By that means, despite the critiques, will The Devil Wears Prada 2 challenge these perspectives?