TV & Film 1 May 2026

20 Thoughts I Had While Watching The Devil Wears Prada 2

Spoiler alert: a lot of nostalgia and not a lot of nerve

All right, everyone! Gird your loins — The Devil Wears Prada 2 has officially arrived in Hong Kong cinemas. The highly anticipated sequel reunites the original cast — Anne Hathaway, Meryl Streep, Emily Blunt, and Stanley Tucci, — while welcoming newcomers Simone Ashley, Justin Theroux, and Lucy Liu to the Runway universe.

The buzz surrounding this sequel is undeniable. From the captivating fashion moments during its premiere and press tour that pay homage to the 2006 classic, to the ubiquitous marketing campaigns — including L’Oréal Paris’ playful collaboration with brand ambassador Kendall Jenner and TreSemmé’s partnership with Christian Siriano — The Devil Wears Prada 2 has been impossible to miss.

Set two decades after the original, the story finds Miranda Priestly (Meryl Streep) still reigning as editor-in-chief of Runway magazine, though now she must navigate the turbulent changes reshaping the media landscape. When the magazine faces a scandal over a controversial article, her former assistant Andy Sachs (Anne Hathaway) is brought back to help manage the crisis. Together, they must work alongside the formidable Emily Charlton (Emily Blunt), who has since become a high-powered executive at Dior with the authority to control the media spending that Runway desperately needs.

Nothing will ever replace the iconic original, but the time has come to secure your tickets and gather your friends for this highly anticipated sequel. After all, do you have some prior commitment? Some hideous skirt convention you have to go to?

In case you would like a preview, below are my unfiltered thoughts on the sequel:

1. Maybe it’s just me, but this doesn’t feel new enough

Video: The Devil Wears Prada 2 Trailer via YouTube

The sequel opens with Andy Sachs replaying her 2006 debut — steam on the mirror, towel, toothbrush — a nostalgic routine that feels more safe than bold. That sense of déjà vu lingers throughout the film, from Miranda Priestly’s satchel struggles to echoes of The Devil Wears Prada. The callbacks keep coming: Andy gifting a Valentino bag, Miranda now hanging her own coat, and Emily finally making it to Fashion Week in Milan. These moments read less like fresh storytelling and more like recycled fan service. While die-hard fans might find such nods charming, they ultimately reveal a sequel that seems afraid to step out from the shadow of the 2006 film.

2. In 2026, no one is safe from getting fired via text

Video: The Devil Wears Prada 2 Trailer via YouTube

Ping. Chime. Beep. Without warning, every phone at the table erupts with breaking news notifications. Thankfully, it’s not a tragedy — but the news is still shocking: Andy Sachs and her entire team have just been terminated via text message. This cold, digital dismissal feels as brutal as a breakup text — abrupt, impersonal, and impossible to process with dignity. It’s a massive HR nightmare unfolding in real time.

3. The Miranda Priestly memes are too real

Video: The Devil Wears Prada 2 Trailer via YouTube

The sequel also tackles cancel culture, with Miranda Priestly at the center of a firestorm following a controversial article. Even fashion’s fiercest icon can’t escape the digital mob — proof that in 2026, reputation is dictated by trolls as much as talent. We’ve all had moments where our actions or words occupied morally ambiguous territory, and watching someone of Miranda’s stature navigate this minefield offers a fascinating look at modern accountability.

It’s interesting to note that The Business of Fashion is the outlet breaking the news of this scandal.

4. We all need a friend like Lily

After Andy has a meet-cute with Peter, a remodeler working on a building she’s eyeing, Lily immediately springs into action, conducting essential reconnaissance. From relationship status and marital history to whether he has children, she covers all the bases — even promising a deep dive into his social media later. Every friend group has their designated FBI agent, and Lily proves she’s the ultimate girl’s girl, ready to run a full background check on any potential love interest.

5. Andy still can’t dress herself

Photo: IMDb

The film revisits the iconic Runway closet, where Nigel once again takes charge of Andy’s styling for her upcoming visit to Miranda’s Hamptons residence. Adhering to the “quiet luxury” aesthetic, he accessorises her with a custom Kelly bag while promptly dismissing her own styling attempts. There’s a small victory, though — Nigel lets her wear the colourful dress she’s been eyeing, as long as she promises not to stain it. It’s progress, sort of. But twenty years later, the message remains clear: Andy’s personal style is still considered a fashion emergency requiring professional intervention.

6. Miranda’s twins deserved more than a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it cameo

Two decades later, the famous twins — yes, the ones who sent Andy on that impossible Harry Potter manuscript hunt — make a very brief appearance at Miranda’s Hamptons residence. Now fully grown, they’re relegated to mere background decoration, which feels like a criminal waste of potential. Imagine the delicious irony if these two, who once tortured Andy with their demands for that unpublished Harry Potter book, had returned as high-profile executives holding Runway‘s financial future in their hands. The children who nearly broke Andy with their impossible requests could have been her saviours – or tormentors – all over again.

7. Where can I get an invite to these parties?

The sequel delivers a parade of celebrity cameos, particularly at Irv’s 75th birthday bash. The party’s guest list reads like a front row at Fashion Week: Heidi Klum, Law Roach, Amelia Gray, Amelia Dimoldenberg, and Ciara all make appearances. Hugh Jackman gets name-dropped but doesn’t show — presumably too busy being Hugh Jackman. Honestly, what does it take to score an invite to this party?

8. This time, Andy owns those stairs

Video: The Devil Wears Prada 2 Trailer via YouTube

Demonstrating her newfound confidence, Andy strides into Miranda’s residence and heads straight for the stairs, a move even Miranda’s husband calls “brave.” For fans of the original, this moment carries weight: these are the same stairs where Andy was once caught sneaking around like an intruder. Now she climbs them without hesitation or apology. It’s a small gesture that speaks volumes: Andy isn’t tiptoeing through Miranda’s world anymore, she’s walking through it like she belongs there. That’s character growth, delivered one step at a time (quite literally).

9. Blue is staging a comeback in 2026

While Pantone may have crowned PANTONE 11-4201 Cloud Dancer as 2026’s Colour of the Year, The Devil Wears Prada 2 makes a compelling case for blue. The hue dominates nearly every frame, from Emily’s hotel room decor to Andy’s show-stopping ballgown at Irv’s birthday celebration to Donatella Versace’s impeccably tailored suit during her meeting with Emily.

In this sequel, blue truly reigned supreme.

10. Did Emily settle?

Photo: IMDb

The sequel reveals Emily’s fate: she was eventually forced out by Miranda in a move echoing Nigel’s experience in the original film, which paved the way for her current role at Dior. While this manoeuvre is vintage Miranda Priestly, it feels unexpectedly hollow watching Emily accept a position that was essentially handed to her. After years of persevering as Miranda’s assistant and proving her grit, it’s almost sad that her next chapter isn’t the result of her own hard-won ambition, but of being shoved aside and settling for a consolation prize.

11. Runway’s AI subplot hits too close to home

The discourse surrounding AI has become a fixture of our daily lives, and this theme is meticulously woven into the narrative via Benji Barnes. The billionaire, who attempts to acquire Runway magazine, dismisses the creative contributions of editors, stylists, and photographers as obsolete during a dialogue with Andy Sachs. His assertion that AI will inevitably dominate the field serves as a poignant cultural commentary on the transformative shifts currently occurring within the industry.

12. New looks, same Andy

Video: The Devil Wears Prada 2 Trailer via YouTube

Even after two decades of silence between them, Andy collaborates with Emily to safeguard Miranda’s legacy at Runway. Andy’s willingness to defend her former mentor against those plotting to seize her position highlights a steadfast moral compass. Her wardrobe may have evolved, but her fundamental character remains as resolute as ever.

13. Justice for Nigel, finally!

Photo: IMDb

In the original film, Nigel was famously deprived of a creative director role at James Holt when Miranda chose to promote Jacqueline Follet to secure her own position. This sequel brings that journey full circle; when Miranda is unable to attend the Milan Fashion Show, she appoints Nigel to deliver the keynote for Runway. In doing so, she finally offers him the recognition and platform he was denied twenty years ago, allowing Nigel to truly shine as he represents the magazine on a global stage. Nigel’s long-delayed triumph feels satisfying, but it also reminds us how cruelly Miranda sidelined him for decades.

14. Runway deserved Lady Gaga’s RUNWAY

Video: Lady Gaga/Doechii

Performing as herself, Lady Gaga took to the fictional Milan Fashion Week stage with “Shape of a Woman.” Yet the timing couldn’t have been more ironic: just days earlier, she had released her music video “Runway” with Doechii on April 27. The sequel’s soundtrack may feature the track, but the absence of a live runway performance feels like a squandered opportunity. For a film so obsessed with fashion spectacle, Gaga’s real runway anthem should have been the centrepiece — instead, it was left off the runway entirely.

15. Is Peter simply a reimagined version of Nate?

In the 2006 original, Andy’s relationship with Nate crumbles because he feels sidelined by her career and mocks her professional milestones. Twenty years later, the sequel pairs her with Peter, a remodeler who offers zero emotional support when she shares her concerns about Runway’s decline under new leadership. His response? Drawing tone-deaf parallels to building renovation. For an accomplished, award-winning journalist, Andy deserves better than this underdeveloped romantic subplot that drags her down rather than lifting her up. The lack of chemistry between them makes their relationship feel less like a love story and more like checking a box marked “give Andy a boyfriend.”

16. Corporate deals don’t work like this IRL…

We see Runway acquired by Sasha Barnes (Lucy Liu) after her ex-husband’s failed acquisition attempt. On screen, the transactions unfold in a matter of hours or days, but in reality, multi‑million dollar acquisitions take months, if not years, to close. They demand layers of due diligence, legal wrangling, and endless negotiations. The film’s breezy depiction of a quick phone call sealing the deal feels implausible, and frankly, a missed opportunity. Exploring the legal side – say, a loophole in Miranda’s contract or a mandatory retirement clause for CEOs – would have added far more intrigue than the oversimplified version we’re given.

17. Even Miranda can’t escape HR’s grip

Video: The Devil Wears Prada 2 Trailer via YouTube

“Has she been human trafficked, my Amari?” Miranda asks sharply when her newest assistant, Amari (played by Simone Ashley), is missing just as Andy and Emily arrive with updates on Runway‘s leadership. Throughout the sequel, Miranda deals with significant corporate oversight as Amari briefs her on modern HR protocols and restricted language. There is a dark irony in Miranda delivering such a provocative line precisely because of the censorship she now faces and the fact that the person enforcing those rules isn’t there to hear it.

18. Andy and Emily bury the hatchet at last

As the soulful Olivia Dean performs “Nice To Each Other” in the background, Andy and Emily finally put their decades-old rivalry to rest. It is a refreshing development to see them forge a genuine friendship after twenty years. Interestingly, Emily has moved on to a new chapter at Coach following her tenure at Dior. In a charming reversal of their original dynamic, the two are seen sharing fries, proving that “shared carbs share no carbs”—a significant evolution from Emily’s infamous “block of cheese” diet.

19. The cerulean sweater: still not Andy’s choice

The film’s finale sees Andy strolling through the Runway offices in that legendary cerulean blue sweater — a poignant full-circle moment, especially following the reveal that Nigel had been quietly pulling strings with Jay Ravitz to secure her position. The sweater’s return echoes Miranda’s famous monologue from the original, where she explained how that specific shade was never random but carefully curated by the industry elite. Twenty years later, the cerulean sweater still works as the perfect metaphor: Andy may think she’s finally in control, but the unseen forces and power plays that Miranda once described are still very much at work, shaping her path whether she knows it or not.

20. The ending clings onto nostalgia, but are we surprised?

In the original 2006 film, the story concludes with Andy leaving the Runway building, followed by a brief, silent encounter with Miranda on the street. The sequel brings this journey full circle with a closing sequence set to the same iconic soundtrack. This time, however, Andy isn’t walking away — she’s heading back into the Runway offices to finally claim her own space and step into her power. While this callback provides a satisfying sense of closure, it also reveals the sequel’s biggest weakness: it treats nostalgia as a clutch rather than a springboard.