Great news, fashionistas: the production of The Devil Wears Prada 2 has been moving at a pace that would “thrill” the likes of Miranda Priestly, herself. Since Meryl Streep, Emily Blunt, Stanley Tucci, and Anne Hathaway confirmed they would be returning for the sequel to reprise their roles, there has been an onslaught of cast updates in mystery roles we can’t wait to unveil.
You may recall the announcement that Adrian Grenier will officially not be returning for the sequel. While this news may come as a shock to some, you know what they say about setbacks: “For every root you destroy, three more will grow in its place,” and that seems to be the case when it comes to the cast of The Devil Wears Prada 2.
Deadline reports that Prada’s original core four will be joined by a band of newcomers, which includes Kenneth Branagh and Bridgerton’s Simone Ashley. According to Variety, this ensemble also includes Lucy Liu, Justin Theroux, B.J. Novak, and Pauline Chalamet.
So far, the roles of the new co-stars have been kept under wraps, with the exception of newcomer Kenneth Branagh. The Academy Award-winning actor will reportedly replace James Naughton as the new “Mr. Priestly,” following the announcement of their divorce in the first film. Andrea's bestie Lily (Tracie Thoms) and publishing mogul Irv Ravitz (Tibor Feldman) will allegedly also be picking up where Prada left off.
Considering the synopsis, the new ensemble cast may portray rivals of Runway in some capacity, with supportive roles that threaten the magazine's success. The Devil Wears Prada 2 reportedly finds Miranda Priestly facing the harsh realities of the digital age, where social media and influencers have become the new face of the fashion world. As print publication is steadily on the decline, Priestly must seek help in the form of ad revenue, forcing her to come face to face with her former assistant Emily Charlton (who has since become her own tour de force in the fashion industry.)
This new, trendy direction gives The Devil Wears Prada 2 a chance to expand on its award-winning formula, taking its high-fashion story from Runway cubicles to online platforms. The expansion to the cyber world creates exciting opportunities to introduce new characters and angles that will bring its nearly twenty-year-old story up to speed. Coincidentally, the announcement of the sequel came within weeks of Anna Wintour’s announcement to step down as Editor in Chief of Vogue Magazine (the fashion icon who reportedly inspired Miranda Priestly’s character), making Prada 2’s prevalent themes of “out with old, in with the new” hit even closer to home.
The Devil Wears Prada 2 is slated to release in theaters on May 1, 2026.
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