Twenty years after the original film captivated audiences, The Devil Wears Prada 2 reunites the iconic cast and crew, but director David Frankel admits that the journey to the sequel was anything but straightforward. Speaking after the film's star-studded premiere in Leicester Square, Frankel reflected on the unexpected success of the first movie and the immense pressure to recreate that magic.
A Long-Awaited Return
The sequel brings back Meryl Streep, Anne Hathaway, Emily Blunt, and Stanley Tucci, alongside Frankel and screenwriter Aline Brosh McKenna. In the two decades since the original, the cast has amassed eleven Oscar nominations, and the media landscape that Miranda Priestly once ruled has undergone a dramatic transformation. Frankel admitted that the idea of a sequel seemed impossible for years. 'So many things have to go right, so much luck has to happen. You look back and it's like somebody making a hole in one,' he said. 'It's one of the reasons we resisted the idea of making a sequel ever because how could lightning strike again?'
The Challenges of the First Film
Frankel candidly recalled the difficulties of making the 2006 film. With a budget of $35 million, the production was initially told it could not film in Paris, where a significant portion of the story takes place. 'I freaked out and ran to the executives and they said, “Don't worry, you'll figure something out.”' After seven weeks of shooting in New York, Frankel was allowed only two days in Paris and was forbidden from bringing Meryl Streep. The team had to creatively simulate her presence in the French capital. 'I've never heard of, before or since, a situation where you start a movie and you have no idea how you're planning to shoot an entire sequence of it.'
Beyond logistical hurdles, the atmosphere on set was tense. 'Meryl wasn't happy all the time because she kept her distance from the younger actors, and so it wasn't such a happy experience for her socially. And then Annie was going through some personal stuff, Emily was going through some personal stuff, we were struggling to make the movie, the hours were crazily long. We failed miserably in many, many ways – it was just a really hard shoot,' Frankel shared. Fortunately, the sequel was the opposite: 'This was joyful every minute honestly, I don't want to gloat about it, but it was four amazing movie stars working at the peak of their game and connecting with chemistry that was 20 years old and therefore ripened in a fantastic way.'
New Themes for a New Era
The sequel explores contemporary issues such as the role of journalists, the function of media, and the identity of fashion in 2026. It also tackles Miranda's legacy and the question of when a powerful person in their 70s should step down. 'These are really interesting questions to me, especially as I get older,' Frankel added. Miranda's problematic behavior is addressed through a new assistant, Amari (Simone Ashley), who acts as an ombudswoman to protect her from her worst self. Andy's assistant, Jin Chao (Helen J. Shen), represents a generation that values work-life balance, a theme Frankel sees as a continuation of Andy's phone-throwing moment in the first film.
Fan Reactions and Character Evolution
Frankel was surprised by the backlash against Nate, Andy's boyfriend from the first film, whom many fans now view as toxic. 'In fact, I thought Nate grew a lot in perspective by the end of the first movie. It's ambiguous how their relationship ends, but I always imagined they made an effort to stay together,' he said. For the sequel, McKenna created a new love interest for Andy: Peter (Patrick Brammall), a supportive property developer who respects her career. 'Peter went out of his way to read Andy's articles, really appreciates her and is encouraging at every step.'
Emily Blunt also influenced the script, insisting that all four main characters appear together in an early scene. 'Emily said, “Here you have a chance to get the Beatles back together, all four of us for one scene early in the movie, and you're missing a good bet!” And Aline went, “Oh my God, you're totally right!” and we fixed it.'
Oscar Buzz for Streep
Streep's performance as Miranda Priestly is already generating Oscar buzz. Frankel acknowledged the possibility but cautioned: 'It's rare that the Academy pays attention to comedies, and it's a movie that's coming out early in the year and it's easy to forget at the end. But I do think it's a really memorable performance and I hope that she gets recognised for it.'
As the sequel prepares for release, Frankel admits to 'crushing expectations' and sleepless nights. 'In the movies, “nobody knows anything” is an important mantra. You can have a great script and actors and somehow the chemistry still has to boil up in a way that this magic happens.' He hopes the new film connects with audiences as deeply as the original, which remains a favorite across generations. 'My daughter has friends who it's their father's favourite movie! That's both puzzling to me and thrilling. I hope that this movie connects with people half as much.'
The Devil Wears Prada 2 is in cinemas on Friday, May 1.
