‘The Devil Wears Prada 2’ Explores The Trials Of Print Media

It’s been 20 years since aspiring journalist Andy Sachs met ‘Runway’ magazine editor Miranda Priestly and ‘The Devil Wears Prada’ (2006) became a millennial classic, replete with all the career ambition, generational optimism and girl bossing that defined the era.

Back then, women’s magazines were a thing. And many freshly graduated young woman writers aspired to work for print magazines such as Cosmopolitan, Elle, the surprisingly on the pulse Teen Vogue, Vanity Fair and Glamour. In popular culture, Carrie Bradshaw in ‘Sex and the City’ had long since made column writing look fabulous and the blogosphere was on the rise with frank, unfiltered feminist sites like Jezebel just a year away.

Twenty years later, print is supposedly over, and it is in this dire, algorithm-run wasteland that ‘The Devil Wears Prada 2’ (2026) sets its scenes.

‘Runway’, still a fashion magazine of note and legend, is on the rocks.

Miranda, Runway’s icy yet formidable editor in chief, played iconically by Meryl Streep, is bowing to advertisers and chasing social media clicks. Meanwhile, Andy, Miranda’s once long-suffering assistant, played by a wonderful Anne Hathaway, has become an award-winning investigative journalist.

That doesn’t stop Andy and her entire department from being laid off in a scene that seems to echo the sweeping layoffs that have recently plagued the newspaper industry. Most recently the heralded The Washington Post laid off more than 300 journalists in what reports have called “a bloodbath” and “a blow to the storied paper”.

Newly unemployed, Andy needs a job. And Runway, recently embroiled in a sweatshop scandal, needs a credibility boost. So back to Runway Andy goes as their new features editor.

After the events of the first film, Andy and Miranda’s highly anticipated reunion is about as chilly as can be expected on Miranda’s part. However, Andy, the consummate go-getter, won’t be deterred.

But print, particularly its earnest, intelligent, longform articles, seems to be a relic of the past. So, despite being excellent at her job, Andy’s sweatshop apology and clever features don’t get the online clicks Runway needs to ensure its survival, thus the budget cuts continue.

Who knew a fluffy, big-budget fashion film could be somewhat triggering? But if you’re an editor or journalist working today, you know the struggle.

Still starring Stanley Tucci and Emily Blunt as Nigel, Runway’s art director, and Emily, now calling a shot or two at Dior, ‘The Devil Wears Prada 2’ brings back the first film’s favourites and the nostalgic beats are on point.

What does feel a little off is Miranda. Though Streep is ever excellent, the character is oddly cowed. While there are glimpses of her arctic yet sharp and commanding leadership, mostly Miranda seems to quietly accept Runway’s restructuring, budget cuts and diminished print product without too much of a fight.

Whether this is not to ruffle the feathers that sign cheques in the wake of the sweatshop fiasco or ahead of Miranda’s huge promotion, this compliant and mild character arc leaves a little something to be desired. Even if one can appreciate that sometimes the world truly does beat us down and we don’t have as much fight left in us.

Balancing real-world media concerns with all the gorgeous luxury fashion, zippy one-liners and fun we loved in the first film, ‘The Devil Wears Prada 2’ is a solid sequel. Fans of the first film will probably enjoy the second despite one or two unconvincing character developments and its bizarrely neat denouement.

Pretend it’s 20 years ago and catch ‘The Devil Wears Prada 2’ on the big screen. Its stars are bright, the clothes are fabulous and there’s a particular shade of cerulean.

‘The Devil Wears Prada 2’ is now showing at Ster-Kinekor.

– martha@namibian.com.na; Martha Mukaiwa on Twitter and Instagram; marthamukaiwa.com

In an age of information overload, Sunrise is The Namibian’s morning briefing, delivered at 6h00 from Monday to Friday. It offers a curated rundown of the most important stories from the past 24 hours – occasionally with a light, witty touch. It’s an essential way to stay informed. Subscribe and join our newsletter community.