The Devil Wears Prada 2 has the Fashion Magazine World Back En Vogue for Critics

By Elizabeth Paige Richardson | April 30, 2026 | Celebrity & Culture

Anne Hathaway, Meryl Streep in The Devil Wears Prada 2

The critics have filed their reviews for the long-anticipated return to the iconic offices of Miranda Priestly-led Runway Magazine in The Devil Wears Prada 2. The verdict? It’s worth the hype.

The film premieres on May 1, a perfectly fitting release date considering the star-studded Met Gala is set to take over the Met Museum just a couple days later on May 4. With the dress code being “fashion is art,” the industry is commanding the spotlight.

The sequel catches up on Runway Magazine 20 years later, at a time when the tides are turning against the traditional titans of magazine publishing in the modern digital era, and follows a reunited Andy Sachs (Anne Hathaway), Miranda Priestly (Meryl Streep), and Nigel Kipling (Stanley Tucci) as they try to adapt. Many critics have said that the chic outfits and performances were no faux pas.

Critic Matt Neglia called the movie charming, adding, “It may not aim for high art, but you can feel the passion from everyone shining through all the glitz and glamour, making for a comforting and entertaining watch.”

Another creator put it in more succinct terms, writing “The Devil Wears Prada 2 is SHARP and downright CHIQUE.”

Along with the notable departure of former love interest Nate (Adrian Grenier) from the movie, other change-ups in the cast are drawing headline attention. Two new assistants are sitting behind the Runway Magazine desks, including the fabulous Amari (Simone Ashley of Bridgerton fame) and Charlie (comedian Caleb Hearon).

Another character has already proven to be a conversation starter, assistant Jin Chao (Helen J. Shen). The character, shown as an overachieving assistant to Andy in the latest promo clip for the movie, has sparked a conversation on whether Hollywood is still relying on East Asian stereotypes in its scripts.

“I had so much fun playing her,” Shen told reporters. “I had so much fun playing her. She is a new, fresh take on how an assistant can be five steps ahead and think of some solutions to problems that people might not have anticipated before.”

We’re all ready to tune back into the not-so-glamorous inner workings of the fashion press, thanks to some high-level and elegant promotion work done by stars Hathaway and Streep.

During the 2026 Academy Awards, Hathaway appeared in a floral couture dress next to the infamous Anna Wintour, former longtime editor-in-chief of Vogue. They played a funny bit on stage as they presented the award for best costume design, makeup and hairstyling, a nod to their legendary roles in shaping the world of fashion.

For her part, Streep embraced the role of a media-mogul diva in a Vogue-approved skit with Wintour as she poked fun at the not-so-secret belief that Wintour is the source material for Miranda Priestly. For someone all about the image, she’s taken all the good fun in stride during the press run.