Why the Star-Studded Cast of The Devil Wears Prada 2 Has Fans Both Excited and Worried
Disney's sequel brings back Meryl, Anne, and Emily—plus a wave of Gen Z stars. But can all that fame fit in one frame?
Los Angeles, July 9 EST: High heels, sharper elbows, and one of cinema’s most iconic pursed lips are heading back to the big screen—The Devil Wears Prada 2 is officially happening. But as Disney lines up an eye-popping ensemble of returning legends and buzzy new stars, fans are asking a very 2025 question: Is this sequel about the story… or the spectacle?
Big Names, Bigger Questions
On paper, this sequel has the kind of casting sheet that makes studio execs swoon. Meryl Streep, Anne Hathaway, and Emily Blunt are all signed on. That alone would’ve been enough to shut down Twitter for the day. But then came the kicker: Disney is reportedly bringing in Gen Z heavyweights like Zendaya, Paul Mescal, and Florence Pugh—the sort of casting announcement that screams “this is not your mother’s Runway anymore.”
Except that’s precisely the tension.
A now-viral op-ed in People tapped into the collective unease that’s been brewing since those casting rumors hit. The piece lays it out plain: the original Devil worked because it felt just real enough. It wasn’t about fame or flash. It was about ambition, identity, and the way women navigate power—all wrapped in Prada and scathing one-liners.
So what happens when you crowd that delicate ecosystem with Oscar darlings and internet-breakers?
Fame Fatigue or Franchise Evolution?
Look, we get it. It’s 2025. Nostalgia drives the box office. Star power drives the algorithm. But even fans who worship at the altar of Miranda Priestly are starting to squint a little. “Are we making a sequel,” one viral tweet asked, “or shooting a Vogue cover?”
To be fair, there’s real potential here. Zendaya as a digital-era fashion disruptor? Florence Pugh as Miranda’s new right hand with a taste for chaos? Paul Mescal in literally anything? Inject it into our veins.
Still, the worry is that in chasing a younger demo, the sequel could lose the thread that made the original so sticky. There’s a difference between refreshing the cast and refreshing the tone. If Prada 2 leans too hard into viral punchlines or influencer aesthetics, it risks flattening characters that once felt bracingly human.
Behind the Scenes, Familiar Hands at the Wheel
Here’s the good news: Aline Brosh McKenna, who wrote the original script, is back. So is director David Frankel. That continuity matters. They’re the reason Devil never turned into just another fashion comedy. They knew how to ground couture in conflict—and they gave us characters who lived rent-free in our heads for nearly 20 years.
No official plot yet, but early whispers suggest a shift into the digital media age. Imagine Miranda trying to command respect in a landscape ruled by hashtags and sponsored content. Imagine Andy, now a media exec herself, mentoring a new generation while grappling with the compromises that got her there.
There’s a world where that works. There’s also a world where this turns into a feature-length TikTok.
The Internet Is Watching—And Judging
Reaction online has been a rollercoaster. Some are fully in, no notes. Others are cautiously side-eyeing the casting like it’s a suspiciously off-brand bag. “If they even think about sidelining Miranda for Instagram drama, I’m out,” read one trending comment.
And that’s the thing. This isn’t just another sequel. The Devil Wears Prada is pop culture canon. You don’t mess with canon lightly.
That said, there’s no denying the potential. If McKenna and Frankel stick the landing—if they use the new blood to add texture, not noise—this could be the kind of legacy sequel Hollywood rarely pulls off. Think Top Gun: Maverick, not Sex and the City 2.
What’s Next?
We’re still in the early stages. No trailer yet. Production is aiming for Fall 2025, with a release likely in 2026. And until we get more than casting buzz and PR polish, the jury’s out on whether this sequel is fashion-forward or just fast fashion.
But one thing’s clear: The Devil is back—and everyone’s watching what she wears next.
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A bi-coastal pop culture critic and former indie screenwriter, Gia covers Hollywood, streaming wars, and subculture shifts with razor wit and Gen Z intuition. If it’s going viral, she already knew about it.
