Anne Hathaway has sparked anticipation among fans of The Devil Wears Prada by sharing a brief but revealing video signaling the start of the sequel’s production. In the clip released on July 21 via TikTok, Hathaway appears in a recognizable outfit—a cerulean sweater layered over a button-down shirt—a nod to her character Andy Sachs’s iconic look in the 2006 original. This visual tease has fueled excitement for the upcoming film, which is set to continue the story nearly two decades later.
Adding confirmation of filming activities, Stanley Tucci, who starred alongside Hathaway in the first installment, also announced the beginning of production on social media. These updates coincide with earlier remarks from Emily Blunt, the original cast member who plays Emily Charlton, about the sequel’s imminent filming.
Original Cast Members Offer Insight into the Sequel’s Production
Stanley Tucci took a moment away from packing to announce on July 20 that he was preparing to film The Devil Wears Prada again, reinforcing news of the sequel’s progress. Emily Blunt echoed this sentiment and addressed rumors concerning her character’s evolution. She indicated that her character, now a high-powered executive, will be in opposition to Meryl Streep’s iconic Miranda Priestley.
“Why are Meryl and I so mean to each other in every movie we do?” —Emily Blunt, Actress
“We always have beef with each other. I don’t know what it is. Let’s hope we remedy it. I’m not sure.” —Emily Blunt, Actress
Despite this teasing, Blunt has kept most details under wraps about what audiences can expect from the new film’s plot and character arcs.
Sequel Cast: Familiar Faces and New Additions Join the Ensemble
While Stanley Tucci won’t appear in the sequel, the production features a mix of returning stars and fresh faces. Among those joining for the new installment are Lucy Liu and rising talents including Pauline Chalamet from Sex Lives of College Girls, Justin Theroux from The Leftovers, BJ Novak of The Office, and Conrad Ricamora. Additionally, Broadway actress Helen J. Shen and comedian Caleb Hearon have been cast, providing an expanded ensemble to complement the original lineup.
The film is slated for release in May 2026, giving fans nearly two years to await its arrival.
The Origins and Behind-the-Scenes Stories of The Devil Wears Prada
The original The Devil Wears Prada film began development even before Lauren Weisberger’s novel was published. With only the first 100 pages and an outline, Fox executives were convinced to adapt the story inspired by Weisberger’s experience working at Vogue under editor Anna Wintour. Carla Hacken, then executive vice president at Fox 2000, shared how impressed she was by the depiction of Miranda Priestly.
“I was the first person to read it at Fox 2000,”
Hacken recalled.
“I thought Miranda Priestly was one of the greatest villains ever. I remember we aggressively went in and scooped it up.”
Aline Brosh McKenna was eventually tasked to develop a script that shifted focus to the personal and professional sacrifices women make in the fashion industry.
“I wrote a draft pretty quickly—it took me about a month,”
McKenna said.
“Then I rewrote it based on everybody’s notes.”
Challenges Faced During Production Due to Anna Wintour’s Influence
Researching the world of Vogue and the model of Anna Wintour posed several challenges for the filmmakers. McKenna noted that those in the fashion industry were hesitant to participate for fear of repercussions. One anonymous source described the characters as appearing too kind compared to the real-life fashion world, prompting script adjustments to present people as busier and less pleasant.
Director David Frankel revealed just how difficult securing filming locations was, citing the Metropolitan Museum’s refusal to participate due to scheduling conflicts with the Met Ball. Bryant Park, then the site of New York Fashion Week, was also off-limits. Additionally, multiple iconic apartment buildings declined filming requests for Miranda’s residence, forcing the team to borrow a townhome on the Upper East Side through a producer’s contacts.
Authentic Set Design and Wardrobe Bring Realism to the Film
Despite a lack of direct cooperation from Vogue, production designer Jess Gonchor managed to study Anna Wintour’s office covertly and achieve an authentic recreation that reportedly inspired Wintour to redecorate her own office after the film’s release.
Securing costumes proved similarly challenging; initially, designers were reluctant to lend garments fearing Wintour’s disapproval. However, costume designer Patricia Field assembled a wardrobe of about 150 pieces from prominent designers such as Donna Karan, Zac Posen, Rick Owens, and Prada, carefully distinguishing Miranda Priestley’s style from Wintour’s public persona.
“She borrowed everything; we had to be very careful not to eat spaghetti at lunch,”
Streep reminisced.
“because it’d go down the front and they couldn’t return it!”
Anna Wintour’s Reaction and Participation in the Film’s Legacy
Anna Wintour herself displayed a sense of humor about the film’s portrayal of Vogue and its staff. Meryl Streep recounted an exchange during Vogue’s 125th anniversary where Wintour playfully interrupted Streep’s comments on challenging roles.
Wintour also attended the film’s screening alongside Weisberger, remarking that while entertaining, the film was not an accurate depiction of working at the magazine:
“It was not a true rendition of what happens within this magazine.”
—Anna Wintour, Editor-in-Chief, Vogue.
Meryl Streep: The Only Choice for Miranda Priestley
The role of Miranda was never seriously considered for anyone but Meryl Streep, according to Carla Hacken. When Streep’s agent expressed interest in a meeting, Hacken celebrated privately, shouting in excitement.
“I don’t remember anything other than, ‘Please God—let it be Meryl,'”
Hacken recalled.
“I was shouting in my office.”
Streep embraced Miranda’s complex nature, appreciating the unwavering harshness without acclimatizing to soften her character. She described the character’s power as rooted in refusal to use ingratiating behavior common in women seeking influence.
“I liked that there wasn’t any backing away from the horrible parts of her, and the real scary parts of her had to do with the fact that she didn’t try to ingratiate,”
Streep explained.
“which is always the female emollient in any situation where you want your way—what my friend Carrie Fisher used to call ‘the squeezy and tilty’ of it all. [Miranda] didn’t do any of that.”
Streep’s Negotiations and Creative Input on Miranda’s Character
Before accepting the part, Streep challenged the initial salary offer, finding it inadequate for her value to the production. Her persistence led to a doubled offer, marking a turning point in her approach to negotiating roles.
“The offer was, to my mind slightly, if not insulting, not perhaps reflective of my actual value to the project,”
she explained.
“There was my ‘goodbye moment,’ and then they doubled the offer. I was 55, and I had just learned, at a very late date, how to deal on my own behalf.”
Streep also ensured two key scenes highlighting Miranda’s depth stayed intact: one teaching Andy about the significance of sartorial details like the cerulean sweater, and another showing Miranda vulnerable and unguarded in a hotel room. Furthermore, Streep made the decision to wear her natural white hair for the role, a move that convinced producers of her commitment without discussion.
“Meryl channeled Miranda in that meeting, and there was no conversation about the hair; they looked into Meryl’s eyes and never said a word.”
—David Frankel, Director.
Anne Hathaway’s Journey to Landing the Role of Andy Sachs
Anne Hathaway was not the first choice to play Andy Sachs in The Devil Wears Prada. She revealed she was the ninth option, but gained the role without auditioning. Hathaway campaigned persistently for the part, famously writing “hire me” in the sand of Carla Hacken’s zen garden to make her case.
When the offer finally arrived, Hathaway experienced a euphoric moment at home, quickly sharing the news with friends.
“I had some buddies over,”
she shared.
“I remember running out in my living room, half dressed, screaming—’I got The Devil Wears Prada! I got The Devil Wears Prada!'”
The top choice had repeatedly declined the role. Director David Frankel revealed they offered the part to Rachel McAdams three times, but she passed due to hesitations about mainstream projects. Kate Hudson was another notable actress who turned the role down for scheduling reasons, expressing some regret over the decision later.
Meryl Streep’s support of Hathaway helped allay executives’ concerns, with Streep personally endorsing Hathaway to Fox’s Tom Rothman after watching her performance in Brokeback Mountain.
“Meryl watched that scene from the movie,”
Frankel recalled.
“She met with her and called up Tom Rothman at Fox and said, ‘Yeah, this girl’s great, and I think we’ll work well together.'”
Emily Blunt’s Casting and Character Development
The casting process for Emily Charlton proved extensive, with over 100 women auditioning before director Frankel chose Emily Blunt. Blunt was initially visiting the Fox lot for another project when invited to read for the part. Despite a rushed and informal audition in sweatpants, she impressed the creative team.
“But I was rushing for the airport, and I remember just being kind of flustered,”
Blunt admitted.
“So I read it, but I was wearing sweatpants, and I did not look the part at all.”
After viewing the initial tape, Frankel sought a second audition with Blunt dressed appropriately to confirm the choice.
“I was in some dive club in London,”
Blunt recalled.
“I called him back from the bathroom. He said, ‘Listen I would have cast you off the tape, but the studio wants to see you one more time. Can you do what you did but dress the part more?'”
Although originally American, the character’s dialogue was adjusted to incorporate British expressions after McKenna noticed Blunt’s natural accent fit perfectly with the role. Blunt added authentic touches from real life, such as borrowing a line from a stressed mother she observed during filming.
“I guess I steal from people I meet,”
Blunt said.
“Like, I saw a mother speaking to her child in a supermarket when we were shooting that film. And it’s a line that gets quoted back to me now. She yelled at her kid and she kind of opened and closed her hand and she goes, ‘Yeah, I’m hearing this, and I want to hear this.’ I went and put it in the movie.”
Stanley Tucci’s Contribution to Nigel’s Character and Personal Life
Stanley Tucci joined the film at the last moment as Nigel, Runway’s art director, and his improvisations enriched some of the film’s most memorable lines, including “gird your loins.”
“I love the scene when Miranda is first coming up to the office and everyone sort of panics,”
Tucci said.
“We all kept laughing so hard, and David kept throwing out lines for me to say and ‘Gird your loins’ was the one that made it in.”
He also shared an amusing anecdote about another improvised line:
“‘Tits in!’ That was one I made up, but every time we laughed.”
Beyond the film, Tucci’s personal life intertwined with the cast when he met future wife Felicity Blunt, Emily Blunt’s sister, at the 2006 premiere. Despite difficult circumstances related to his then-wife Kate Tucci’s health, Tucci recounts a poignant moment where both women connected at the event.
“So I did the movie, and she started treatments, and then we had the premiere, and then she was alive for four more years after that,”
Tucci reflected.
“And, actually, Felicity—Emily’s sister, my wife—she and Kate talked at the premiere that night and I have a photo of them together, which is so odd.”
Tracie Thoms and Other Cast Experiences on Set
Tracie Thoms, who played Lily, remembers receiving her casting notification on her 30th birthday while attending a workshop at Dartmouth. The role aligned well with her career trajectory at the time, and she recalls the joyous moment vividly.
“At that point in my career, I had kind of slipped into this best friend space. So I was like, ‘Oh, Lily’s easy. That’s right in my wheelhouse'”
she said.
“I was in Dartmouth doing a workshop of a new play by Alan Ball,”
Thoms explained.
And it was in the cafeteria, over lunch, that she got the news. ‘It was like, ‘Hey, so you booked Devil Wears Prada. Happy birthday!”
Thoms also recalls Adrian Grenier, who portrayed Andy’s boyfriend Nate, creatively handling fan attention by distributing his band’s CDs to autograph seekers, redirecting attention to his musical collaborators.
“He was using that opportunity to promote his band members, because he was not the frontman of the band,”
Thoms remarked.
“I thought that was really great how he dealt with everybody very specifically and appreciated their support, and tried to ricochet that support onto his colleagues.”
Though the experience felt like a blend of metropolitan sophistication and striving for maturity akin to Sex and the City for the cast, Thoms admits one regret involving a coveted Marc Jacobs purse used during filming. One particular scene where she intended to keep the purse was ultimately cut, leaving her without the prized item.
“I asked the prop department to not show me the purse before we were rolling, because I wanted the reaction to be genuine,”
she explained.
That, like, gasping and grabbing and ‘Gimme, gimme!’, that happened because that purse was gorgeous.”
“I had a whole plot in my brain on how to keep the purse,”
she admitted.
“And then the scene where I was going to somehow forget to leave the purse in my trailer, that scene got cut. So I never went back to work to get the purse. It was very sad.”
Filming Decisions and Streep’s Isolation on Set
Originally, the film had planned no scenes shot on location in Paris for the unfolding climax involving Miranda and Andy’s visit to Paris Fashion Week. Director Frankel was surprised by this omission, but successfully convinced the studio to increase the budget and release the film during the summer by showcasing a compelling sizzle reel. Hathaway and Simon Baker, who played writer Christian, traveled to France to film the sequences, whereas Meryl Streep’s parts were shot in New York as a cost-saving measure.
On set, Streep chose to isolate herself to embody Miranda fully, avoiding the camaraderie among cast members. She later described this experience as difficult, calling it the last time she attempted Method acting.
“I could hear them all rocking and laughing. I was so depressed! I said, ‘Well, it’s the price you pay for being boss!’ That’s the last time I ever attempted a Method thing!”
Before adopting her icy persona on camera, Streep offered Hathaway a memorable and character-true pep talk:
“I want you to know I think you’re going to be great, and I’m so happy to work with you…and that’s the last nice thing I’m going to say to you.”
—Meryl Streep, Actress.
The Lasting Impact of The Devil Wears Prada and Expectations for the Sequel
The Devil Wears Prada set a high standard with its sharp writing, complex characters, and memorable performances, carving out a distinctive space in fashion and film culture. The sequel, with its blend of returning cast members such as Anne Hathaway and Emily Blunt, plus new talent including Lucy Liu and Justin Theroux, promises to revisit this dynamic world with fresh energy.
Fans eagerly await the film’s release in May 2026, anticipating the continuing clash between Andy Sachs and Miranda Priestley and the further exploration of the fashion industry’s fierce environment. The teaser provided by Anne Hathaway’s cerulean sweater already ties the sequel to its original roots, sparking strong nostalgia and heightened expectations.
Our Reader’s Queries
Q. What is Anne Hathaway’s syndrome?
A. She annoyed me, so I asked why she bothered me and eventually wrote about Anne Hathaway Syndrome. This is when you do everything correctly, yet people dislike you for it. The more I consider this, the clearer it seems: Anne Hathaway was sincere like a theater kid at the peak of a performance.
Q. What is Anne Hathaway’s religion?
A. Hathaway grew up as a Roman Catholic, valuing her faith strongly. As a child, she dreamed of becoming a nun, but acting topped her priorities.
Q. Why does Anne Hathaway’s face look different?
A. A plastic surgeon thinks Anne Hathaway might have had cosmetic surgery. The surgeon noted signs suggesting a possible nose job.
The surgeon also mentioned that her face appears thinner. They said some natural changes happen as baby fat fades, but her look seems more controlled.
Q. Is Anne Hathaway Turkish?
A. Anne Hathaway has a heritage that is mainly Irish but also includes English, German, and French roots.
