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anne hathaway and meryl streep wearing sunglasses in devil wears prada 2
anne hathaway and meryl streep wearing sunglasses in devil wears prada 2
20th Century Studios
Northwestern | Culture > Entertainment

The Devil Wears Prada 2: A Movie About Journalism

Joy Xiao Student Contributor, Northwestern University
This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at Northwestern chapter and does not reflect the views of Her Campus.

“Florals? For spring? Groundbreaking.”

You may recognize this famous quote from Miranda Priestly from two decades ago. The Devil Wears Prada is a well-known and beloved film, and its highly anticipated sequel was released on May 1, 2026. 

meryl streep, anne hathaway and stanley tucci in devil wears prada 2
20th Century Studios

The Devil Wears Prada 2 reunites us with some of our favorite characters, including Miranda Priestly, Andy Sachs, Emily Charlton, and Nigel Kipling. After 20 years, Andy returns to work at Runway after losing her journalism job due to budget cuts. The characters of the movie navigate the struggles of print journalism in a progressively online-dependent world.

This time around, The Devil Wears Prada 2 shifts its focus from the glamorous realm of high fashion to something else — saving journalism. The movie still offers a fair amount of funny and nostalgic moments, but its underlying message is clear and relevant to the state of journalism today.

anne hathaway and meryl streep  in devil wears prada 2
20th Century Studios

In the original movie, Miranda lives a luxurious lifestyle: private jets, personal chauffeurs, and the world bending to her command. In the sequel, this life has taken a sharp turn, and she begins to travel via Uber and economy class like the rest of us.

Meanwhile, Runway is struggling to survive in the face of budget cuts. The previously thick magazine has been reduced to a thin, skeletal version of its former self. After Irv Ravitz’s death, his son Jay Ravitz takes over Elias-Clarke, the parent company that owns Runway, and aims to shut down the magazine completely. 

In addition to budget cuts, Miranda faces criticism on social media for the way she treats employees at Runway. Her once-feared management style is viewed as outdated and harsh in a world with social-media-driven accountability. One key moment that reflects Miranda’s change in behavior occurs when she is seen hanging her own coat up. In the original movie, Miranda used to throw her coat on her assistant’s desk as a symbol of her authority. It may seem meaningless, but this small change shows the world’s shift in power dynamics.

There is also an emphasis on the shift toward digital content designed for readers with short attention spans. When Andy begins working at the features desk at Runway, she is tasked with writing articles that are attention-grabbing enough to entice readers to click. It’s less about the depth of the topic she writes about and more about the initial impression.

anne hathaway crossing the street in devil wears prada 2
20th Century Studios

While this is all conveyed in a comical fashion, the movie suggests a more serious reality: the relevance of print journalism is declining, and as a consequence, many journalists are struggling to make a living. Miranda, once a force to be reckoned with, no longer has the lifestyle or influence she did when Runway was at its peak, and journalists like Andy are struggling to continue in the field.

Overall, The Devil Wears Prada 2 is definitely worth a watch. For the fans, there are many homages to the original movie, like Andy wearing the same cerulean blue sweater (but cut up this time). The movie is entertaining and sends a strong message about the challenges that print journalism faces today.

Joy Xiao

Northwestern '29

Joy Xiao is a first-year undergraduate student at Northwestern University studying journalism. Additionally, Joy is interested in pursuing economics or marketing as other areas of study. She will be graduating from Northwestern in 2029.

Joy is originally from upstate New York. In her free time, she enjoys staying active and exploring nearby areas. She is often found doing yoga, going on walks, and studying at cafes near campus.