Sequels rarely surpass their predecessors. Now, Disney faces a great challenge: to revive the vibrant spirit of The Devil Wears Prada (2006) in a sequel that promises to once again shake up the extravagant world of fashion.
Nearly two decades after the film adaptation of Lauren Weisberger's novel became a cultural phenomenon that put its three protagonists, Meryl Streep (who won a Golden Globe for it), Anne Hathaway, and Emily Blunt, on everyone’s lips, rumors of a sequel have been confirmed by Puck magazine. But, what should this sequel include to match the level of the original movie?
The Devil Wears Prada 2: The Plot
For those who haven't read it, Lauren Weisberger's literary sequel, Revenge Wears Prada: The Devil Returns (2013), centers on the life of Andrea Sachs ten years after her tumultuous time at Runway magazine and her fearsome boss, Miranda Priestly.
Now, our protagonist is the editor of a successful bridal magazine called "The Plunge," which she founded with Emily Charlton, Miranda's other assistant who was first a rival and later a friend. And she is engaged to Max, a charming man from a wealthy family.
However, her seemingly perfect life begins to get complicated when the shadow of her former boss continues to haunt her, especially when Miranda's media empire shows interest in acquiring "The Plunge."
Although the story has its merits, the truth is that this second part does not have the same spark and has been criticized for not capturing the charm of the first book. But, (as happened with the first one) we all know the magic of cinema, and a good and improved adaptation of this plot could bring our three protagonists back into circulation and explore, with much elegance and charm, new dynamics, tensions, and romances.
The Devil Wears Prada 2: A script that evolves beyond the book
However, preliminary information provided by Puck magazine suggests a change in the script, which would again be shaped by Aline Brosh McKenna, who adapted the first installment.
Thus, the sequel being discussed revolves around the following premise: Miranda Priestly is experiencing a critical and controversial moment in her career, facing the inevitable decline of traditional magazines. In an effort to reverse this situation and maintain the influence she has built over the years, Miranda will seek help from Emily Charlton, her former assistant who now holds a high executive position in a prestigious luxury investment firm, in the style of Kering or LVMH. Desperate for funding, Miranda will try to persuade Emily to invest in her faltering editorial empire.
Miranda, Andrea, and Emily: the indispensable presence of the original cast
Why not base it on the original sequel? And where do we have Andrea? So far, Disney has not commented. However, what we do know is that, according to Puck, the original movie's producer, Wendy Finerman, has already convinced Meryl Streep and Emily Blunt to participate in this sequel to the successful film. But we still do not know if Anne Hathaway (who, in fact, said in April that she did not believe a sequel would happen) will join the project.
Therefore, the change in direction in the plot, moving away from the original literary argument to explore a storyline that apparently does not include Andrea, could be related to the uncertainty about Hathaway's participation. A gap that would be hard to fill considering how iconic her character is.
Indeed, it should be mentioned that, in fact, to date, it has not been officially confirmed that any of the three actresses will appear in the movie. Something that is key to the success of the film. It would be fair to say that one of the greatest attractions of the first installment was the chemistry between its protagonists, especially between Meryl Streep and Anne Hathaway. And, in general, the fantastic performance of its cast, including the amusing role of Stanley Tucci.
Can the story survive centered on other characters? Surely. But if we do not have, at least, Miranda, Andrea, and Emily, recreating the magic of the original and reconnecting with nostalgic fans might be a challenge.
Therefore, for our delight and the success of the film, I hope to see again the maneuvers of the original characters that so captivated us, addressing new issues with the intelligence and wit that characterized its predecessor. I believe that this way, The Devil Wears Prada 2 will not only replicate the success of the original but also weave a narrative that will revive and renew the legacy of this classic.
In any case, we hope that Disney will officially announce the development of the sequel soon.
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