May 03, 2026 4:17pm IST
‘The Devil Wears Prada 2’ Is A Masterclass In Callbacks and Closures
“The Devil Wears Prada 2,” in the words of Emily Charlton (Emily Blunt), has “some very large shoes to fill”. A legacy sequel isn’t just about carrying a beloved story forward, but also paying homage to the original in a way that feels unforced. It’s safe to say, then, that “The Devil Wears Prada 2” is definitely a masterclass in getting callbacks and closures right.
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Callbacks stitched in, with intention
Of course, Nigel (Stanley Tucci) and Andy (Anne Hathaway) go back to The Closet, and there's a fashion montage set to diva music. “The Devil Wears Prada 2” weaves in callbacks to the first film so seamlessly, you’d actually have to pay attention. In just the opening credits, the film has several nods to "TDWP": Andy brushing her teeth, walking to work and passing a street vendor showing identical belts to a customer. When she meets Miranda (Meryl Streep), there’s Starbucks on her desk and Andy carries in a briefcase bag again, albeit a more stylish one. Her Cerulean sweater gets a chic update, as we see Andy’s fashion evolve into a blend of brands and personal style, without making it obvious.
The first party Miranda goes to has the theme “Spring Florals,” something she wouldn’t have found “groundbreaking” 20 years ago. Emily shares her French fries with Andy and jokes about carbs, which she was obsessed with avoiding in the first film.
A few unexpected familiar faces from the first film pop up: The editor who gave a bad idea during the editorial meeting is still at it. Andy gets her best friend Lily (Tracie Thoms) another designer bag. Donatella Versace, who wasn’t talking to anyone during the Runway party in "TDWP," is sharing a meal with Emily. Amari (Simone Ashley), Miranda’s current assistant, mocks Andy for giving away her Chanel. And Charlie (Caleb Hearon) mocks Andy for going upstairs at Miranda’s house. There’s even a nod to The Book, with Andy remarking how Miranda still prefers physical copies.
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