Meryl Streep Returns as Miranda Priestly in The Devil Wears Prada 2 as Trailers Drive Massive Viewer Interest

Meryl Streep is confirmed to reprise her role as Miranda Priestly in The Devil Wears Prada 2, a sequel that reunites key original cast members and has generated unusually high trailer viewership that positions the film as a potential box office heavyweight in 2026. The follow-up builds on the original 2006 hit and introduces new cast additions while teasing a plot that forces past rivals back into the magazine world.

Meryl Streep's Miranda Priestly and the returning ensemble

The new film brings back multiple principal actors from the 2006 original: Meryl Streep as Miranda Priestly, Anne Hathaway as Andrea "Andy" Sachs, Emily Blunt as Emily, and Stanley Tucci as Nigel. Additional returning players include Tracie Thoms and Tibor Feldman. New cast members named for the sequel include Kenneth Branagh, Justin Theroux, Simone Ashley, Lucy Liu, B. J. Novak, Pauline Chalamet, Rachel Bloom, and Patrick Brammall. The production also plans cameo appearances from high-profile figures tied to the fashion world and entertainment.

Studio-side plans for a sequel were announced in July 2024 with the original director and the original screenwriter confirmed to be back on the project. The new film’s teasers indicate a plot beat where Miranda has no recollection of Andy’s or Emily’s prior time at Runway, setting up a narrative in which Andy returns to Runway as Features Editor to help secure the magazine’s future while Emily leads a luxury wellness brand that could play a role in saving the title.

Trailer momentum, box office signals and the original film’s legacy

Trailer performance for the sequel has been notable. The first trailer registered 181. 5 million views in 24 hours in 2025, and a subsequent trailer drew roughly 22, 000, 000 views in 24 hours, marking a record for the studio. Those numbers, combined with the original film’s commercial history — the 2006 movie earned about $125 million domestically and roughly $326 million worldwide — are being read as indicators that the sequel could be a strong performer amid a crowded 2026 release slate.

The production has signaled it will not strictly adapt the author’s 2013 follow-up novel and appears to chart its own path narratively, while nodding to the characters and relationships that helped make the first film culturally resonant.

Unanswered questions, next steps and why the sequel matters

Key unknowns remain and will shape how the sequel lands with audiences and critics alike:

• Release timing: a firm public release date has not been specified in the material provided; timing is therefore not confirmed.
• Box office trajectory: strong trailer viewership suggests interest, but actual ticket sales and audience reception remain to be seen.
• Plot alignment: how closely the film follows existing sequel novels versus an original screenplay is not fully clear.
• Role details: several new cast members’ characters and the scale of cameo appearances have not been detailed.

Realistic near-term scenarios and triggers to watch:

• Marketing ramp-up: a confirmed release date and an expanded marketing push could sustain or increase current trailer momentum.
• Early reviews and festival play: if early screenings are scheduled, critical response could influence awards chatter and adult-audience turnout.
• Box office performance on opening weekend: strong initial ticket sales would validate the high trailer engagement as a predictor of commercial success.
• Audience word-of-mouth: social engagement after release will determine long-term legs, especially for a film tied to a beloved original.

Why this matters: the sequel reunites several original stars led by Meryl Streep and is leveraging nostalgia while updating its story for today’s media and fashion climate. Given the original’s notable box office performance and the current trailers’ exceptional online view counts, the sequel is positioned to be a significant contender in the 2026 marketplace. Outcomes will influence studio strategies for legacy sequels, casting decisions for revival projects, and how fashion-centered stories are marketed in a streaming- and trailer-driven era.