Devil Wears Prada 2: Meet the Groundbreaking New Cast Members

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Gird your loins—there are new characters in town.

By all means, affect nonchalance regarding “The Devil Wears Prada 2“. However, for those not lagging behind in the fast-paced world of pop culture, here are the actors who have been selected to join Meryl Streep, Anne Hathaway, Emily Blunt, and Stanley Tucci in the eagerly awaited sequel.

In the role of play, it’s none other than Lucy Liu (from “Elementary”) and Pauline Chalamet (“Sex Lives of College Girls”), as reported by TopMob News. Also joining them are Justin Theroux (“The Leftovers”), BJ Novak (“The Office”), and Conrad Ricamora, who is currently playing the role of Mary’s Husband in Broadway’s “Oh, Mary!”.

Moreover, Helen J. Shen, famously known for her role as Claire in “Maybe Happy Ending” on Broadway, is also joining the cast of this fictional fashion world.

Rounding out the list of recent appearances is the comedian and podcast host, Caleb Hearon, who made a side-splitting guest appearance on Benito Skinner’s show titled “Overcompensating”.

Have I heard that Simone Ashley, the delightful actress from Bridgerton, has left her mark on the project’s call sheet as well? On July 9th, she gleefully announced her role with a string of apt emojis, including a fiery red high heel, on her Instagram Story.

A fresh group of performers will form the cast delving into the constantly changing realm of fashion. The upcoming installment will trace Meryl Streep’s character, Miranda Priestly, as she manages the waning era of print magazine publishing. To add complexity to the storyline, Emily Charlton, previously Streep’s assistant and now portrayed by Blunt, has risen to a top executive position at an elite advertising firm—and her memory is formidable.

In 2022, Hathaway shared with TopMob News that “she appears to be writing for a terrific French women’s magazine. I believe she’s an employee there and speaks French exceptionally well. I don’t suspect she’s married, but she may have one or two children. She seems quite stylish.

Meanwhile Blunt hopes Emily is “eating a nice French dip sandwich somewhere and she’s just happy.”

Last year, she playfully remarked to TopMob, “It’s not a block of cheese,” a jest referring back to her character’s previous eating habits. “I guess she’s moved on to enjoying a whole sandwich now.

Since filming began towards the end of June, it’s reasonable to expect that the audience will uncover the mysteries ahead more swiftly than later on. For now, continue exploring intriguing insights from the classic movie “The Devil Wears Prada”.

In line with previous announcements, Kenneth Branagh will be part of the cast, taking on the role of Miranda’s husband, while Tracie Thoms has officially been confirmed to reprise her character as Lily, a close friend to Andy, who is portrayed by Hathaway.

In the new installment, you won’t find Adrian Grenier, the actor who brought to life Andy’s boyfriend, Nate Cooper, the antagonist of the people. Given that his character Andy seemed to have ended things with Nate in the final scenes of the initial movie, his non-return might not be unexpected.

Though specific storyline details, including the current circumstances of most characters, have been kept secret, both Hathaway and Blunt have previously speculated about the fates of their respective characters.

According to Hathaway’s statement to TopMob News in 2022, she is a staff writer for a fantastic French women’s magazine, fluent in the language, and unmarried, although she may have one or more children. She also finds her to be quite impressive.

Meanwhile Blunt hopes Emily is “eating a nice French dip sandwich somewhere and she’s just happy.”

Last year, she playfully commented on TopMob, “It’s not a block of cheese,” alluding to her character’s past eating habits. I guess we can hope that she’s moved on to enjoying a complete sandwich now.

Since filming kicked off towards the end of June, it seems we won’t have to wait much longer for some clarity on the plot twists. In the interim, stay tuned for intriguing behind-the-scenes insights from the classic movie “The Devil Wears Prada.

Before the book “The Devil Wears Prada” became a bestseller, plans for its film adaptation were already underway. Just the first 100 pages and an outline of the roman-à-clef, based on author Lauren Weisberger‘s short tenure as assistant to editor-in-chief Anna Wintour at Vogue, were enough to convince Fox executives. As stated by former executive vice president Carla Hacken to Variety in 2016, “I was the first person to read it at Fox 2000. I thought Miranda Priestly was one of the greatest villains ever. We actively pursued and secured it.

The adaptation process commenced prior to the 2003 publication of the bestselling book, but following attempts by four writers to develop a linear storyline, Aline Brosh McKenna was assigned the task of writing a fresh script focusing on the sacrifices women endure to advance in the hierarchy of fashion magazine editorials. According to her interview with the outlet, she completed an initial draft fairly swiftly, which took approximately a month, and then revised it based on everyone’s feedback.

2. The legend surrounding Anna Wintour posed numerous challenges during the production process. As McKenna shared with Entertainment Weekly about her research, “I faced immense difficulty finding anyone in the fashion industry who would speak to me, as people were intimidated by Anna and Vogue, fearing exclusion.” Only one individual spoke to her, someone whose identity she never revealed, who upon reading it remarked, “The characters in this film are overly kind. No one in that world is overly kind; they don’t have to be and they simply don’t have the time for it.” In response, McKenna revised the script to make the characters appear slightly more busy and harsh.

In my role as a lifestyle expert, I’d like to share an interesting tidbit from behind the scenes of a high-profile production. Securing locations for our project was no easy feat due to Wintour’s extensive influence. As Director David Frankel candidly confessed to Entertainment Weekly, “The Met Ball posed a challenge as the Metropolitan Museum was unwilling to collaborate with us.” Adding to the complication, Bryant Park – then the long-standing venue for New York Fashion Week – was also off the table. This just goes to show that even in the world of fashion and entertainment, influence can shape the landscape significantly.

He mentioned that despite considering those renowned apartment buildings as potential options for Miranda’s apartment, the co-op boards refused us entry. Eventually, we managed to secure a five-story townhouse on the Upper East Side, courtesy of a friend of producer Wendy Finerman.

3. However, they managed to excel in one area: “Our only interaction with Vogue was through Jess Gonchor, the production designer. He secretly visited their offices to observe Anna’s workspace,” Frankel disclosed to Entertainment Weekly. “He recreated the office so accurately that I heard Anna redecorated hers right after the movie was released.

The wardrobe posed an unusual problem too. At first, Frankel revealed to EW, they found it difficult to persuade well-known designers to contribute costumes for the movie, as they were hesitant to upset Anna.

Legendary fashion expert Patricia Field made an appearance, skillfully putting together a collection of approximately 150 items from designers like Donna Karan, Zac Posen, Rick Owens, and Prada. She ensured that Meryl Streep’s character, Miranda Priestly, was distinctly different from Anna Wintour in her outfits. As Streep humorously recalled, “She borrowed everything, so we had to be very cautious not to eat spaghetti at lunch because any stains would ruin the clothes we couldn’t return!

5. And Wintour has a hint of a playful spirit regarding the situation. In an interview for Vogue’s 125th anniversary issue, Streep discussed her role in portraying Wintour’s late friend Katherine Graham in the 2017 film “The Post.” When asked about the most challenging character she’s ever played, Streep hesitated before saying, “I suppose…” Only for Wintour to interject, laughing, “No, no! We’re not going there, Meryl.

6. Wintour indeed went to a screening, and interestingly enough, it was the same event her ex-assistant Weisberger attended as well. Later on, Wintour explained to 60 Minutes that the movie was purely for entertainment purposes, stating that it didn’t accurately portray what transpires within this magazine.

7. Meryl Streep was the obvious pick for the role of Miranda, as studio VP Hacken shared with Variety that no other actresses were seriously considered. In her own words, “All I can remember is praying, ‘Please let it be Meryl.'” When Streep’s agent called to say she had read the script and was interested in meeting the director, Hacken momentarily paused to rejoice. “I was ecstatic in my office.

Meryl Streep praised the character’s unwavering resilience and refusal to back down from her flaws, stating that she appreciated the lack of attempts to win favor by being submissive: “I found it refreshing that there was no shying away from her darker aspects, and the truly intimidating parts of her stemmed from her unwillingness to compromise, a trait often used by women to smooth things over in any situation where they want their way. [Miranda] didn’t resort to such tactics.

8. In a characteristically Miranda Priestly fashion, Streep chose to negotiate her role before agreeing to it. Although she had already won two Oscars and been nominated another 11 times by that point, Streep hadn’t yet fully embraced the art of requesting higher compensation. However, this time, she made her voice heard.

She clarified to Variety that the initial offer seemed, to her, somewhat undervalued, if not disrespectful, and maybe not an accurate representation of her true worth to the project. She mentioned that she had her ‘goodbye moment,’ only for them to subsequently double the offer. At 55 years old, she had recently learned how to advocate for herself effectively.

9. Apart from other obligations, Streep requested two specific scenes to ensure Miranda wasn’t overly stereotyped: The first was a sequence about fashion, where Miranda instructs Andy on her iconic cerulean sweater, and secondly, a scene set in the hotel room, which she referred to as the “unarmored” or “vulnerable” scene.

Meryl Streep’s white hair was part of her portrayal too, as she arrived at the studio head honcho’s office with her frosty tresses. As director Frankel reminisced to Entertainment Weekly, “Meryl embodied Miranda in that meeting, and there was no need for a discussion about the hair; they simply looked into Meryl’s eyes without saying a word.

Anne Hathaway worked harder for her role compared to Andy, who had an easier time with Miranda. However, it wasn’t as difficult as one might think, as Anne revealed during an interview on RuPaul’s Drag Race, stating that she was actually the ninth choice for The Devil Wears Prada.

Although Hathaway didn’t have to audition, she had to be patient and waited for the opportunity. She even went as far as leaving a message in Hacken’s zen garden by writing “hire me”. When she received the news about landing the role in ‘The Devil Wears Prada’, she was getting dressed at home, surrounded by friends. Excitedly, she ran out into her living room, only half-dressed, shouting, “I got The Devil Wears Prada! I got The Devil Wears Prada!

Luckily for Hathaway, the executives’ preferred choice declined the offer on multiple occasions. As director Frankel shared with Entertainment Weekly, they approached Rachel McAdams three times. At that time, McAdams was busy filming Fox’s “The Family Stone,” and following her success in “Mean Girls” and “The Notebook,” she decided against starring in another mainstream film. Frankel added, “The studio persistently wanted her, but she was firm in her decision not to participate.

Kate Hudson declined a coveted role that many actresses would have jumped at the chance to play. During an interview on Capital FM’s Capital Breakfast in February 2025, she admitted that it was a matter of timing, saying “It was one of those roles where I couldn’t take it on, and I wish I had made it work, but I didn’t. When I saw the part, I thought, ‘Oh no.’

Meryl Streep’s performance in the 2005 Oscar-winning film “Brokeback Mountain,” along with Anne Hathaway’s role, played a significant part in convincing the star of “The Princess Diaries” for future projects. As Frankel reminisced, “Meryl watched that scene from the movie, met with her, and then phoned Tom Rothman at Fox, saying ‘This girl’s talented, and I believe we’ll collaborate effectively.’

In the process of choosing Emily for the part, Frankel observed over a hundred women audition for Miranda’s stern assistant role, including Tracie Thoms who later tried out for Andy’s friend Lily. However, it was Emily Blunt, dressed casually, who stood out among them all and captured his attention.

While auditioning for a role in the 2006 fantasy film “Eragon” on the Fox studio lot, a casting agent unexpectedly asked Emily Blunt to try out for “The Devil Wears Prada”. However, she was running late for the airport and admitted that she felt quite flustered. On “The Late Late Show” in May 2021, she shared that she read the script while wearing sweatpants, which didn’t fit the part at all due to her casual attire.

A few days had passed, and Blunt was still lamenting about not getting the role in Eragon. That’s when she got a call from Frankel. “I was in a seedy London club,” Blunt explained to Variety. “I returned his call from the restroom. He said, ‘I would have cast you based on the audition tape, but the studio wants to see you one more time. Could you redo it, but try to look more like the character?’

13. She perfectly fit the role, even though Emily was originally written as an American character. However, when screenwriter McKenna listened to Blunt delivering her lines with her British accent, they decided to adapt the script by adding more British elements, as McKenna explained to EW.

In an interview on The Howard Stern Show, Blunt admitted that she sometimes takes lines from people she meets. While filming a particular movie, she overheard a mother scolding her child in a supermarket. The line she used – “Yeah, I’m hearing this, and I want to hear this” – has since become famous. She decided to incorporate it into the movie herself.

14. Stanley Tucci played a significant role in creating memorable lines for certain roles. After months of searching, producers found the perfect match for the art director Nigel on “Runway,” and at the last minute, Tucci took up the part as he shared with Entertainment Weekly. He then brilliantly portrayed Nigel’s dry wit, even ad-libbing some of the character’s most famous lines.

In a conversation with Buzzfeed, Tucci commented on his favorite moment, which is when Miranda first enters the office and everyone seems to panic. He recalled that they all burst into laughter, and David kept suggesting lines for him, with “Gird your loins” being the one used in the final cut. Among the discarded lines, Tucci mentioned one he came up with himself: “‘Tits in!'”, a line that caused even more laughter every time it was said.

Certainly, his most cherished keepsake from the film is his family. Tucci maintained a strong bond with costar Blunt, which led him to receive an invitation to her 2010 wedding to John Krasinski. It was at this event that he rekindled a relationship with Felicity Blunt, the literary agent, whom he later married in 2012. The couple has since welcomed children named Matteo and Emilia into their family.

However, as Tucci shared with People, it was at the film’s 2006 premiere where he first met his future spouse. At that point, he was still married to his late wife, Kate Tucci, who had recently been diagnosed with breast cancer. He said, “So I made the movie, and she underwent treatments, and then we had the premiere, and she lived for four more years after that.” Intriguingly, it was Emily’s sister, his current wife Felicity, who spoke with Kate at the premiere that night, as evidenced by a photograph of them together – a strange coincidence indeed.

Similar to Hathaway, Thoms vividly recalls the instant she heard she would portray Lily, an event that transpired on her 30th birthday in August 2005. The actress starring in Rent felt relatively assured about her audition—”By then, my career had led me into the ‘best friend’ role. So I thought, ‘Lily? That’s a breeze.’ Still, I was overjoyed when I received the news.

As a devoted theater enthusiast, I found myself in Dartmouth, immersed in a workshop for a groundbreaking play penned by Alan Ball. Reminiscing about that experience with TopMob News, I can still vividly recall the day when, during lunch at the cafeteria, I received the most exhilarating news – “Hey, guess what? You’ve landed the role in The Devil Wears Prada! Happy birthday!” It was an unforgettable way to celebrate my special day.

17. Thoms recalls seeing Adrian Grenier, who was popular during the peak of his Entourage stardom, being surrounded by fans and gracefully handling each autograph request by distributing copies of his alt-folk band The Honey Brothers’ CD instead.

Thoms pointed out that Grenier, playing Nate, Andy’s boyfriend, took the chance to spotlight his bandmates since he wasn’t the lead singer of the band. He admired how thoughtful and considerate Grenier was in acknowledging everyone individually and returning their support by highlighting his fellow musicians.

While Thoms enjoyed her experience tremendously, saying it felt like they were living a “Sex and the City” lifestyle (even though they weren’t), she does have one lingering regret.

In a crucial scene, she intentionally chose to keep the Marc Jacobs bag hidden from Lily (and Thoms) until filming began, so their genuine reactions could be captured. She explained, “I requested the prop team not to reveal the handbag prior to shooting, as I wanted their reactions to be authentic.” This led to their excited responses such as gasping and grabbing with exclamations of “Gimme, gimme!” because the purse was truly stunning.

She confessed to TopMob News that the purse she carried was so attractive, an idea for safeguarding it had already formed in her mind. However, a sequence where she would inadvertently forget the purse in her trailer and then have to return to retrieve it was eliminated from the script. As a result, she didn’t go back to work to get the purse, which left her rather disappointed.

19. Initially, it was Meryl Streep who didn’t plan to visit Paris. At first, no one was scheduled to go to Paris to shoot the final scenes for Miranda and Andy’s trip to Paris Fashion Week. Frankel expressed shock when he shared this with Variety. However, during filming, he managed to create a compelling preview that persuaded the studio to release the movie in summer and boost its budget.

Hathaway and Simon Baker, playing her other love interest named Christian, traveled to France for a couple of days of filming, while Meryl Streep recorded her scenes in New York instead because the studio found it excessively expensive for her to travel.

Essentially, Streep regretfully missed out on much enjoyment during filming. She chose to immerse herself deeply into her Miranda character and avoid most on-set camaraderie, which she later described as “awful” in an interview with Entertainment Weekly. She could hear everyone else laughing and having fun while she was left feeling depressed. After that experience, she vowed never again to adopt such a method acting approach.

Prior to Meryl Streep’s performance turning icy, she delivered a fleeting motivational speech, as Anne Hathaway recounted to People, stating, “She told me she believed I would excel in this role and was pleased to be working with me…and that would be the last compliment she’d give me.

That’s all. 

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2025-07-09 15:48