Oh, she’s so back. Miranda Priestly has finally returned, but thankfully this time, we’re not scrambling to remove our flats or swipe our sandwich in the bin as we welcome her in. The Devil Wears Prada 2 had a tricky line to walk, because it had to bring back the glamour of the early 2000s magazine world that we all know and love, but somehow execute it through a more self-aware lens in 2026.
Ultimately, it did do just that, but also fell short at one hurdle.
It pains me to say, but that hurdle was in the form of an Australian man named Patrick Brammal.
What to expect from The Devil Wears Prada 2
Forever the optimist, let me start with the positives of the film because there are a lot!
I wasn’t too sure of what to expect of The Devil Wears Prada 2, and readied myself to simply enjoy taking a trip down memory lane for the sake of nostalgia. However, the film genuinely delivered on plot and believability.
The behaviour of the characters ran true, and I sat watching the film thinking, “Yes, the character would do that!”.
It’s been 20 years since the original film came out and the sequel honours this time, with Andy (Anne Hathaway) enjoying a successful journalism career from the last two decades while Miranda (Merlyn Streep) has continued her reign at Runaway, with trusty Nigel (Stanley Tucci) by her side.
Emily (Emily Blunt) is also still working in fashion, but, without spoiling too much, it’s not where you think.
So, we’re launched back in, and the sequel does justice to the beloved characters of the world.
Win.
My main gripe with The Devil Wears Prada 2 involves a man
However, where the film lost me was with Andy’s love interest, Peter.
Patrick Brammal, the Australian actor and comedy genius behind Colin from Accounts, which he co-created and starred in with wife Harriet Dyer, played Andy’s luxury real estate boyfriend.
And, while I adore the actor, I just have one question about his character: Why was he there?
Peter meets Andy while she’s looking at apartments in New York City, and, genuinely, there’s not much else to say about him or their relationship.
He seemed to simply appear in Andy’s life, take her on a date, and then BANG! They’re together.
He doesn’t join her on her travels and we don’t see any nuances to their relationship.
Ultimately, it felt as though he was simply shoehorned into the film for no other reason than to make sure the leading lady had a love interest.
Because, god forbid she doesn’t.
Why Andy did not need a boyfriend in The Devil Wears Prada 2
The film does such a good job at turning Andy into a character who reflects so many women in the 2020s — a woman who is tenacious and relentlessly hopeful, and is unapologetic about loving her work.
It’s one of the few things her and Miranda have in common, and it will resonate with a large number of women watching the cinema screen.
Having Peter, who is lovely but doesn’t necessarily add much to her life, sadly reaffirmed that while we can leave the fatphobia and extreme diet culture firmly in 2006, we couldn’t possibly shake off the idea that women can’t have a full life without a man by her side.
Maybe Peter was added into show the audience a holistic view of Andy’s life and not just her career, but can’t that simply be it?
Can’t she have a full life with her work and her friends (with Tracie Thoms making a comeback as Lily) for her to be a full, fulfilled character?
I’d say she can.
It appears The Devil Wears Prada 2 says she cannot.
Peter doesn’t make it into the trailer and is barely in the movie, so why is he there at all?
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