In an interview, Anne Hathaway explains why she thinks a The Devil Wears Prada reboot would not work, stating the film is of a different era.
In a new interview, Anne Hathaway dismisses the idea of a sequel to her widely popular film, The Devil Wears Prada. Hathaway is an accomplished actor who got her start in several family-friendly comedies such as Ella Enchanted and The Princess Diaries series alongside Julie Andrews. The actor later pursued dramatic roles in Oscar-nominated films like Brokeback Mountain, The Dark Knight Rises, and Interstellar. Hathaway received her first Academy Award for her role as Fantine in the 2012 screen adaption of Les Misérables.
The Devil Wears Prada is a 2006 comedy based on Lauren Weisberger’s novel of the same name, following the story of a struggling young assistant to a powerful and cruel fashion magazine editor. Due to Weisberger’s previous employment for Vogue editor Anna Wintour, it is widely believed that the novel is heavily based on the writer’s experience working for the magazine. Hathaway stars in the film adaptation as Andy Sachs, a recent college graduate with an opportunity to work for a powerful fashion editor, Miranda Priestly, played by Meryl Streep. The film follows Andy as she attempts to fit in with the snobbery and ruthless nature of the fashion world to get in Miranda’s good graces. After abandoning her principles, Andy no longer recognizes the person she has become to succeed and must reconcile with the people she hurt along the way.
In an interview with The View, Hathaway explains why she does not think a sequel to The Devil Wears Prada would work. Hathaway admits that she is interested in exploring where the characters are now, but ultimately she does not think a sequel will happen. The actor first acknowledges that the film takes place in an era of the print magazine that simply does not exist in the same way today. Hathaway suggests a compromise, letting new actors take on the roles in a reimagining of The Devil Wears Prada, which The View co-hosts quickly dismiss. Read her full quote here:
“I don’t know if there can be [a sequel]. I just think that movie was in a different era. Now everything’s gone so digital and that movie is centered around the concept of producing a physical thing and it’s just, it’s just very different. It is tempting to think about Andy and Emily needing to get Miranda her coffee and she’s somewhere in Europe. And then along the way they pick up Stanley Tucci in Italy, who’s at a restaurant. It’s tempting, but I don’t think it’s going to happen.”
What Would A Devil Wears Prada Reboot Look Like?
A modern The Devil Wears Prada reboot would have plenty of material to satirize within the world of digital print. While Vogue and other fashion magazines have transitioned to web-based content, many traditional print magazines have struggled to maintain the same online influence. A reboot might explore an engagement and clicks-obsessed editor who values views above accuracy and quality. The culture around workplace and abuse has also changed significantly since The Devil Wears Prada first premiered, allowing a reboot to bring some retribution to the new “Miranda Priestly” character. The themes and issues the film addresses are still relevant today for women succeeding in a competitive work environment giving a reboot plenty of opportunity for cultural critique.
Ultimately it does not seem like a sequel or reboot to The Devil Wears Prada is very likely. Hathaway herself states that the film does not need a sequel as the story is pretty self-contained and that the world of print magazines is not the same as it was 16 years ago. While the actor welcomes the idea of a new cast taking on a re-imagining of The Devil Wears Prada, the film would not be the same without performances from Hathaway and Streep.
