'The Devil Wears Prada' sequel in development, exploring decline of print media

A sequel to the 2006 comedy 'The Devil Wears Prada' is in the works at Disney, with key cast and crew expected to return, including director David Frankel. Aline Brosh McKenna, who adapted the original film from Lauren Weisberger's novel, is in talks to write the follow-up. The storyline will reportedly focus on Miranda Priestly, the formidable fashion magazine editor portrayed by Meryl Streep, as she navigates the decline of traditional print media in the digital age as reported by The Guardian.

The new film will introduce a key adversary for Miranda in the form of her former assistant Emily Charlton, played by Emily Blunt, who is now a high-powered executive for a luxury brand consortium. This role will see Emily making crucial decisions about where to place lucrative advertising contracts, creating a new dynamic of competition with her former boss.

Lauren Weisberger, who worked as an assistant to Vogue editor Anna Wintour before turning to fiction, is believed to have based the character of Priestly on her former boss. The original film earned Streep a Golden Globe and an Oscar nomination and grossed $327 million worldwide from a $41 million budget.

Andy Sachs, portrayed by Anne Hathaway in the first film, is notably absent from the new film’s logline. The three leads have frequently reunited, most recently at the SAG awards in February. Earlier this year, Blunt and Hathaway reflected on their experiences making the film during Variety’s 'Actors on Actors' series, with Blunt recalling, "We just had a joy bomb of a time on that movie. I don’t know if any of us knew it was going to become what it did. It’s quoted to me every week. It will be the movie that changed my life."

Other original cast members, including Stanley Tucci, who played Priestly’s longsuffering deputy, have also kept discussions about the film alive. The film’s romantic subplot has undergone significant reassessment, with many viewers now viewing Andy’s boyfriend, Nate, as the “real villain” for his lack of support for her career ambitions.

Blunt will next be seen in 'Jungle Cruise 2' and received an Oscar nomination for her role in 'Oppenheimer.' Hathaway's career was recently reinvigorated by the age-gap romance 'The Idea of You,' while Streep continues to receive acclaim for her role in the comedy series 'Only Murders in the Building.'

A musical adaptation of the original film, featuring an original score by Elton John, is set to open in the West End in October, with Vanessa Williams as Priestly.