Miranda Priestly continues to helm Runway in The Devil Wears Prada 2, yet the film may also introduce her potential successor.
In the original Devil Wears Prada movie, Meryl Streep portrayed Miranda as a formidable and exacting leader. The sequel welcomes several newcomers, including Simone Ashley playing Miranda’s latest first assistant, Amari Mari.
During a discussion with ScreenRant‘s Liam Crowley, Ashley shared that her character exhibits traits reminiscent of Miranda, particularly in her authoritative demeanor.
This character design was a deliberate decision by Aline Brosh McKenna, the screenwriter for both the original and the sequel, who is also known for her work on 27 Dresses, We Bought a Zoo, Annie (2014), and Cruella.
Ashley mentioned that there was a recurring theme among the creative team that Amari is “going to be the next Miranda.”
While filming The Devil Wears Prada 2, Ashley aimed not to mimic every aspect of Streep’s portrayal of Miranda but instead observed Streep and incorporated those elements that felt natural, saying she “just kind of slipped it in.”
“Aline and our amazing writer always joked around that Amari’s going to be the next Miranda. So, I didn’t replicate everything Meryl did, but I did watch her closely and added what felt right when it seemed to fit.”
Beyond her role in The Devil Wears Prada 2, Ashley is also known for her performance as Kate Bridgerton on the popular Netflix series Bridgerton, having joined in its second season. Previously, she portrayed Olivia Hanan in Sex Education and has roles in Detective Pikachu, Disney’s live-action Little Mermaid, and Broadchurch. Her role in Bridgerton earned her a SAG Award nomination for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series.
Ashley joins a host of new actors in the Devil Wears Prada series including Justin Theroux, Lucy Liu, Patrick Brammall, Caleb Hearon, Helen J. Shen, Pauline Chalamet, B. J. Novak, and Rachel Bloom. They accompany returning stars Streep, Anne Hathaway, Emily Blunt, and Stanley Tucci. Director David Frankel returns as well.
Blunt’s character, Emily Charlton, was Miranda’s former first assistant in the original The Devil Wears Prada, which earned $326 million globally. Since the film’s debut in 2006, Emily has moved on from Runway and now works at a high-end fashion firm, highlighting the evolving media landscape.
The forthcoming sequel will mirror these changes, showing the efforts of the Runway team to remain innovative and relevant. Although Emily now works elsewhere, her present company might play a crucial role in sustaining Runway as Hathaway’s character Andy Sachs returns with a new title. In the process, Amari strives to safeguard the legacy her employer has established over many years.
The Devil Wears Prada 2 is set to hit theaters on Friday, May 1, 2026.
Ava Thornton is an entertainment journalist with a keen eye for the latest in Hollywood, indie films, and streaming trends.
Her work blends insider knowledge with a deep appreciation for storytelling.
