Almost 20 years after the initial installment of ‘The Devil Wears Prada’ established the cutthroat fashion drama, its follow-up is reentering the realm of Runway. However, there is a slight change of power brewing under the surface.
Although Miranda Priestly is still in full control, the movie might be laying the groundwork for who follows her. And, oddly enough, it is not who the majority of fans would guess.
Runway’s Future Could Belong To Someone New
Enter Amari Mari, a new member of the Runway inner circle, portrayed by Simone Ashley. On paper, she is just the latest first assistant to Miranda, which has been a position of survival rather than success in the past. However, there are initial clues that there is more at work here. Even Ashley herself has given hints that Amari has a similar air to Miranda.
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She is strong, authoritative, and in a silent way threatening. Not in a loud manner, but in that quiet, restrained fashion that makes people listen even before she raises her voice. The interesting part is that the creative team allegedly tilted into that notion. The behind-the-scenes knowledge is that Amari is not just another assistant; she might be the next generation of leadership at Runway.
However, Ashley did not take the easy way out. Rather than copying the famous portrayal of Meryl Streep, she chose to observe and selectively incorporate small details. That restraint might actually make the character feel more authentic and more dangerous in the long run.
‘Devil Wears Prada 2’ Isn’t Replacing Miranda, It’s Evolving Her Legacy
The fashion world (and the media in general) has transformed significantly since 2006. What used to be about print dominance and traditional hierarchies is now being influenced by social media, changing audiences, and constant reinvention. That context matters. Runway is not merely keeping its legacy anymore, but struggling to remain relevant.
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And, even though Miranda has always worked well with control and precision, the question now is whether the same tactic can be applied in a world that is moving faster than ever. This is where the potential of Amari becomes more attractive. She is not burdened by years of tradition.
She knows the contemporary terrain as Miranda may not, and that generates a silent conflict between tradition and change. It also provides an opportunity for a more gradual, realistic power transition. It was not a revolution, but a gradual transformation in which power transfers nearly without anyone noticing, until it is too late.
This is what makes this dynamic so interesting. Miranda Priestly is not being replaced, at least not yet. However, when ‘The Devil Wears Prada 2’ rolls its dice, it could reveal to us just how that future starts.
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