Is The Devil Wears Prada 2 woke?
Movie · 2026
The Devil Wears Prada 2 has a wokeness score of 5/10, which we rate as Socially Conscious. Clear woke themes are present and intentional, but feel balanced and organic to the story. The message supports the plot and characters rather than dominating them.
Key points
- Body positivity push: Anne Hathaway advocated for diverse model body types in fashion scenes.
- Increased racial diversity in cast reflects contemporary workplace representation standards.
- Light themes on media decline, corporate ethics, and sweatshop issues add subtle social commentary.
Wokeness analysis
The Devil Wears Prada 2 centers on the reunion of Andy Sachs and Miranda Priestly as they confront the decline of traditional print media, corporate takeovers, and the shift to digital platforms in a story that primarily explores ambition, career costs, and industry survival. The core narrative remains focused on character-driven drama and fashion-world satire rather than overt political lectures. However, production choices introduce noticeable modern sensibilities around representation. Anne Hathaway publicly advocated for casting a wider range of body types among models in fashion sequences, citing that 'all different shapes are beautiful' to make scenes more enjoyable and reflective of diversity. This effort resulted in some plus-size models appearing alongside traditional ones, marking a deliberate push for body positivity that contrasts with the original film's emphasis on ultra-thin aesthetics. The expanded cast features greater racial diversity, including actors like Simone Ashley, Helen J. Shen, Lucy Liu, and Caleb Hearon in supporting roles, which feels integrated into the workplace setting but aligns with contemporary Hollywood inclusion standards. Minor plot elements touch on sweatshop labor scandals and journalism ethics amid layoffs, offering light social commentary on corporate greed and media integrity without dominating the entertainment. These elements are organic to the updated 2026 setting but add intentional progressive touches on inclusivity that draw some attention. Overall, the film balances story and escapism with subtle inclusion messaging rather than heavy ideology, though critics and audiences note the body diversity push as a standout modern update.
Plot
Nearly 20 years after the original, Andy Sachs (Anne Hathaway), now a respected journalist, reunites with Miranda Priestly (Meryl Streep) at Runway magazine amid the challenges of a declining print industry. Miranda faces threats to the magazine's survival from corporate owners and a sweatshop scandal tied to a luxury brand. Andy, recently laid off, is hired as features editor to help navigate the crisis, reconnecting with Emily (Emily Blunt) and Nigel (Stanley Tucci). The story explores ambition, the cost of success, and adapting to digital media shifts, featuring new characters and cameos including Lady Gaga. Released theatrically on May 1, 2026, the sequel blends fashion spectacle with commentary on legacy media's struggles.
Analyzed by AI on June 9, 2026