The Devil Wears Prada 2 is officially underway. Here’s everything we know

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The Devil Wears Prada 2 is officially in production. That’s all.

It has been nearly two decades since icy fashion magazine editor Miranda Priestly (Meryl Streep) sneered at a cerulean sweater and made the life of her new fashion-clueless assistant Andy Sachs (Anne Hathaway) a living hell. Now, the two characters are preparing for a return, along with several other familiar faces and Oscar winner Kenneth Branagh.

Work on The Devil Wears Prada 2 is officially underway.

The film’s distributor, 20th Century Studios, announced its production on Tuesday with a teaser featuring pitchfork-heeled red pumps and iconic lines from the original, including Priestly’s famously dismissive “that’s all”.

Alright, everyone, gird your loins. Here’s everything we know about the sequel so far.

What will it be about?

The original film, which premiered in 2006 and was based on the novel by Lauren Weisberger, saw recent university graduate Sachs take a job as an assistant to the ice queen Priestly, editor of high fashion magazine Runway. Sachs quickly realises she is completely out of her depth, especially given the lack of support from fellow assistant Emily (Emily Blunt).

The sequel will reportedly see Priestly struggle against the decline of the magazine industry, eventually forcing her to make amends with her former assistant Emily who has become the head of a luxury brand that advertises with Runway.

Will Meryl and Anne return?

The original’s core four – Streep, Hathaway, Blunt and Stanley Tucci (who played Nigel, Runway’s art director) will appear in the sequel.

It has also been announced that Branagh will play Priestly’s husband, a character that did not appear in the first film, but was spoken about after having filed for divorce from his wife.

Writer Aline Bros McKenna will return, along with director David Frankel and Oscar-winning Forrest Gump producer Wendy Finerman.

Why is this sequel a big deal?

The Devil Wears Prada has become a cultural touchstone for fashion lovers. It grossed over $496 million worldwide, and even earned two Oscar nominations – one for costume design (how fitting) and another for Streep in the best actress category.

It was such a success that Weisberger penned a sequel novel, Revenge Wears Prada, in 2013, which was adapted into a West End stage musical last year.

The film’s timing couldn’t be better given recent shifts in the real-world fashion industry. Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour stepped down from day-to-day editing after 37 years last week. Fans of The Devil Wears Prada believe Priestly’s character was inspired by Wintour, whom Weisberger was a personal assistant to. Notably, the author has denied the character was based strictly on the real-life editor. Wintour will continue as the global editorial director of Vogue and the chief content officer for Condé Nast, which owns the magazine.