Simone Ashley Roped In For A Mysterious Role In ‘The Devil Wears Prada 2’

Production for The Devil Wears Prada 2 is officially underway, and the cast just received an exciting new addition: Simone Ashley, who is best known for her breakout role in Bridgerton. The news, first reported by Deadline, confirms Ashley’s involvement. While plot details around her character have been kept under wraps, speculation around her role is growing. TheWrap notes her character is being kept mysterious, but her solo announcement ahead of the full cast roll-out hints at a standout part.

Ashley previously starred in 11 episodes of Netflix’s Bridgerton as Lady Kathani “Kate” Bridgerton/ Kathani “Kate” Sharma. She was also seen in Disney’s The Little Mermaid as Indira, with that movie grossing close to $570M around the world. The British actress also featured in the Netflix series Sex Education.

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All You Need To Know About The Devil Wears Prada 2

Almost two decades after its iconic debut, The Devil Wears Prada is officially getting a sequel! The filming for the highly anticipated follow-up began on June 30, 2025, which is coincidentally the same day when Anna Wintour, the longtime Vogue editor-in-chief and inspiration behind the character Miranda Priestly, officially announced her retirement. The timing definitely couldn’t be more fitting, as the film explores the decline of traditional print media in a rapidly evolving digital world.

Returning to the screen are the original stars Meryl Streep (Miranda Priestly), Anne Hathaway (Andy Sachs), Emily Blunt (Emily Charlton), and Stanley Tucci (Nigel Kipling). The sequel is helmed once again by director David Frankel and screenwriter Aline Brosh McKenna, the team behind the 2006 classic.

Joining the original cast are several new faces, including Kenneth Branagh as Miranda’s estranged husband, Lucy Liu, Justin Theroux, B.J. Novak, and Pauline Chalamet in undisclosed roles. However, Adrian Grenier, who played Andy’s boyfriend Nate in the first film, will not be returning.

The story will pick up years after the events of the first film, with Miranda Priestly navigating the challenges of a declining fashion magazine empire. Meanwhile, Emily Charlton has climbed the ranks to become a powerful executive controlling luxury brand ad revenue. Their paths cross once more as the future of media, and personal legacies will yet again hang in the balance.

Filming for The Devil Wears Prada 2 is taking place in both New York and Italy, promising a visually rich experience that echoes the globe-trotting glamour of the original hit. The sequel is scheduled to hit theatres on May 1, 2026, just ahead of the Met Gala. 

The parallels between Miranda’s professional reckoning and Anna Wintour’s real-life exit from Vogue will bring on an extra layer of cultural resonance. With its blend of nostalgia, sharp satire, and commentary on the changing media landscape due to social media, The Devil Wears Prada 2 is poised to captivate both longtime fans and a new generation.