The Devil Wears Prada 2 is one of 2026’s biggest box office hits, and it’s a promising sign for Anne Hathaway’s next sequel in a nostalgic 2000s franchise. 2006’s The Devil Wears Prada was a critical and box office hit. The film earned a 75% critic score on Rotten Tomatoes, and grossed around $326.1 million worldwide on a $35 million budget.
Based on the novel by Lauren Weisberger, the film starred Hathaway as Andrea Sachs, an ambitious journalist who takes a job as an assistant to Miranda Priestly, played by Meryl Streep, the overbearing editor-in-chief of the prestigious fashion magazine, Runway. In The Devil Wears Prada 2, Andrea returns to Runway as the new Features editor, as Miranda and the magazine try to navigate the current state of journalism. The sequel also stars Emily Blunt and Stanley Tucci, who reprise their roles from the first film.
The sequel arrived in theaters on May 1, 2026, and has been a massive hit. In its opening weekend, Prada 2 grossed $233.6 million worldwide, earning the second-highest opening weekend worldwide of 2026. The film has already outgrossed its predecessor, earning over $435.2 million worldwide. It’s currently the fifth highest-grossing movie worldwide of 2026, behind Michael, Pegasus 3, Project Hail Mary, and The Super Mario Galaxy Movie.
Prada 2‘s success has proven that there is still interest in this franchise 20 years after the original movie. For Hathaway, this isn’t the only successful franchise she’s returning to, as she is also planning on starring in The Princess Diaries 3. While the upcoming movie doesn’t have a release date yet, Prada 2 is a great sign that Hathaway’s next sequel could be another hit.
The Princess Diaries 3 Is In Development
The first The Princess Diaries debuted in 2001. Directed by Garry Marshall, the film starred Hathaway as Mia Thermopolis, a high school student who discovers she is the heir to the throne of a European kingdom called Genovia. She travels to the kingdom and receives guidance from her grandmother, the Queen of Genovia, played by Julie Andrews, as she learns to become a princess. Other cast members include Héctor Elizondo, Mandy Moore, Heather Matarazzo, and Caroline Goodall.
While the comedy wasn’t a major hit with critics, it did perform well at the box office, grossing over $165.3 million worldwide on a $30 million budget. The 2004 sequel, The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement, also didn’t garner the best critical reception, but was a commercial hit, earning over $134.7 million worldwide on a $45 million budget.
The franchise is planning to return for a third film, which is in development. Speaking with Variety at the Gold Gala carpet, The Princess Diaries 3 director Adele Lim shared an update regarding what audiences can expect for the upcoming sequel.
“If you were a fan of the original first two movies, I think you can look forward to a lot of fun returns. We’re going to be able to shoot in Europe and really show the audience Genovia in its full glory.”
The director also hinted that the sequel may be focusing more on Mia’s role as a potential queen, rather than as a princess.
“We just want to make the story right because it is a franchise that is so beloved by so many people. There are so many movies that are wish fulfillment for princesses, we don’t have a lot of movies that are wish fulfillment for queens. That’s what we are setting out to do here, to show a woman in her full power.”
Hathaway is planning on returning, and it seems like it could tell the character’s most impactful story yet, as she could be becoming Genovia’s new queen. Andrews’ return is still unconfirmed, though she told Access Hollywood in 2022 that she thought a Princess Diaries movie was “probably not going to be possible.” However, now that a third movie is happening, it’s possible the actress will be on hand.
The Devil Wears Prada 2’s Success Proves Audiences Want To See Nostalgic Franchises Starring Anne Hathaway
The Princess Diaries is a nostalgic franchise for many audiences, especially for those who grew up during the early 2000s. It was one of Hathaway’s biggest roles early in her career, and was arguably her breakout role that led to her becoming a star. Many audiences would enjoy seeing what Mia’s life is like over 20 years later, and the success of Prada 2 shows there is an interest in revisiting characters from 2000s franchises starring Hathaway.
Another trip to Genovia would likely generate a lot of excitement from fans of the franchise, and could lead to the third installment becoming a hit. The Devil Wears Prada 2 has already made more at the box office than the first film, and it’s entirely possible that The Princess Diaries 3 outgrosses the previous two movies. Nostalgia can generate box office success, and Hathaway’s next sequel can take advantage of that.
- Release Date
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May 1, 2026
- Runtime
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120 Minutes
- Director
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David Frankel
- Writers
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Aline Brosh McKenna, Lauren Weisberger
- Producers
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Wendy Finerman