Summary

• Miranda Priestly, Meryl Streep's iconic villain from the 2006 film The Devil Wears Prada, may be based on a notable magazine editor.
• A potential sequel to The Devil Wears Prada is unlikely despite the iconic characters and positive reception.
• The enduring influence of Meryl Streep's role in the film solidifies its place as a classic, even after 18 years.

Miranda Priestly from The Devil Wears Prada is among the most iconic characters in modern film. Memorably portrayed by Meryl Streep, she's known for her ice-cold demeanor, ruthless criticism and fierce sense of style. The Devil Wears Prada was based on a novel by Lauren Weisberger, who drew inspiration from her time as an assistant to Vogue magazine's editor. That means Miranda Priestly could be based on a real-life person, specifically the legendary editor of Vogue, Anna Wintour.

Unfortunately, Weisberger has never actually confirmed whether that's the case. However, there is enough evidence to suggest Miranda was at least inspired by Wintour. Weisberger worked as her assistant after traveling around the world following her college graduation. While at Vogue, Weisberger got to know the ins and outs of the merciless job, from administrative duties to assisting the higher-ups. Her experiences later served as inspiration for her book The Devil Wears Prada.

Updated by Jordan Iacobucci on February 28, 2024: After the cast of The Devil Wears Prada reunited at the SAG Awards, the iconic film has once again become a talking point for cinema fans. The 2006 film helped launch the careers of Anne Hathaway, Emily Blunt, Stanley Tucci, and more, but most notably features one of Academy Award-winner Meryl Streep's best performances of her long and illustrious career. Eighteen years after The Devil Wears Prada hit theaters, Streep's Miranda Priestly remains one of the most iconic movie villains to ever hit the big screen--but was the contentious magazine editor based on a real-life person?

Who Was The Devil Wears Prada Based On?

Certain facts connect Miranda's character to Weisberger's former boss, noted editor of Vogue magazine, Anna Wintour. Anna Wintour has publicly stated that she considers herself to be "stubborn," and she has also been called "Ice Woman" by her employees. In The Devil Wears Prada, Miranda certainly embodies that personality with her cold words and lack of connection with her employees. Wintour also makes a cameo appearance at the end of Weisberger's book, hinting at her being the inspiration for Priestly's character. Although this connection may have come across as cruel and unwarranted, both Miranda and Wintour carried the weight of the magazine on their shoulders, and every little decision was theirs to make. It's astounding that neither the real version nor the fictional character crumbled under all the pressure.

In addition, The Devil Wears Prada bears many similarities to a documentary titled The September Issue, which focuses on Wintour during the production of Vogue's September 2007 issue. From the way The September Issue was framed, using shots that look like they were pulled directly from The Devil Wears Prada, to the way the film depicts Wintour, it's easy to see why so many people think Miranda is based on Wintour. There is a shot of the real-life editor in the back of a car, arms crossed, looking simply unimpressed. In The Devil Wears Prada, Miranda often poses like that when she's in a car, especially when she's in Paris. From the posture to the look on their faces, they could very much be the same person.

The Inspiration for Miranda Priestly Hasn't Been Confirmed

Without Weisberger's confirmation, there's no way to verify whether Miranda is truly based on Wintour. However, it certainly seems that way. Given that The Devil Wears Prada was based on Weisberger's experience at Vogue, it would be near-impossible not to include some aspects of her direct superior, Wintour. While the film portrays Miranda in a negative light, much in the same way that Wintour is frequently depicted in the media, both characters ultimately do what they have to do to succeed in their job, which is a cutthroat business at best.

Even if Miranda isn't directly based on Wintour, her character is an accurate representation of the type of personality needed to thrive in that kind of business. Whether she's truly based on Wintour will remain a mystery, but it's easy to see where her character drew its inspiration given Streep's characterization of Miranda.

Will There Ever Be A Sequel To The Devil Wears Prada?

Audiences would certainly be excited to see Meryl Streep's iconic villain return, especially as the film approaches its twentieth anniversary. Lauren Weisberger even has two sequels to her original novel, which could potentially be adapted for the big screen. Additionally, unlike their respective characters, the actors who starred in the 2006 film appear to have good relationships with one another behind the scenes, making it likely that they would all be willing to work together again someday. However, while certain stories can be told with these same characters in the future, the likelihood of The Devil Wears Prada 2 is extremely low. It would appear that most people involved in the production of The Devil Wears Prada have no interest in returning, even if they still have high praise for the original film.

Despite the positive reaction to the original film and various other factors that would work in a sequel's favor, no one who worked on The Devil Wears Prada seems particularly interested in making a sequel anytime soon. In an interview with Variety in 2016, Anne Hathaway and Emily Blunt admitted that they didn't have any aspirations to make a sequel to the original film, though they did express their love for the cast, many members of which they indicated they would be willing to work with again in the future. With no concrete plans for a sequel, it would appear that filmmakers are content with leaving this classic movie alone, a rare but somewhat refreshing philosophy given Hollywood's proclivity for sequels, remakes, and franchising. Additionally, with the decline in print magazines in the years since The Devil Wears Prada's initial release, a film centered entirely around the dying industry would feel somewhat out of place in the modern day. However, there have been reports of a Broadway musical adaptation of the film entering development, though these mostly disappeared after the COVID-19 pandemic.

I’m not sure if could is the right question. Should there be? I’d love to make a movie with all the people again that’s something totally different. But I think that one might have just hit the right note. It’s good to leave it as it is. - Anne Hathaway, 2016 Variety Interview

The Devil Wears Prada will always remain one of the most iconic films of its time, with a standout performance from Meryl Streep, portraying the villainous Miranda Priestly. While audiences may never get confirmation on who Priestly is really based on, the idea behind it and the possibility that it could be Wintour can remain a fun topic of debate for fans of the film.