A press event for the film was held Tuesday afternoon at the Four Seasons Hotel Seoul in Jongno-gu. Stars Meryl Streep and Anne Hathaway attended.
Streep, visiting South Korea for the first time, thanked the audience for the welcome. "This is my first time coming to Korea. Thank you for welcoming us warmly," she said. "I’m happy we can show you a film we love so much, and I’m glad to be here with a project I’m proud of."
Hathaway said she wished she could stay longer. "I’m a little disappointed — I wish I could have been here a bit longer," she said, adding that visiting Starfield Library was on her bucket list but time was short. "Still, I’m going to try to do as much as I can with the time I have. I’m trying to figure out how to eat as much delicious food as possible," she said, drawing laughter.
Asked what kind of story they would pursue if they were fashion-magazine editors covering Korean culture, Hathaway pointed to the country’s global influence. "Korea is leading youth culture right now and has so many strengths worldwide," she said, citing music, fashion and skin care. She added that, as an editor, she would want to interview directors Park Chan-wook and Bong Joon-ho.
Streep said she was interested in Korean barbecue, noting there is a restaurant near a hockey arena her son frequents in Los Angeles. She also described how Korean pop culture reaches her family. "I have six grandchildren, and every day they talk about 'K-pop Demon Hunters' and they really love the songs," she said. "They’re being influenced by K-pop and K-culture. It feels like the world is connected. We affect each other’s lives."
Streep said the sequel needed time. "I never thought, 'Why couldn’t we do it earlier?'" she said. "We needed 20 years. This story has to be 'now.' Because 20 years have passed, just as audiences were surprised by the first film, they can be surprised by the second, too."
She said the 2026 media environment is central to the film. "When the first film came out in 2006, it was before the iPhone was released," Streep said. "Now everyone has a smartphone. Smartphones changed everything. Journalism and print culture changed, and entertainment changed, too. Our industry is going through major upheaval, and financially there are questions about how to get through these difficulties. This film is set against a rapidly changing media environment 20 years later."
Hathaway agreed, saying the film reflects the impact of "digital innovation" on journalism and fashion. She said Andy, once a 22-year-old new graduate, returns 20 years later with experience, skills and confidence, and appears as Miranda’s potential partner.
Hathaway said the sequel’s message extends beyond independent women to independence as an individual. "In the second film, Andy is paying all the bills she needs to pay," she said. "It would be nice if there’s a good person, but she thinks she’s great even 'on her own.'"
Streep spoke about representation for older women on screen. "It’s rare in films to see a woman over 70 play a boss like this," she said, adding she was glad to portray a character with that kind of presence. She also said she recently appeared on a Vogue cover with editor Anna Wintour, with a 76-year-old photographer. "Women over 50 gradually disappear, and their opinions and thoughts are reflected less in culture," she said. "I’m happy we can show people with a strong presence."
Hathaway praised Streep’s approach to acting. "Meryl listens to what other people say when she acts, and she gains so much from that," she said. "If our chemistry is anything, it’s that Meryl is so good and I’m just in awe. That’s our chemistry."
Streep said filming the sequel was energized by the reunion. "When we made the second film, the energy between us caught fire — it was lively and fun," she said. She added she enjoyed working again with Emily Blunt and Stanley Tucci, and said the group’s chemistry grew stronger.
Near the end of the event, the production presented the actors with red high heels inspired by traditional Korean flower shoes. Streep called them "incredible" and "so beautiful," while Hathaway said they felt like a treasure and that she would remember the day when she looked at them.
The two said they were looking forward to meeting fans later Tuesday at 7 p.m. Streep thanked the public for the warm reception and said she wanted to greet everyone in Korea. Hathaway said she was grateful to talk about life and dreams and called it an honor to return.
"The Devil Wears Prada 2" follows Miranda, editor-in-chief of the legendary fashion magazine Runway, and Andy, who returns as a features editor after 20 years. They reunite with Emily, now an executive at a luxury brand, and struggle to regain leadership in the fashion world amid a transformed media environment. The film opens in South Korean theaters on April 29, ahead of the rest of the world.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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