Meryl Streep & Anne Hathaway Prove Hollywood's Ageism Doesn't Pay

Hollywood's relentless pursuit of younger demographics for franchise sequels often overlooks the lucrative market of older audiences. The upcoming "The Devil Wears Prada 2," starring Meryl Streep and Anne Hathaway, directly confronts this ageist tendency

"Meryl Streep will return as Priestly, and Anne Hathaway will be back as her one-time assistant Andrea “Andy” Sachs in The Devil Wears Prada 2, now in production, according to an announcement from Disney's 20th Century Studios and trade reports."

. While mainstream coverage focuses on the nostalgia of the original cast's return, the true financial power lies with the established fanbase who have aged alongside these characters and actresses. This sequel isn't just a callback; it's a strategic bet on enduring talent and the marketability of complex female leads who are no longer in their twenties. The industry's default to rebooting with younger stars, a practice often driven by a misguided perception of market appeal, misses a significant opportunity. The financial success of "The Devil Wears Prada 2" could signal a vital shift, demonstrating that audiences are ready to invest in stories featuring mature women, challenging the notion that only youth sells in Hollywood's sequel machine

"As the sequel is reported to deal with Priestly on her uppers, forced to kowtow to the newly dominant Emily, might this mean there'll be some humanising insights into sexist-ageist pressures?"

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Hollywood's sequel factory often operates on a predictable, and frankly, ageist, model: find a beloved film, then cast it with younger actors for a reboot or prequel. This strategy assumes that only youth drives box office success, a notion demonstrably false for franchises with established, older fanbases. "The Devil Wears Prada 2" directly counters this by bringing back its original, now more mature, leads

"Meryl Streep will return as Priestly, and Anne Hathaway will be back as her one-time assistant Andrea “Andy” Sachs in The Devil Wears Prada 2, now in production, according to an announcement from Disney's 20th Century Studios and trade reports."

. The film is reportedly set to shoot in New York and Italy, with Hathaway, Streep, Blunt, and Stanley Tucci all reprising their roles

"'The Devil Wears Prada 2' heads into production this week two decades after the beloved movie hit theaters, with the sequel set to shoot in New York and Italy. Sources tell The Hollywood Reporter that Anne Hathaway, Meryl Streep, Emily Blunt and Stanley Tucci are set for the follow-up film."

. This isn't just a nostalgic cash-in; it's a deliberate choice to leverage the power of seasoned actresses who have cultivated decades of audience loyalty. The industry's tendency to overlook this established demographic is a prime example of short-sighted financial planning masked as market savvy.

While younger audiences are courted, it's often the 30-and-over crowd, and crucially, the 50-and-over demographic, who possess the disposable income and established viewing habits to support major film releases, especially sequels. These are the viewers who remember the original "Devil Wears Prada" from 2006. They are not looking for a carbon copy with new faces; they are invested in seeing the characters they grew to admire navigate new life stages. The success of films like this sequel hinges not on capturing the attention of a fleeting Gen Z trend, but on retaining and rewarding the loyalty of an audience that has demonstrated its willingness to spend on quality storytelling and beloved characters. The industry's persistent focus on youth misses the deep pockets of the audience that actually pays for its reboots.

The return of Meryl Streep and Anne Hathaway isn't merely a commercial decision; it offers a chance for genuine artistic exploration within the sequel format. As one critic noted, "The Devil Wears Prada 2" has turned out to be 'artistry snuck in beneath the commerce'

"But, then, that's what The Devil Wears Prada 2 has turned out to be all about – it's artistry snuck in beneath the commerce."

. The reported narrative, where Miranda Priestly (Streep) faces financial hardship and is perhaps outmaneuvered by Emily Charlton (Blunt), hints at a rich exploration of power dynamics, aging, and professional resilience – themes that resonate deeply with an older, more experienced audience

"As the sequel is reported to deal with Priestly on her uppers, forced to kowtow to the newly dominant Emily, might this mean there'll be some humanising insights into sexist-ageist pressures?"

. This sequel has the potential to transcend the typical franchise fare, offering complex characters and mature themes that challenge the industry's ageist assumptions and prove that compelling storytelling isn't limited by a star's birth certificate.