Dwayne Johnson Wants In on The Devil Wears Prada 2 — He Already Pitched His Own Role
Dwayne Johnson is muscling into high fashion as Emily Blunt says he’s already pitched himself a role in The Devil Wears Prada 2, cranking up buzz for the anticipated sequel.
File this under: things I did not expect to type. Dwayne Johnson tried to talk his way into The Devil Wears Prada 2. Yes, that The Devil Wears Prada 2.
The Rock, heels, and a Prada pitch
On EW's The Awardist podcast, Johnson said he straight-up pitched himself for a role in the sequel while Emily Blunt was on set filming it. He wanted to play someone who actually knows fashion and is, in his words, cool. Blunt backed him up with a grin: he tried.
'I pitched myself. I told her when she was shooting.'
Blunt joked the character would be great at walking in heels. Johnson: 'Size 15 heels.'
Blunt: 'You should see him in a pair of heels. Hot.'
Considering he and Blunt clearly like working together — they already teamed on Disney's Jungle Cruise and reunited for Benny Safdie's The Smashing Machine — the man shooting his shot here checks out. The visual of The Rock tearing down a Runway corridor in stilettos is... a strong swing.
So what is this sequel, exactly?
Nearly twenty years after the original, the main quartet is back: Meryl Streep, Anne Hathaway, Emily Blunt, and Stanley Tucci return to the world of Runway Magazine and Manhattan's fashion grind. David Frankel, who directed the 2006 film, is back in the chair, and Aline Brosh McKenna returns to write. Production-wise, Wendy Finerman is producing, with Michael Bederman, Karen Rosenfelt, and McKenna executive producing.
And it is not just a nostalgia trip — there is a fresh row of new faces alongside a couple of familiar supporting players.
- Returning leads: Meryl Streep, Anne Hathaway, Emily Blunt, Stanley Tucci
- Returning director/writer: David Frankel (director), Aline Brosh McKenna (writer)
- Reprising supporting roles: Tracie Thoms as 'Lily', Tibor Feldman as 'Irv'
- New cast: Kenneth Branagh, Simone Ashley, Justin Theroux, Lucy Liu, Patrick Brammall, Caleb Hearon, Helen J. Shen, Pauline Chalamet, B.J. Novak, Conrad Ricamora
- Producers: Wendy Finerman (producer); Michael Bederman, Karen Rosenfelt, Aline Brosh McKenna (executive producers)
Quick refresher: why this mattered the first time
The 2006 hit followed Anne Hathaway's Andy Sachs, a smart new grad who lands the assistant gig from hell under Meryl Streep's icy editor-in-chief Miranda Priestly. Emily Blunt played Miranda's senior assistant Emily Charlton, and Stanley Tucci was art director Nigel Kipling. It pulled in $326 million worldwide and earned Streep an Oscar nomination for Best Actress. In other words: big deal then, big expectations now.
Would The Rock fit?
On paper, it sounds absurd. Then you remember the guy can sell anything with a raised eyebrow and a power walk. If he actually showed up in size 15 heels? I would not complain.