Simone Ashley storms into The Devil Wears Prada 2 with the kind of sharp, fashion-world bite that demands attention before the credits settle.

Reports indicate Ashley plays Amari Mari in David Frankel’s sequel, released Friday by 20th Century Studios, and the role arrives with a clear mandate: refresh a legacy character type for a new generation. Where Emily Blunt’s assistant helped define the original film’s icy, couture-clad tone two decades ago, Ashley appears to push that energy into a more contemporary register, giving the sequel a distinctly Gen-Z pulse without losing the franchise’s edge.

“Who gives away Chanel?” has emerged as the kind of line that signals exactly what this sequel wants to do: honor the original’s fashion-world sharpness while speaking in a fresh voice.

The most intriguing detail from Ashley’s latest press run may sit outside the wardrobe drama. Sources suggest she helped shape one of her character’s standout lines, a small but telling sign of creative ownership in a franchise built on precision and attitude. At the same time, she has spoken about channeling Rihanna — a cultural shorthand for confidence, poise, and control — as she built out the role’s energy. That influence suggests Ashley approached the part not simply as homage, but as reinvention.

Key Facts

  • Simone Ashley stars as Amari Mari in The Devil Wears Prada 2.
  • The sequel was directed by David Frankel and released Friday by 20th Century Studios.
  • Ashley has discussed contributing to her character’s “Who gives away Chanel?” line.
  • She also revealed she recorded her first EP between shoots.

Ashley’s story also stretches beyond the screen. According to the report, she recorded her first EP between shoots, adding another layer to a career that already spans period drama, studio film, and now music. That detail matters because it frames this moment less as a single casting coup and more as a pivot point. Ashley looks less like a performer taking the next job and more like an artist building a broader identity in real time.

What happens next will determine whether The Devil Wears Prada 2 lands as a nostalgia play or a true handoff to a new era. Ashley’s role, and the creative confidence around it, suggests the sequel wants both. If audiences respond, the film won’t just revive a beloved title — it could mark the moment one of its newest stars turns franchise visibility into something bigger and harder to ignore.