Anne Hathaway recreates iconic Devil Wears Prada moment with Anna Wintour at the 2026 Oscars

The 98th Academy Awards delivered a fashion fantasy that fans have been waiting two decades to see, as Anne Hathaway and Anna Wintour took the stage together to present multiple awards.

In a nod to the 2006 cult classic The Devil Wears Prada, the duo appeared side by side to present the awards for Best Costume Design and Best Makeup and Hairstyling. The moment paired Hathaway with Anna Wintour, who is widely believed to have inspired Miranda Priestly, in a meta Oscars reunion for fans of the film.

The reunion quickly drew attention online and arrived just ahead of The Devil Wears Prada 2, which is set to open in theaters on May 1, 2026. Here is what happened on the Oscars stage and how it connected to the upcoming sequel.

What actually happened on the Oscars stage?

Anne Hathaway and Anna Wintour walked out together to present the honors for Best Costume Design and Best Makeup and Hairstyling.

Hathaway leaned into the bit, appearing mock-nervous as she stood beside the longtime Vogue leader. She set up the joke by discussing the importance of wardrobe before turning to Wintour for a reaction to her own look.

Hathaway bravely asked, “Anna, just curious, what do you think of my dress tonight?” in a move that mirrored Andy Sachs seeking approval. Wintour, maintaining her legendary composure and signature dark sunglasses, didn’t even turn her head to look at the actress.

Instead, she skipped the question entirely and dryly stated, “And the nominees are…” to an explosion of laughter from the star-studded audience. This deadpan rejection was a masterclass in comedic timing and a direct homage to the icy demeanor of Miranda Priestly.

Did Anna Wintour really call Anne Hathaway “Emily”?

The comedy didn’t stop with the first award, as the pair returned to present the category for Best Makeup and Hairstyling with another scripted jab.

As Hathaway asked if Wintour would like to read the list of nominees, the fashion powerhouse delivered the ultimate “mic drop” line of the evening. She coolly replied, “Thank you, Emily,” before looking back at the teleprompter to continue the ceremony.

This specific name choice was an inside joke for fans of the original film. At the Oscars, Wintour’s “Thank you, Emily” line worked as a clear nod to Emily Blunt’s character Emily Charlton, turning the presentation into a direct wink at The Devil Wears Prada.

Fun fact: Anne Hathaway was famously the ninth choice for the role of Andy Sachs, and she actually tracked the progress of her casting by writing “Hire Me” in the sand of a Fox executive’s Zen garden.

What did Anne Hathaway wear for the big reunion?

Hathaway’s red carpet and onstage look was a deliberate “Old Hollywood” power move designed by Alessandro Michele for Valentino.

She stunned in a strapless black mermaid-style gown from the Spring 2026 Haute Couture collection that featured a dramatic train and vibrant pink floral embroidery. To complete the sophisticated ensemble, she wore black opera-length gloves and the Neoclassical Starlight High Jewelry necklace from Bvlgari.

The choice of a floral pattern was widely interpreted as a cheeky response to one of the film’s most famous lines. When Miranda Priestly sarcastically mocks a spring floral pitch as “groundbreaking,” she set a standard that Hathaway chose to playfully challenge in 2026.

Why was this moment timed for 2026?

The timing of this onstage pairing is no coincidence, as the sequel to the 2006 hit is officially set to hit theaters on May 1, 2026.

Rumors of a follow-up have circulated for years, but the 98th Academy Awards served as the unofficial kick-off for the film’s massive marketing campaign. Fans have been desperate for more content involving the original cast, and seeing Hathaway with Wintour solidified the hype.

The sequel reportedly follows Miranda Priestly navigating the decline of traditional magazine publishing while facing off against her former assistant. Seeing the real-world editor and the actress together reminded everyone why this dynamic was so electric in the first place.

Fun fact: The costume designer for the original film, Patricia Field, had a budget of only $100,000 but managed to source over $1 million worth of clothing through high-fashion loans and designer favors.

What does this mean for Hathaway’s career?

Anne Hathaway has managed to maintain a rare level of relevance by embracing her past while constantly evolving her style.

While she has an Oscar of her own for her work in musical cinema, she clearly understands the power of the role that launched her into the stratosphere. Participating in this bit showed a level of self-awareness and humor that fans find incredibly endearing.

She continues to be a favorite of major fashion houses and is currently the face of several luxury brands. This Oscar’s appearance wasn’t just about a movie; it was a reinforcement of her status as a global style icon.

Fun fact: Anna Wintour actually attended the original 2006 premiere of the film wearing Prada, however it was purely coincidental rather than a calculated joke.

Will the rest of the cast return for the sequel?

Fans were thrilled to confirm that Meryl Streep and Emily Blunt will both be reprising their legendary roles alongside Hathaway.

The sequel reunites Meryl Streep, Anne Hathaway, Emily Blunt, and Stanley Tucci nearly two decades after the original film. Tucci is officially returning as Nigel, keeping one of the franchise’s central creative dynamics intact.

With the film set for a May 1, 2026, theatrical release, official materials have emphasized the return of the original cast, director David Frankel, and writer Aline Brosh McKenna. The Oscars segment added fresh attention to the sequel and its Runway-centered world.

TL;DR

• Anne Hathaway and Anna Wintour presented Best Costume Design and Best Makeup and Hairstyling together at the 2026 Oscars.
• Wintour playfully “shaded” Hathaway by ignoring her dress question and calling her “Emily” on stage.
• The moment was a major promotional tie-in for the upcoming sequel, releasing on May 1, 2026.
• Hathaway wore a floral Valentino gown, a “groundbreaking” nod to the original film’s famous dialogue.
• The reunion circulated widely online, fueled by nostalgia and the involvement of Anna Wintour on the Oscars stage.
  

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This article was made with AI assistance and human editing.

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