Bridgerton star joins cast of highly anticipated movie sequel that's decades in the making

Bridgerton star Simone Ashley has joined the all-star cast of the long-awaited Devil Wears Prada sequel, Deadline is reporting.

The highly anticipated follow-up will reunite core cast members Anne Hathaway, Meryl Streep, Emily Blunt and Stanley Tucci.

British acting legend Sir Kenneth Branagh was the first new addition to the cast, with Ashley now set to join along with Lucy Liu and Justin Theroux.

The Bridgerton and Sex Education actress has shared the announcement to her Instagram Story, seemingly confirming reports she'll be joining the stylish blockbuster.

She's best known for starring in Netflix's glamorous period drama as Lady Kathani 'Kate' Sharma opposite her romantic co-lead Jonathan Bailey.

Ashley has also starred in Sex Education, Disney's The Little Mermaid remake and Prime Video's romantic comedy Picture This.

Her casting is a huge win after her latest big screen role in the Brad Pitt-led F1: The Movie was cut.

Filming for the sequel is believed to have already started, with original director David Frankel and screenwriter Aline Brosh McKenna reuniting nearly 20 years after their 2006 hit.

Early plot details suggest the follow-up will see Streep's formidable editor-in-chief of Runway Miranda Priestly struggling with the decline of magazine sales.

Meanwhile, her former assistant Emily (played by Blunt) is now a high-flying executive at a luxury fashion group whose advertising revenue could save the publication - if they can settle old scores, that is.

Branagh will reportedly portray Miranda's husband, while Ashley's role is currently unknown, as are Hathaway's Andy Sachs and Tucci's Nigel Kipling's roles in the narrative.

Blunt previously revealed to Entertainment Tonight that Emily and Miranda will have "beef" in the sequel.

"[Streep and I are] so mean to each other in every movie we do," she joked.

"We always have beef with each other. I don't know what it is. Let's hope we remedy it. I'm not sure!"

Unfortunately, she wasn't able to shed any further light on the sequel's still mysterious plot details.

"I don't know. Where is [Emily]?" she admitted. "I don't know.

"Can you tell I'm skirting the issue? Can you tell I'm not telling you anything?"

The Devil Wears Prada will be released in cinemas on 1st July, 2026.