Does THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA 2 rock the sequel trend? + STEVE COOGAN

8 snips

Apr 30, 2026

Steve Coogan, acclaimed actor and comedian known for The Trip and Philomena, talks about his new Netflix series Legends and playing real people. Conversation covers undercover customs officers tackling the 90s heroin trade. He reflects on the toll of deep-cover roles and his acting approach. There’s also chat about Saipan and working with filmmakers.

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INSIGHT

Sequels Recreate Faces Not Arguments

Sequels often reassemble beloved characters but fail to recreate the original's thematic depth.
Mark says The Devil Wears Prada 2 strings old characters back together with thin, performative plot contrivances that don't ring true.

INSIGHT

Give Villains A Compelling Rationale

A great sequel must supply a counterargument or reframe the original's key scene, not merely imitate its tone.
Mark uses Miranda's cerulean sweater speech from the first film as an example of giving a villain a meaningful rationale absent in the sequel.

INSIGHT

Horror's Exorcist Echo Chamber

Modern horror often riffs on The Exorcist template, trading originality for homage.
Mark says Lee Cronin's The Mummy leans heavily on Exorcist imagery and tropes, making it familiar but derivative.

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On this week’s Take, Mark and Simon return with more of the week’s freshest film reviews – and the Redactor is back from his holibobs (boo hiss).

First on the review slate we’ll revisit the world of fashion, ambition, and withering put-downs in The Devil Wears Prada 2, the much-anticipated sequel to the beloved original. Has the magic survived the runway return, or should some classics be left untouched? Then it’s Surviving Earth, a tender new family drama centred on a refugee harmonica player trying to hold his fractured family together. And finally, Hokum, a chilling Irish-set horror about a haunted hotel and a family secret, starring Adam Scott.

Plus, Steve Coogan stops by to talk about his new Netflix series Legends, based on the true story of ordinary customs workers going deep undercover to tackle Britain’s heroin crisis in the 90s. One of Britain’s most renowned character actors, Coogan chats to Mark and Simon about playing real people, life beyond Partridge, and how he gets deep into his roles. For the football fans, there’s some Saipan chat too.

And as ever, there’s correspondence from the faithful, a few unexpected cinematic tangents, and the familiar blend of conviction, camaraderie, and gentle sparring that keeps the Take motoring along. Oh, and the Laughter Lift—as if we hadn’t all suffered enough.

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Timecodes:

00:11:50 The Devil Wears Prada 2 review

00:22:43 Box Office Top 10

00:26:20 Lee Cronin's The Mummy review

00:38:03 Steve Coogan interview

00:51:56 Hokum review

01:07:04 Surviving Earth

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