Stanley Tucci on Returning for ‘Devil Wears Prada 2,’ the Film’s Take on New Media and How That TJ Maxx Line Led to a Collab

Stanley Tucci in a TJ Maxx ad — Stanley Tucci TJ Maxx

Stanley Tucci may have warned everyone to “Gird your loins” in the original Devil Wears Prada but this time around he’s coming for TJ Maxx.

In The Devil Wears Prada 2, released on May 1, Tucci reprises his role as longtime Runway magazine staffer and art director Nigel. When Anne Hathway’s Andy makes her return to the mag years later in the film, Tucci’s Nigel quips, “Look what TJ Maxx dragged in.” Though a subtle jab from Nigel, Tucci on the other hand is ready to “stand corrected” and embrace being a “Maxxinisto” in a new ad campaign with the retailer (shared below.)

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“I thought it was really funny,” Tucci told The Hollywood Reporter about being approached to collab with the retailer. “We got Ryan Reynolds’ company [Maximum Effort] involved in it, who shot it, directed it, came up with a concept with TJ Maxx folks. I just thought it was so funny [and] smart. I was like, why not? If you can go to a store and buy designer goods for a lot less and you’re gonna get them in the shop itself, I have no problem with that!”

Before stepping into Nigel’s fashionable shoes again for the sequel, Tucci told THR that an appeal of returning was where Nigel is years later — in the same place, doing the same thing. “There had been very little movement career-wise since the first film,” Tucci said. And despite Nigel being betrayed by Meryl Streep’s Miranda in the original film, Tucci said the pair seemingly continued to maintain a “perfect symbiotic relationship” in the second film.

Though the first film explored the harsh realities of what success can cost, the sequel examines maintaining or finding success in a rapidly changing industry and digital landscape. “There are a lot of odds stacked against journalists, magazines [and] newspapers now because of AI [and] our phones,” Tucci told THR. “The lack of a need for in-depth content is starting to disappear. I like that the story of the film addresses that.”

Ahead of the launch of his ad with TJ Maxx, Tucci spoke with THR about their collaboration, returning for the sequel, getting a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and the warning the sequel gives to media.

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Meryl Streep has said in interviews that she didn’t want to return for a Devil Wears Prada sequel unless a purposeful story was there. For you, what was it about the story in the sequel that made returning to play Nigel feel right?

I liked the fact that he was still sort of in the same position that he was in 20 years before. There had been very little movement career-wise. I liked that [Nigel and Miranda’s] relationship. I like the fact that he was so devoted to her and to what he does. He, like she [Miranda], believes maintaining the quality of something is really important, no matter what odds are stacked against you. And there are a lot of odds stacked against journalists now, magazines [and] newspapers because of AI [and] our phones. The lack of a need for in-depth content is starting to disappear. I like that the story of the film addresses that. I think that’s it’s nice. It’s not just some sort of frivolous, “Oh, aren’t these pretty costumes.” Obviously, there’s that too, but I like that it’s enmeshed in a substantial story.

You mentioned that it was interesting that Nigel was still in the same position going into in this film. How did you personally want to see him evolve? What was there more to explore with Nigel that you were hoping to in the sequel?

The relationship with Miranda, the business and with Annie’s [Anne Hathaway] character [Andy]. He navigates things in very subtle ways. I like that about him. He plays things close to the vest. He never really shows what he’s thinking [or] what he’s feeling. He has this sort of peripheral vision that most people don’t have. I think that’s why he is so good at what he does. So to be able to jump back into that, and, of course, all of the snarky and kind of mean funny lines … that’s just fun.

In the first film, we saw this betrayal happen with Miranda sacrificing Nigel’s promised promotion to save her own job as editor-in-chief, and given the first film ended on Nigel having to make a professional compromise, so to speak, how would you say that his dynamic with Miranda has changed over time? And where do you see their relationship?

Well, you know, the thing is, it hasn’t changed, which is kind of the beauty of it. They’re both very much stuck in that relationship, but they want that relationship. If neither of them wanted that relationship, it would end. But they need each other. It’s a sort of perfect symbiotic relationship. The fact that they’ve had this relationship for so long, and yet, when she throws her parties in the Hamptons, he’s never been invited. And even if he had been invited, he would have begged off. I think that’s really interesting. I like that. They know that they have to take on all the changes in the world, but they can only really do it together. Then we see in the film, not to spoil it, this significant change in her towards the end.

The original film had so many iconic lines, one of which was Nigel’s “Gird your loins.” But this time around Nigel has a line “Look what TJ Maxx dragged in” which is a great one-liner Nigel delivers about Andy. Is what we see on film how it was written in the script or were there other options?

No that was it! We didn’t need another option. It was a great line. I laughed straight away when I read it!

To further celebrate that line, you’re collaborating with TJ Maxx for an ad. At what point did this TJ Maxx opportunity come your way and why did you say yes?

They came to me just a little while ago, and they said, “Would you want to do this commercial?” And I thought it was really funny. We got Ryan Reynolds’ company [Maximum Effort] involved in it, who shot it, directed it, came up with a concept with TJ Maxx folks. I just thought it was so funny, smart. I was like, why not? If you can go to a store and buy designer goods for a lot less and you’re gonna get them in the shop itself, I have no problem with that!

Given there’s a focus on the elevated quality without the elevated price, do you think Nigel would ever respect the hunt for a great deal on fashion?

Oh no question. Nigel is no millionaire. He just has the taste of one.

Now as you mention in the ad, you may stand corrected, but do you think Nigel could ever shop at TJ Maxx? If so, what would it take to convince him to change his tune and maybe offer his own “cerulean sweater” monologue about TJ Maxx?

I think he would do it in a second. I mean, he might do it when it’s dark. (Laughs.) How many costume designers you know who are great dressers use TJ Maxx and other places to get really, really nice stuff that you can dress your actors in? Why not? You’re gonna save a lot of money.

How do you think he would explain the appeal of TJ Maxx to someone like Miranda Priestly?

Oh he’d probably just lie to her and say it was given to them or something.

Given there’s a focus on fashion without the splurge, what bargains do you hunt for in your own life whether it be fashion related or anything else?

When I food shop. I always look at … well the price of beans is the old expression. But I look at them, or a can of tomato and I look at it, and I’m like, I cannot pay six pounds for a 14 ounce can of tomato. It’s upsetting! In a pinch, yeah, but I just think it’s crazy, and there are so many reasons why that can of tomatoes is six pounds, but some of them are just not justified.

I went to some place a little while ago, and there was nice pasta but there wasn’t a single pound of pasta under 10 bucks. The whole point of pasta is [it’s] kind of cheap. You can get good pasta for not a lot of money. Nowadays, you just have to buy in bulk.

Then you got to go to Costco.

Costco exists because of my parents.

Fans of the franchise really zero in on these one-liners and quote them over and over again. I can see this TJ Maxx line making its way into the cultural lexicon. Did you have a favorite line in the first film and sequel from your character?

Well from my character I obviously love “Gird your loins.” And I like, “Wake up six!” In this one, I like the line, “Did your parents hang all of your finger paintings?” (Laughs.) I like that because you don’t expect it to come. You know you’re not going to be applauded for everything.

What about your favorite Nigel look from the film?

That’s impossible! No, I’m serious. I love them all. I spent so much time in costume fittings. It sounds funny, but it is exhausting! You’re trying to figure out what’s really going to work, what’s too much, not enough, believable. And I have to say, every single look I was thrilled to wear. And Molly [Rogers], who designed it and her team, they were just great. It was a great collaboration.

Your character has a lot to do in this film, and, without spoilers, it seems like there’s more story to tell here. Would you be open to a third film? Would would be next for Nigel?

I love playing this character. He’s so incredibly satisfying to play. But in the end, I think for all of us, including the director and the writer, it really depends on the script. If it makes sense, yeah, sure. If it doesn’t make sense? Probably not.

I know you just got a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Congratulations! How does it feel to receive the star especially amid a time when you’re revisiting a previous role that is beloved and being celebrated for your career thus far?

It was great! Especially doing it with Emily [Blunt]. The fact that we were honored together [and] our stars are together, that just makes me even happier. The fact that Felicity, her sister, was was there, and John [Krasinski] was there… We’re all very close, and the kids are very close. So to have that sort of professionally solidify our union with that symbo was really nice. And people said such nice things! It was fun and funny. It wasn’t uptight you know what I mean?

It was like a fun party.

It was fantastic, with a bunch of people watching. It was weird!

Just to end on the movie, the sequel tackles AI and the current uncertain state for media, journalism and the industry at large. Journalists watching the movie say it’s a horror film. What scares you the most about where things are headed? What do you hope the movie gets across?

The movie gets across the fact that we need to be careful, and we need to always remember that people are more important than anything. It is really scary for young people, in particular, because
what’s happening now [is] people are starting to go back into trades: plumbing, air conditioning, heating, electrical … All that stuff, because those are the jobs that are going to exist. And a huge number of jobs are just going to be gone. Something that takes somebody a month assessing a company whether it’s worthy to be bought or whatever, that’ll be done in three hours. it’s already happened. AI does it. You don’t need that person. You don’t need that team. The other effect that it’s going to have — I was reading about this the other day — the fewer people you have working, the fewer taxes you’re going to collect. So governments are going to suffer and social safety nets are going to suffer. AI can’t fix that.

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The Devil Wears Prada 2 is in theaters now.