Why Devil Wears Prada 2 Kills Off a Returning Fan Favorite

Well, this is not the sequel news I expected. The Devil Wears Prada 2 throws a pretty wild curveball: a returning character from the original isn’t just back for nostalgia—they’re not making it out alive. If you were hoping the sequel would play it safe and just bring the magazine drama, you might want to brace yourself.

Who Bites It (and Why)?

So, who’s getting the axe? It’s Irv Ravitz, played by Tibor Feldman. If you remember, Irv was the owner of Elias-Clarke, the publishing giant that owns Runway magazine. In the sequel, Irv drops dead during his own birthday bash—right in front of Miranda Priestly (Meryl Streep), no less. And yes, the shock factor is 100% intentional.

The Thinking Behind the Big Death

Director David Frankel just talked to Entertainment Weekly about how this all went down behind the scenes. Apparently, he and screenwriter Aline Brosh McKenna hit a point in the script where they felt like things needed a serious jolt. Their fix? Knock off a major character.

Frankel said straight up:

'It totally made sense. Irv had to die, given that the second half of the story is all about who takes over Elias-Clarke and, by extension, the future of Runway magazine. It couldn’t just be that he’s in a coma somewhere – Irv had to go. With his death, the whole company suddenly becomes vulnerable to takeover.'

And if you’re thinking this came out of nowhere, Frankel actually compared it to Emily Blunt’s taxi accident from the first movie. He likes that kind of out-of-left-field moment that shakes up the plot and makes things a lot less predictable.

How Did Tibor Feldman Feel About All This?

On top of everything, Tibor Feldman was apparently totally into his character’s dramatic exit. Frankel said Feldman 'wanted to see his own funeral, so he came to the service just to see how Irv was remembered.' Not a bad attitude about being written off, honestly.

The Takeaway

• Irv Ravitz dies at his birthday party in the sequel, right in front of Miranda Priestly.
• Director David Frankel and writer Aline Brosh McKenna wanted a big, game-changing twist—and Irv’s death sets up the corporate power struggle that drives the rest of the movie.
• The choice was deliberate: keeping him around wouldn’t have created the same stakes as knocking him off completely.
• Tibor Feldman enjoyed the whole funeral scene, turning what could have been awkward into something pretty funny on set.
• The film is doing fine with critics—currently pulling a 78% 'certified fresh' rating on Rotten Tomatoes, inching just above the original’s 75%.

So, if you’re heading out to see The Devil Wears Prada 2, don’t get too comfortable—this sequel isn’t afraid of throwing a shock or two your way, even if it means killing off some familiar faces.