Devil Wears Prada Villain BJ Novak Is Leaning Into the Let Them Theory

BJ Novak

Julian Ungano

When BJ Novak books a supporting role in a film or a guest spot on a television series, he’s often asked to bring a selection of his own clothes to wear on camera — so, he figured he’d do the same on The Devil Wears Prada 2.

“I showed up to the wardrobe department on my first day having brought my own things,” says Novak. “Then I walk into this two-story warehouse that every designer in the world has been flooding them with requests.”

To be clear, Novak does not get to play a fashionista in the comedy. Twenty years after the first film, the sequel finds the publishing house behind the fictional Runway magazine at a bit of a crisis point. And his character, the company’s scion, is very quickly put at odds against the still-intimidating editor Miranda Priestly (played by, of course, Meryl Streep). Adding to the tension between the two characters, Novak almost exclusively wears tech apparel and athleisure and rarely looks up from his phone. “At least it was a very comfortable wardrobe,” adds Novak.

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This high-profile supporting gig is a departure for the actor-writer, who most recently starred in his feature directorial debut — the 2022 black comedy Vengeance. He hasn’t taken on much acting work of late. He’s been busy growing a niche food empire and writing bestselling children’s books. He’s always threatening (his word) to return to stand-up, and he and his close friend Mindy Kaling have even joked about starting a podcast.

Speaking for the better part of an hour in mid-April, Novak seems to be signaling with his villain turn in The Devil Wears Prada 2 that he’s open to more acting gigs than Hollywood might expect. He’s still a writer. He just has a broader definition of the word than most.

Are you a fashion person, or was this all kind of a novelty to you?

I didn’t realize how much I didn’t know. I’ve since been confronted with that. I’m from Boston, which is not a very fashion-forward place. And I play a character in the movie who is such an offensively dressed outsider to the fashion world, so I think that probably was good casting.

How would you describe the Boston aesthetic?

People sort of dress like Fisher-Price characters: the dad, the construction worker, the mail person, man, woman. It’s more like that, which is thought of as all you need. But Mindy’s from Boston, too, and she went the complete fashion route.

I’d argue that you are now canonically, across two films, the worst-dressed character in The Devil Wears Prada franchise.

That’s an honor. It’s great to stand out, to have a strong character choice made for you. So yes, I think that’s a great distinction.

We’re speaking just after you went to the New York premiere, which was big even by film premiere standards. Do you enjoy that part of the job?

I overthink everything, so I have a hundred theories and perspectives on how to be. I should just relax and enjoy it. These people who I had a great time with on set, I’m like, “Oh, well, now are they in movie star mode? Do they want to talk to their agent? Do they want to talk to their family?” I stuck to myself and hung out with my family and friends.

You obviously wear many hats, so to speak, but I’d argue that a lot of your for-hire acting work was earlier in your career — back around Inglorious Bastards. You do a lot of projects that are self-generated or reunions with past collaborators. Did you seek this project out?

This was Aline Brosh McKenna, a friend of mine and the screenwriter and producer of the movie. I think she’s a big fan of writer-actors. I got a text from her that just said, “Let me know what you think!” I was like, “Did she text the wrong person?” Then I thought, oh man, she probably has some pilot that she’s stuck on that she’s trying to pass off onto me. The next day she texts again, “Do you hear from your agent yet?” Finally she picks up the phone and she’s like, “It’s The Devil Wars Prada 2. You play so-and-so. All of your scenes are with Meryl Streep. Everyone already approved you. We shoot in the summer in New York, Milan and Lake Como.” This is an insane phone call. This is not generally the call you get.

How much are you putting yourself out there to act?

Aline asked me something like that: “Don’t you want to act more?” What am I supposed to do? Stare at my phone harder? People will call. I get sent stuff and I read it sometimes. Maybe if I really made acting a pursuit. … Like