Justin Theroux has always excelled in playing a variety of sharp, memorable characters, but his role in the sequel to The Devil Wears Prada took many people by surprise. Staggering audiences upon the movie’s arrival were promised glamorous clothes, acerbic office politics and the re-entry of familiar faces like Anne Hathaway, Meryl Streep and Emily Blunt. Theroux, it was not expected, was in one of the most extreme, and talked about, supporting roles in the film.
The actor is cast as Benji Barnes, a rich tech billionaire who comes into the story halfway through the film. His character falls in love with Emily Blunt’s character, Emily, and also helps to finance her newest professional venture. Theroux’s name is in the opening credits, but many people said that they spent a significant portion of the film wondering where Theroux was. It took some fans a while to realize that it was the same person.
Unfortunately, Benji Barnes is played by a very loud, very flashy, very confident and very out-of-touch actor. The character enters scenes with an artificial orange tan, designer outfits and a sort of billionaire-like hubris that is commonplace in the technology industry these days. He speaks about artificial intelligence taking over man’s jobs casually, and provides blunt comments with dead seriousness, which only enhance his absurdity.
The character was soon a one of the biggest revelations in the movie once it went viral with viewers’ reactions online. The fans went crazy on social media, and many were left in disbelief that the actor behind the character is Justin Theroux. One critic commented, “Waited for Justin Theroux to appear for the entire time in Devil Wears Prada 2, saw his name in the opening credits.”
One of the other people commented, “That’s Justin Theroux??”
A third fan replied that Theroux was “unrecognizable” and went on to say, “It was going to take me a few scenes to “clock him.”
The folks at The New Yorker didn’t know what to make of Theroux’s disappearance, as evidenced by the online reaction. In today’s day and age, when celebrities’ appearances are often marred before movies even hit theaters, it is becoming even harder to let the audience come as a shock to them. The feeling of confusion and misrecognition was a part of the entertainment for the movie’s viewers.
Its sequel has high expectations because the original The Devil Wears Prada was a cultural phenomenon and a long-lasting favourite. The first movie was touted for the fashion world theme, memorable quotes and the complicated relationships at work. Miranda Priestly is one of the most beloved roles of all time for Meryl Streep and Anne Hathaway and Emily Blunt are responsible for crafting characters that stayed memorable for viewers beyond the film’s conclusion.
The first movie garnered a devoted fanbase and each casting decision in the sequel has drawn a lot of comments on social media. Theroux’s appearance was not only striking because of his appearance, but also because his character represents the ongoing dialogue of today about technology, wealth, and corporate power. Benji Barnes is a combination of all the arrogant, trend-driven, self-serving innovations of the modern tech billionaire.
The character is so self-absorbed and ridiculous that a lot of people said it’s a parrot of some of the characters that dominated headlines in Silicon Valley now. His remarks on AI taking the place of employees resonate with actual fears that have been roiling industries such as entertainment, media, and fashion. The movie takes, however, a tongue-in-cheek approach to these ideas and makes Benji both amusing and awkward at the same time.
Theroux seems to have taken delight in the foolishness of the job when he was shooting. Reports say the actor loved portraying Benji Barnes in his exaggerated costumes and costumes. It appears to have paid off, as viewers now find his scenes some of the funniest moments in the sequel.
It’s particularly interesting because Justin Theroux has already been known to play unique roles. Throughout the years he has been featured in psychological dramas, dark comedies, action movies and television shows that it is always possible to identify him by both his physical appearance and personality. But in this instance, makeup, styling and over-dressing and acting placed him far from his regular appearance and fans had a difficult time recognizing him.
It’s also fun to watch familiar faces interpreting characters that are very different from what they’re known for. Theroux was not playing a traditional or the more polished, charming role, but rather one that was awkward and/or absurd. The performance is said to be a mix of confidence and cluelessness, and though there are plenty of bigger-than-life characters on display, Benji Barnes still makes an impression.
His cameo has also piqued interest in the sequel itself due to the buzz that it has created. Movies with a nostalgic theme tend to be criticized when they’re too concentrated on the success of the first movie and lack any new elements. But making some surprises in the performances and the inclusion of new characters can turn sequels into fresh life. Here, Theroux seems to have provided an extra element of surprise for the viewers.
Meanwhile, there have been mixed reactions in some corners on the internet about the character. Many viewers called the performance hilarious and bold, while others believed that the satire was “over the top.” Others said Benji Barnes is too cartoonish, as opposed to the grounded emotional tension that made the first film so powerful. Nevertheless, even the ones who weren’t fond of the character said that Theroux was “all in.
