Meryl Streep Originally Rejected Devil Wears Prada for 1 Simple Reason

With the release date of The Devil Wears Prada 2 right around the corner, Meryl Streep has opened up about how she initially turned down her now-iconic role of Miranda Priestly in the original film. In a recent interview, the three-time Academy Award winner explained her specific reason for rejecting the 2006 David Frankel-helmed comedy drama, adding that she was contemplating retirement at the time.

Meryl Streep reveals why she initially said no to The Devil Wears Prada

During her recent appearance on Open Book with Jenna, Meryl Streep told Today anchor Jenna Bush Hager that she passed on the opportunity to feature in The Devil Wears Prada at first in order to ask for better pay.

“I knew it was going to be a hit,” the Hollywood veteran noted. “I read the script — the script was great. They called me up, and they made an offer, and I said ‘No. I’m not going to do it.'”

Streep reiterated that she was so sure of the movie’s potential that she asked the film’s producers to increase her salary. “I wanted to see if I doubled my ask, and they went right away and said, ‘Sure,'” the Sophie’s Choice star disclosed.

Further explaining her initial decision to say no to The Devil Wears Prada, Meryl Streep said, “I’m 56 years [old] — it took me this long to understand that I could do that! I was sure of it. I was sure it would be a hit. And they needed me, I felt. And I wanted it, but if they didn’t want to do that, I was okay. Because I’m old — I’m 56, I was ready to retire.”

Streep’s involvement in the big-screen adaptation of Lauren Weisberger’s novel was a notably large part of a project that went on to earn more than $326 million at the global box office. The legendary actress is reprising her role as Miranda in The Devil Wears Prada 2, which comes out in theaters on May 1, 2026.

Source: Comingsoon.net