Full Breakdown
Meryl Streep’s Salary Standoff: How a Bold Negotiation Shaped “The Devil Wears Prada” Franchise
5/1/2026, 4:30:39 PM
The Negotiation That Almost Ended Miranda Priestly
During a Today interview with host Jenna Bush Hager, Meryl Streep recalled that, after reading the 2006 script, she initially declined the role of Miranda Priestly. She then asked the studio to double her original salary request; the producers “said ‘Sure’” and she accepted. Streep was 56 years old and said she was “ready to retire” before the deal was struck.
From Script to Box-Office Phenomenon
The film, directed by David Frankel and written by Aline Brosh McKenna, premiered in 2006 and grossed more than $325 million worldwide (reports vary between $325 million, $326 million and $326.7 million). It earned $125 million domestically and secured a Golden Globe for Streep and an Oscar nomination. The success revived Streep’s career, leading to later hits such as The Iron Lady (2012).
Key Players in the Original and Sequel
- Meryl Streep – Miranda Priestly
- Anne Hathaway – Andrea “Andy” Sachs
- Emily Blunt – Emily Charlton
- Stanley Tucci – Nigel Kipling
- David Frankel – Director (original and sequel)
- Aline Brosh McKenna – Screenwriter (original and sequel)
- Jenna Bush Hager – Interview host
- New-film additions include Kenneth Branagh, Lucy Liu, Simone Ashley, Donatella Versace and a cameo by Lady Gaga.
Numbers That Define the Franchise
- Original budget: $35–41 million (reported).
- Worldwide gross: $325–$326.7 million; domestic: $125 million.
- Sequel opening projections: $100 million (industry estimate) and a $180 million worldwide debut forecast.
- Rotten Tomatoes scores: 75 % for the original, 76 % for the sequel (early data).
Official Statements on the Deal and the Sequel’s Themes
Streep reiterated that she “knew it was going to be a hit” and that the salary-doubling request was a lesson in self-advocacy. She described the sequel as a response to “AI and technology” reshaping journalism, noting that characters must “keep their scruples intact” in a shifting media landscape. Frankel acknowledged that the production “was always scrapping, and it was never enough,” reflecting the broader challenge of financing female-led projects.
Industry Critique: Gender and Budget Disparities
Streep warned that “there’s an expectation that movies about women have a limited box office, and so the studios say, ‘OK, here’s how much you get.’” Frankel countered that the budget “mostly went to them,” highlighting ongoing tension over resource allocation for women-centric films.
Conflicting Figures and Unresolved Details
Sources differ on the original’s exact worldwide gross ($325 M vs. $326 M vs. $326.7 M) and on the sequel’s projected earnings ($100 M opening vs. $180 M worldwide). Streep’s age at the time of negotiation is consistently cited as 56, yet later coverage references her current age of 76, creating a temporal discrepancy.
Verbatim Quotes
- “I knew it was going to be a hit,” — Meryl Streep, actress
- “I wanted to see if I doubled my ask, and they went right away and said ‘Sure.'” — Meryl Streep
- “You know, if Miranda Priestly were Michael Priestly, there would be no movie, the first movie.” — Meryl Streep
- “It endures, and people seem to have not been able to get enough of us.” — Stanley Tucci, actor
- “Meryl’s right. There’s an expectation that movies about women have a limited box office, and so based on that the studios say, ‘OK, here’s how much you get,’” — Meryl Streep
- “So the making of the movie was kind of similar. We were always scrapping, and it was never enough. But that’s normal, every movie.” — David Frankel, director
What’s Next for the Franchise
“The Devil Wears Prada 2” opens worldwide on May 1, 2026. The film reunites the original quartet while introducing new talent, and its box-office performance will test whether the sequel can replicate the original’s cultural and commercial impact.
