Meryl Streep Discusses Industry Shifts and Preparations for "The Devil Wears Prada 2"

In anticipation of the May 1 premiere of “The Devil Wears Prada 2,” renowned actress Meryl Streep shared her insights on the transformation of the film industry over the last 20 years. During her recent guest appearance on “The Late Show With Stephen Colbert,” Streep revealed that the original “Devil Wears Prada,” in which she starred alongside Anne Hathaway, was dismissed as a “chick flick” and was provided with a minimal budget.

Streep expressed dissatisfaction with this classification, citing films like 'Barbie' and 'Mamma Mia' that have proven the box office potential of female-led narratives. Despite this, these films often struggle with securing ample budgets, as Streep noted in her conversations with 'Barbie' director Greta Gerwig.

However, the budgetary constraints experienced during the making of the original “Devil Wears Prada” were not repeated for the sequel. Streep informed Colbert enthusiastically, "This one, honey, they spent the money!”

Streep, who is an established actor with three Oscar wins credited to her name, also shed some light on her approach towards the enigmatic character of Miranda Priestly. Whilst it is often believed that Anna Wintour served as the inspiration behind Priestly, Streep drew inspirations from two renowned film directors, Mike Nichols and Clint Eastwood, for the character's demeanor and execution.

In Streep's words, “If Mike Nichols and Clint Eastwood had a baby, it would be Miranda Priestly,” implying the smooth combination of Nichols' sly humor and Eastwood's calm, almost inaudible directions in the character's traits.