It is hard to imagine a world where Meryl Streep isn't gliding through the halls of Elias-Clarke in a flurry of white hair and dry insults. Honestly, the cast of The Devil Wears Prada feels so definitive now that it's weird to think the studio actually fought against some of the most iconic choices. They wanted big names. They wanted "sure things."
What they got was a lightning-bottle moment that redefined the careers of everyone involved.
When David Frankel signed on to direct, he wasn't just making a movie about clothes. He was building a survival horror story where the monster wore Chanel. The chemistry had to be perfect. If the assistant wasn't relatable, the movie would feel elitist. If the boss was just a screaming caricature, the movie would be forgettable. Finding that balance required a mix of desperation, luck, and some very aggressive salary negotiations that almost tanked the whole thing before a single frame was shot.
The Miranda Priestly Problem: Why Meryl Streep Demanded More
You’ve probably heard the rumors that Miranda Priestly was based on Anna Wintour. While Lauren Weisberger’s book definitely pulled from her time at Vogue, Meryl Streep had other ideas. She didn't want to do a Wintour impression. She wanted something colder. More calculated.
But here’s the thing: Meryl almost didn't do it.
The initial offer was, frankly, insulting. Streep has been open about the fact that she was offered a "light" salary, even though she was... well, Meryl Streep. In a rare move for her at the time, she negotiated. She told them she was worth more, and the studio doubled the offer. It was a turning point. It wasn't just about the money; it was about the weight she brought to the role.
Streep’s performance is built on silence. Instead of yelling, she whispered. That was her idea. On the first day of the table read, the entire cast of The Devil Wears Prada expected her to come in guns blazing. Instead, she spoke in a low, terrifying murmur. It forced everyone to lean in. It made her the center of gravity. She also drew inspiration from men, specifically Clint Eastwood’s soft-spoken authority and the theatrical presence of Mike Nichols. It was a masterclass in "less is more."
Anne Hathaway Wasn't Even in the Top Five
It sounds crazy now. Anne Hathaway is Andy Sachs. But back in 2005, Fox 2000 was desperate for Rachel McAdams.
McAdams was coming off Mean Girls and The Notebook. She was the "It Girl." The studio offered her the role of Andy three separate times. She turned it down every single time. She wanted to step away from mainstream projects for a bit. Imagine that. She said no to the cerulean monologue.
Hathaway, meanwhile, was obsessed. She literally traced the words "hire me" in the sand of a Zen garden in an executive’s office. She was 9th on the list. 9th! She had to wait for McAdams, Scarlett Johansson, and several others to pass before she even got a real look. When she finally got the call, she was half-dressed at home, and she just started screaming.
The brilliance of Hathaway’s performance is her physical transformation. She had to look like someone who didn't belong, then someone who belonged too much, and finally, someone who regained herself. It’s a hard tightrope to walk without looking like a makeover montage cliche.
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The Emily Blunt Breakthrough
If you want to talk about a scene-stealer, we have to talk about Emily Blunt.
Before this movie, she was a relatively unknown British actress. The role of Emily Charlton wasn't even supposed to be British. But Blunt showed up to the audition in sweatpants because she was running late for a flight, acting all frazzled and sarcastic. Frankel loved it. He asked her to do it again in her natural accent, and suddenly, the character became this sharp, brittle, calorie-counting nightmare we all love.
Stanley Tucci was the last person cast. He signed on just 72 hours before he had to be on set. As Nigel, he provided the soul of the film. Without him, the fashion world just looks like a bunch of mean people in nice coats. Tucci made us understand why people care about the art of the industry.
Interestingly, Tucci and Emily Blunt ended up becoming family in real life. Tucci met Blunt’s sister, Felicity, at Emily’s wedding to John Krasinski. Now they’re brothers-in-law. It’s a weirdly wholesome legacy for a movie about a toxic workplace.
The Supporting Players and Cameos
- Adrian Grenier: As Nate, he became the internet’s favorite villain ten years after the movie came out. People realized he was kinda the worst boyfriend ever.
- Gisele Bündchen: She agreed to be in the movie only if she didn't have to play a model. She played Serena, Emily’s office friend, and she actually did a great job.
- Simon Baker: Christian Thompson was the "bad boy" writer, and Baker played him with just enough smarm to be believable.
- Valentino Garavani: The only high-end designer who actually agreed to appear in the film. Most of the fashion world was terrified of offending Anna Wintour, so they stayed away.
Why the Chemistry Still Works
The cast of The Devil Wears Prada succeeded because they didn't treat it like a "chick flick." They treated it like a high-stakes corporate drama. Streep stayed in character throughout the shoot—at least when she was around Hathaway. She told Anne on the first day, "I think you're perfect for the role. I'm so happy we're working together," and then added, "That's the last nice thing I'm going to say to you."
She kept her distance. She stayed cold. It created a genuine tension on screen. You can see the real-time intimidation in Hathaway’s eyes in those early scenes.
Real-World Impact and Industry Nuance
This movie changed how people viewed the assistant-boss dynamic. It’s cited in business schools and used as a cultural touchstone for "quiet quitting" before that was even a term. While the film exaggerates for comedy, the power dynamics are rooted in reality.
Many fashion industry veterans, like former Vogue editor André Leon Talley (who was a fan of the film), noted that while the "clackers" and the frantic energy were real, the humanity Streep brought to Miranda was something the book lacked. The movie makes you almost respect the devil. That’s a testament to the writing and Streep’s refusal to play a villain.
What You Should Do Next
If you’re a fan of the film or looking to understand the mechanics of Hollywood casting, there are a few things you can dive into right now:
- Watch the 15th Anniversary Reunion: The main cast sat down with Entertainment Weekly for a long-form video interview. They reveal a lot of the technical stuff about the "cerulean" speech.
- Read the Original Book: If you’ve only seen the movie, the book by Lauren Weisberger is much darker. Miranda is arguably more cruel, and the ending is completely different.
- Check Out "The Run-Through" Podcast: If you want to see how much the real Vogue world has changed since the movie came out, this podcast gives a behind-the-curtain look at the modern era of fashion publishing.
- Look for the Musical: There has been a stage adaptation in the works with music by Elton John. It's a great way to see how the characters translate to a different medium.
The movie holds up because the cast didn't just wear the clothes; they filled them out with actual human stakes. Whether you’re there for the coats or the career advice, it remains a masterclass in ensemble acting.