Meryl Streep doubled her fee for Devil Wears Prada 2, reveals retirement hesitation
Synopsis
Meryl Streep's decision to double her ask for Devil Wears Prada 2 wasn't just about money — it was a reckoning. After decades of stardom, she finally understood her own leverage. When producers capitulated immediately, it became the lesson that brought her back from the brink of retirement.
Key Takeaways
Meryl Streep initially declined the Devil Wears Prada 2 offer but reconsidered after deciding to double her salary demand.
Producers accepted her revised fee immediately, surprising Streep and prompting her to reflect on recognising her market value.
The actress was contemplating retirement before the renegotiation brought her back to the screen.
The sequel reunites Streep with Anne Hathaway , Emily Blunt , and Stanley Tucci from the original 2006 film.
Hathaway praised the ensemble, calling the experience "one of the most hilarious experiences ever."
Meryl Streep, reprising her role as the formidable Runway Magazine editor Miranda Priestly in The Devil Wears Prada 2, has revealed she initially turned down the sequel but negotiated aggressively on salary after recognising her own market value. Speaking on NBC's TODAY with Jenna + Sheinelle, the Oscar-winning actress disclosed that when producers first approached her, she declined — then reconsidered her position entirely.
"They called me up, and they made an offer, and I said, 'No, not going to do it'," Streep recounted. When pressed on her reasoning, she explained: "I knew it was going to be a hit and I wanted to see if I doubled my ask… And they went right away and said, 'Sure.' And I thought, I'm 50, 60, it took me this long to understand that I could do that."
The actress added a reflective note: "They needed me, I felt. I was ready to retire, but that was a lesson."
A career turning point
The negotiation moment marked a watershed for Streep, who acknowledged that it took decades of prominence to recognise her leverage in Hollywood deal-making. Her willingness to walk away — combined with her understanding that the project would succeed — became the catalyst for a renegotiation that ultimately brought her back to the screen after contemplating stepping away from acting entirely.
The sequel's ensemble
Now, two decades after the original 2006 film, Streep stars alongside Anne Hathaway, Emily Blunt, and Stanley Tucci in the long-awaited follow-up. The sequel positions Miranda as a near-retiree competing with Emily — Hathaway's character, now an executive — over advertising revenue, according to reports.
Co-stars celebrate the reunion
Hathaway recently praised the ensemble, calling the filming experience "one of the most hilarious experiences ever" owing to the chemistry of the cast. "I loved making the first. I know I was stressed and anxious and all those things, but it's one of the most hilarious experiences ever because of the people I was with," she told people.com.
The actress offered particular tribute to Streep, noting that she doesn't often express her admiration directly: "Meryl, I don't talk about how much I revere her to her, but I do. She's someone I admire. Someone who defines how it's done. Somebody who is just living greatness and never rests on that laurel, but is always pushing herself to expand as an artist. She's unbelievable."
Hathaway also commended Emily Blunt as "such a dream of a human being" and Stanley Tucci for being "so funny and quick."
What's next
The sequel marks a significant moment in cinema, bringing together an ensemble that defined early-2000s comedy-drama and demonstrating that even at the height of her career, Streep remains selective and strategic about her choices — a philosophy that has only strengthened with time.
Point of View
She shouldn't have needed decades to understand her own worth — yet the fact that she did speaks volumes about how the industry prices talent, especially women. The real story isn't that she got a raise; it's that she had to ask twice to get what she should have been offered first.
NationPress
1 May 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Meryl Streep initially decline Devil Wears Prada 2?
Streep said she was ready to retire and declined the initial offer. However, she reconsidered after realising the sequel would be a hit and decided to negotiate more aggressively on her fee.
What did Streep do after turning down the offer?
She doubled her salary ask and submitted it back to producers. They accepted her revised terms immediately, which surprised Streep and became a pivotal moment in her understanding of her own market value.
Who stars alongside Meryl Streep in Devil Wears Prada 2?
The sequel reunites Streep with Anne Hathaway, Emily Blunt, and Stanley Tucci from the original 2006 film. The plot positions Miranda competing with Emily, Hathaway's character, over advertising revenue.
What did Anne Hathaway say about filming the sequel?
Hathaway called it "one of the most hilarious experiences ever" and praised her co-stars, particularly Streep, whom she reveres as someone who defines excellence and continuously pushes herself as an artist.
