The women of The Devil Wears Prada 2 are strutting straight to the bank in style.
As the sequel to the beloved fashion classic continues its impressive global box office run — crossing $300 million worldwide and still climbing — multiple sources told Variety how much the film’s leading trio earned to reunite after two decades.
Meryl Streep, who reprises her role as the intimidating magazine editor Miranda Priestly, was considered the key piece of the puzzle for filmmakers and distributor 20th Century Studios. According to four sources, the studio came forward with an offer that reflected both her legendary status and continued star power.
Although Streep could likely have demanded a much higher paycheck to step back into Miranda’s iconic silver bob, sources revealed that the 21-time Oscar nominee earned $12.5 million for the David Frankel-directed sequel. And while Miranda may rule over her colleagues on screen, Streep reportedly ensured equal treatment for her co-stars behind the scenes as well.
Two sources claimed that all three actresses signed a “favored nations” deal, meaning Anne Hathaway and Emily Blunt also received $12.5 million each to return as Andrea Sachs and Emily Charlton. The move is being seen as a gesture that celebrates the ensemble chemistry that helped make the original film such a lasting favorite among audiences.
The generous paydays reportedly go beyond their upfront salaries. Along with their eight-figure deals, the three stars were also given lucrative box office bonuses tied to the film’s performance. Such bonus structures are common for major movie stars, but sources said the sequel’s strong reception has already triggered some of those payouts. Two sources added that each actress could ultimately make more than $20 million if the film continues to draw crowds worldwide.
Representatives for 20th Century Studios and Creative Artists Agency, which represents all three actresses, declined to comment. A representative for Streep also had no comment, while reps for Hathaway and Blunt did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Streep’s decision to return appears to have paid off. Aline Brosh McKenna, who wrote both “Prada” films, previously said the actress had indicated just two years ago that she was “open to ideas” for a sequel. The original The Devil Wears Prada released in 2006 with a reported $35 million budget and eventually grossed $326 million globally. The sequel, meanwhile, carried a $100 million budget, with Frankel previously noting that much of that spending went toward securing the cast.
Interestingly, Variety reports that this isn’t the biggest paycheck of Streep’s career. That distinction reportedly belongs to Don’t Look Up, Adam McKay’s 2021 disaster comedy where Streep played the president. According to another source, Netflix structures talent deals differently from traditional studios by estimating potential theatrical earnings and including a “back-end buyout” instead of box office bonuses.
Meanwhile, The Devil Wears Prada 2 is heading into its second weekend in theaters, where it is expected to compete closely with Mortal Kombat II for the No. 1 spot at the box office. Current projections suggest “Prada 2” could earn as much as $42 million in its second weekend, pushing its worldwide total even further beyond the $300 million mark.
Harnaik Singh Rathor is the Founder, Publisher, and Editor-in-Chief of StudioX News Canada, Canada's multilingual digital news network serving diaspora communities across 44 languages. With a background in media production, public relations, and multicultural communications, he founded StudioX Film and TV Corporation to bridge the gap between mainstream Canadian media and the country's diverse immigrant communities. He is a member of the Canadian Association of Journalists (CAJ), RTDNA Canada, CPRS Vancouver, Unifor, NEPMCC, and the Canada Freelance Union. He holds CAVCO Personnel Number SINH0106. Based in Surrey, British Columbia. | LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/harnaiksinghrathor/ | Muck Rack: https://muckrack.com/harnaiksinghrathor | Email: editor@studioxnews.ca
