Meryl Streep Almost Didn’t GetDevil Wears PradaRole Because Someone Working on Film Thought She Wasn't 'Funny,' Says Producer

Mar. 15, 2025

Meryl Streep.Photo:Barry Wetcher/20th Century Fox/Kobal/ShutterstockImagine an alternate universe whereMeryl Streepwasn’t cast as the iconic Miranda Priestly inThe Devil Wears Prada.As shocking as the thought may be, it was almost a reality, according to one of the producers of the 2006 classic film.On Wednesday, producer Wendy Finerman toldHollywood Goldpodcast host Daniela Taplin Lundberg that Streep was almost passed over for the role because someone involved in the production thought “she has never been funny a day in her life.“Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.According to Finerman, producers “knew” they wantedAnne Hathawaybecause she was “a good, all-American girl,” but when it came to Streep, they weren’t necessarily sold.“And Meryl, people thought we were crazy. I mean, I had people call me up and say, ‘Are you out of your mind? She’s never been funny a day in her life,’” Finerman recalled, adding that the naysayers were wrong.The Devil Wears Prada cast.Sylvain Gaboury/FilmMagic“But this was clearly a different kind of world for her, and I think that that was part of the fun of the unexpected,” the producer added.Lundberg cited Streep’s comical relief in past films likeShe-DevilandDeath Becomes Her, but said many may associate the 74-year-old with more dramatic roles.Elsewhere in the interview, Finerman shared a golden nugget about how art imitates life.During one portion of filming, Streep’s body double didn’t have the clothes needed to shoot a scene in Paris, so Finerman instructed her New York assistant to run home to grab her passport because she was being sent to make the delivery. She even got to fly business class on the free trip abroad to make sure the wardrobe wasn’t stopped and checked.A total Miranda Priestly move.However, theMamma Mia!star previously toldEntertainment Weeklythat she was “miserable” getting into character to portray the tougher-than-nails fashion magazine editor, a role that earned her an Oscar nomination.Anne Hathaway, Meryl Streep, and Emily Blunt in ‘The Devil Wears Prada’.Barry Wetcher/20th Century Fox/Kobal/Shutterstock"That’s the last time I ever attempted a Method thing!” the actress said in the June 2021 interview.Earlier this month, Hathaway, 41, and herDevil Wears Pradaco-starEmily Bluntrecalled their first time meeting on the set forVariety’s “Actors on Actors” series.The Princess Diariesalum said Blunt, 40, hadn’t been officially cast as Priestly’s assistant at the time. “In my head — instant thought — I was like, ‘What a movie star!’ You were shedding stardust.”“I was so green coming into that situation,” theOppenheimerstar said. “And you were like the warmest embrace. Even though you were a colossal movie star at that time,you treated me like a complete equal. You are one of the people I’ve known the longest. We’ve known each other for 18 years.”

Meryl Streep.Photo:Barry Wetcher/20th Century Fox/Kobal/Shutterstock

Barry Wetcher/20th Century Fox/Kobal/Shutterstock

Imagine an alternate universe whereMeryl Streepwasn’t cast as the iconic Miranda Priestly inThe Devil Wears Prada.As shocking as the thought may be, it was almost a reality, according to one of the producers of the 2006 classic film.On Wednesday, producer Wendy Finerman toldHollywood Goldpodcast host Daniela Taplin Lundberg that Streep was almost passed over for the role because someone involved in the production thought “she has never been funny a day in her life.“Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.According to Finerman, producers “knew” they wantedAnne Hathawaybecause she was “a good, all-American girl,” but when it came to Streep, they weren’t necessarily sold.“And Meryl, people thought we were crazy. I mean, I had people call me up and say, ‘Are you out of your mind? She’s never been funny a day in her life,’” Finerman recalled, adding that the naysayers were wrong.The Devil Wears Prada cast.Sylvain Gaboury/FilmMagic“But this was clearly a different kind of world for her, and I think that that was part of the fun of the unexpected,” the producer added.Lundberg cited Streep’s comical relief in past films likeShe-DevilandDeath Becomes Her, but said many may associate the 74-year-old with more dramatic roles.Elsewhere in the interview, Finerman shared a golden nugget about how art imitates life.During one portion of filming, Streep’s body double didn’t have the clothes needed to shoot a scene in Paris, so Finerman instructed her New York assistant to run home to grab her passport because she was being sent to make the delivery. She even got to fly business class on the free trip abroad to make sure the wardrobe wasn’t stopped and checked.A total Miranda Priestly move.However, theMamma Mia!star previously toldEntertainment Weeklythat she was “miserable” getting into character to portray the tougher-than-nails fashion magazine editor, a role that earned her an Oscar nomination.Anne Hathaway, Meryl Streep, and Emily Blunt in ‘The Devil Wears Prada’.Barry Wetcher/20th Century Fox/Kobal/Shutterstock"That’s the last time I ever attempted a Method thing!” the actress said in the June 2021 interview.Earlier this month, Hathaway, 41, and herDevil Wears Pradaco-starEmily Bluntrecalled their first time meeting on the set forVariety’s “Actors on Actors” series.The Princess Diariesalum said Blunt, 40, hadn’t been officially cast as Priestly’s assistant at the time. “In my head — instant thought — I was like, ‘What a movie star!’ You were shedding stardust.”“I was so green coming into that situation,” theOppenheimerstar said. “And you were like the warmest embrace. Even though you were a colossal movie star at that time,you treated me like a complete equal. You are one of the people I’ve known the longest. We’ve known each other for 18 years.”

Imagine an alternate universe whereMeryl Streepwasn’t cast as the iconic Miranda Priestly inThe Devil Wears Prada.

As shocking as the thought may be, it was almost a reality, according to one of the producers of the 2006 classic film.

On Wednesday, producer Wendy Finerman toldHollywood Goldpodcast host Daniela Taplin Lundberg that Streep was almost passed over for the role because someone involved in the production thought “she has never been funny a day in her life.”

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

According to Finerman, producers “knew” they wantedAnne Hathawaybecause she was “a good, all-American girl,” but when it came to Streep, they weren’t necessarily sold.

“And Meryl, people thought we were crazy. I mean, I had people call me up and say, ‘Are you out of your mind? She’s never been funny a day in her life,’” Finerman recalled, adding that the naysayers were wrong.

The Devil Wears Prada cast.Sylvain Gaboury/FilmMagic

Sylvain Gaboury/FilmMagic

“But this was clearly a different kind of world for her, and I think that that was part of the fun of the unexpected,” the producer added.

Lundberg cited Streep’s comical relief in past films likeShe-DevilandDeath Becomes Her, but said many may associate the 74-year-old with more dramatic roles.

Elsewhere in the interview, Finerman shared a golden nugget about how art imitates life.

During one portion of filming, Streep’s body double didn’t have the clothes needed to shoot a scene in Paris, so Finerman instructed her New York assistant to run home to grab her passport because she was being sent to make the delivery. She even got to fly business class on the free trip abroad to make sure the wardrobe wasn’t stopped and checked.

A total Miranda Priestly move.

However, theMamma Mia!star previously toldEntertainment Weeklythat she was “miserable” getting into character to portray the tougher-than-nails fashion magazine editor, a role that earned her an Oscar nomination.

Anne Hathaway, Meryl Streep, and Emily Blunt in ‘The Devil Wears Prada’.Barry Wetcher/20th Century Fox/Kobal/Shutterstock

“That’s the last time I ever attempted a Method thing!” the actress said in the June 2021 interview.

Earlier this month, Hathaway, 41, and herDevil Wears Pradaco-starEmily Bluntrecalled their first time meeting on the set forVariety’s “Actors on Actors” series.

The Princess Diariesalum said Blunt, 40, hadn’t been officially cast as Priestly’s assistant at the time. “In my head — instant thought — I was like, ‘What a movie star!’ You were shedding stardust.”

“I was so green coming into that situation,” theOppenheimerstar said. “And you were like the warmest embrace. Even though you were a colossal movie star at that time,you treated me like a complete equal. You are one of the people I’ve known the longest. We’ve known each other for 18 years.”

source: people.com