As the highly anticipated sequel to The Devil Wears Prada 2 continues to dominate the global box office with takings rapidly surpassing $300 mln, details of the leading cast’s lucrative contracts have emerged. According to multiple sources speaking to Variety, Meryl Streep used her considerable influence to ensure equal pay for her primary co-stars.
A favoured nations deal
Returning as the intimidating fashion editor Miranda Priestly, the 21-time Oscar nominee was undeniably the most vital component for filmmakers and distributor 20th Century Studios. Insiders reveal that Streep was offered a base salary of $12.5 mln for the David Frankel-directed sequel.
However, in a move that honours the ensemble dynamic of the original 2006 hit, she championed a «favoured nations» deal during negotiations. This agreement guaranteed that Anne Hathaway and Emily Blunt were also handed matching $12.5 mln cheques to resurrect their respective roles as Andrea Sachs and Emily Charlton.
Box office bonuses
The financial rewards for the trio extend well beyond their initial eight-figure salaries. All three women secured substantial box office bonuses that trigger as the film passes pre-determined financial milestones.
While such performance-based incentives are standard practice for major Hollywood talent, sources indicate that these specific bonuses are already paying out due to the overwhelming international response to the sequel. If the film maintains its current audience momentum in cinemas, each star could potentially walk away with total earnings exceeding $20 mln.
Representatives for 20th Century Studios, the actors and their shared agency CAA have either declined to comment or not yet responded to inquiries regarding the compensation packages.
Production budget and box office battles
Screenwriter Aline Brosh McKenna noted that Streep first signalled an openness to revisiting the fashionable world of Runway magazine just two years ago. The resulting project carried a hefty production budget of $100 mln, a stark increase from the original film’s $35 mln cost. Director David Frankel previously admitted that the bulk of this new budget went directly towards securing the A-list cast.
Despite the massive payday, this does not mark Streep’s largest career fee. That record reportedly belongs to her role as the U.S. President in Adam McKay‘s 2021 disaster comedy Don’t Look Up. Because Netflix operates differently from legacy studios, the streaming giant pays out massive upfront sums to replace the backend box office bonuses actors would traditionally earn during a theatrical run.
The Devil Wears Prada 2 is currently entering its second weekend of wide release where it is projected to generate an additional $42 mln. The fashion-focused sequel is expected to engage in a tight battle for the number one spot at the box office against the newly released action film Mortal Kombat II.
