Meryl Streep talks Anna Wintour, 'Devil Wears Prada 2' and more
Meryl Streep, the star who plays the fierce and powerful editor-in-chief of Runway Magazine in "The Devil Wears Prada," joined "Good Morning America" on Monday to discuss the highly-anticipated sequel hitting theaters on May 1.
"It was really fun to come back and revisit a character 20 years later -- who gets to do that?" she said of her return as Miranda Priestly.
Three-time Oscar winner Streep discussed the modern slant of the film, in which she'll reunite with co-star Anne Hathaway.
"It's human creativity, and it's that that's under siege right now in every business, in every outlet," she said. "And so it was fun to come back and revisit these characters confronting that new reality."
The "Mamma Mia" star spoke about the real-life connection to Anna Wintour, former editor-in-chief of Vogue.
"I think she's such a good sport and she's a quite brilliant person, and she realized that the first movie was very good for her," Streep said.
Over the years, many believed that Streep's Priestly was inspired by Wintour, but Lauren Weisberger, the author of the 2003 novel on which the original film is based, has not confirmed that this is the case.
However, Wintour recently told Vogue that "it's such an honor to be played by Meryl, however distant Miranda is from myself."
Streep also acknowledged the widespread anticipation for "The Devil Wears Prada 2" after the 2006 original became a cultural touchstone.
"Kids were waiting. Women were waiting. Gay men were waiting. And regular men were waiting," Streep said.
She noted the impact the film had on some female journalists.
"There were so many young women who...had said, you know, 'The first movie made me want to be a journalist, made me want to dress up, made me want to have fun.'" she said. "I mean, so optimistic."
That spirit is retained in the sequel, according to Streep.
"It is about the beauty people can put into the world. and it's about commerce and it's about, you know, art and commerce," she said, summarizing the major themes of the film.
Along with Streep and Hathaway, Emily Blunt and Stanley Tucci also return for the sequel.
Directed by David Frankel and written by Aline Brosh McKenna, the film is produced by Wendy Finerman.
"The Devil Wears Prada 2" opens in theaters on Friday, May 1.
20th Century Studios is owned by Disney, the parent company of ABC News and "Good Morning America."
