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Rachel McAdams and Anne Hathaway are two stars thriving in the entertainment business. McAdams continues to thrive, thanks to her work in the MCU these days.
However, things weren’t always easy for the actress, who struggled with Ryan Gosling behind the scenes during The Notebook. Despite the difficulties on-set, the film thrived, and it changed her career.
McAdams continues to be a very in-demand actress. Back in the early 2000s, she was considered for The Devil Wears Prada, so much so, that she was offered the part of Andy three times.
We’ll take a look as to why McAdams repeatedly turned down the role, and how the ninth casting choice, Anne Hathaway ended up securing the role.
A Long List Of Names Were Considered For The Role Of Andy In The Devil Wears Prada
The film in question, The Devil Wears Prada had a moderate budget estimated to be at $41 million on the high end. It ended up thriving at the box office, bringing in $326 million, with Meryl Streep in the lead.
Although Streep was a lock for the main star of the film, playing Miranda Priestly, things were a lot more complicated when it came to the casting of Andy. According to EW, several major names were considered, but turned down the possible role.
EW writes, “Though the studio wanted an established dramatic actress over Hathaway and her then teen-oriented filmography. Rachel McAdams, Scarlett Johansson, Natalie Portman, Kate Hudson, and Kirsten Dunst were considered.”
According to director David Frankel, they stopped offering it to Rachel McAdams after she turned it down three times.
“We started negotiating with Annie to make a deal, and that didn’t go well with the studio.… We offered it to Rachel McAdams three times. The studio was determined to have her, and she was determined not to do it.”
It is said that McAdams was looking for low-key roles following her fame and success after The Notebook. Anne Hathaway ended up locking in the role, but a major reason was her persistence.
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Anne Hathaway Was The Ninth Choice And Finally Got The Role Because Of Meryl Streep
According to former FOX President Elizabeth Gabler, Hathaway was extremely persistent in her attempt to secure the role. Gabler recalls Hathaway constantly campaigning in her office.
“I remember her sitting on my sofa in my office and explaining why she wanted to do this, why she had to play this role, and giving script notes about the third act.”
“When I look back on it, it wasn’t exactly what we ended up doing, but her sensibilities were completely aligned with what we ended up doing…. Annie never gave up. She never stopped campaigning, calling, she came into [Fox executive] Carla Hacken’s office and wrote in her zen garden, “Hire me.”
Watching Hathaway’s role in Brokeback Mountain confirmed her casting into the film for Meryl Streep.
“Meryl was eager to make the movie, and she said “let me meet with her.” Brokeback Mountain was about to come out. Annie had a wonderful, small role in that. And Meryl watched that scene from the movie, she met with her and called up Tom Rothman at Fox and said, “Yeah, this girl’s great, and I think we’ll work well together.”
Hathaway finally got the phone call confirming her role in the film and that point, it was ‘an easy yes’ for the actress. Without a doubt, she was ready for the role and thrived in the spotlight.
Other Big Names Were Also Up For The Role Of Miranda Priestly, Which Was Secured By Meryl Streep
Michelle Pfeiffer, Glenn Close, and Catherine Zeta-Jones were other names considered for the role of Priestly. However, when Streep decided to meet and discuss the film, the role was hers. Streep did have specific notes though on where she saw her character going in the film.
“I wasn’t interested in doing a biopic on Anna; I was interested in her position in her company. I wanted to take on the burdens she had to carry, along with having to look nice every day.”
“I liked that there wasn’t any backing away from the horrible parts of her, and the real scary parts of her had to do with the fact that she didn’t try to ingratiate, which is always the female emollient in any situation where you want your way .”
Meryl Streep was a lock in the role, and clearly, she was motivated to take on the character from the start.
