Content Advisory: This article discusses body image and criticism of models’ bodies. Reader discretion is advised.
Anne Hathaway is reportedly facing behind-the-scenes backlash after pushing for less extremely thin models in ‘The Devil Wears Prada 2.’
The 43-year-old actress is returning as Andy Sachs in the sequel to the 2006 fashion-world hit, opposite Meryl Streep as Miranda Priestly. Emily Blunt and Stanley Tucci are also back for the follow-up, which was filmed across New York and Italy and is due for release on May 1.
But according to insiders, Hathaway’s concern over runway casting during Milan Fashion Week scenes caused friction on set.
Anne Hathaway Reportedly Raised Concerns Over Model Casting
Streep said Hathaway noticed the body types of some models used for the film’s fashion sequences and brought the issue directly to producers.
Streep recalled being “struck” by how young and extremely thin some of the models appeared. “I thought that all had been addressed years ago. Annie clocked it too,” Streep said.
She added that Hathaway “made a beeline to the producers” and secured promises that the models in the film’s runway sequence would not appear so extremely thin. “She’s a stand-up girl,” Streep said. That sounds like praise from Streep. But not everyone behind the scenes reportedly saw it that way.
Insiders Claim Crew Members Rolled Their Eyes
One source close to the production claimed Hathaway’s move was mocked by some insiders.
“Anne is being openly mocked for this,” the source said. “People think she’s trying to look progressive for headlines, but the reality is fashion hasn’t changed that much.” The source added, “Models are still extremely thin, and pretending otherwise comes off as naïve.”
Another production insider was harsher, claiming Hathaway was being viewed as difficult. “There’s a feeling Anne’s being a bit of a diva about this,” the insider said. “It’s being described as idiotic behaviour because she’s trying to impose a narrative that doesn’t match what the industry actually looks like.”
The source also claimed, “Crew members have been rolling their eyes.” According to that insider, some people felt the move was “performative” and complicated production because it did not reflect real runway casting.
‘The Devil Wears Prada 2’ Is Already Drawing Huge Attention
Despite the reported tension, Hathaway is said to have remained calm during filming. Streep said the cast knew the first film still had a major following, but the attention around the sequel was bigger than expected.
“We needed police barriers and crowd control,” Streep said. “Buses of fans turned up, and paparazzi swarmed.” She added that in one case, a photographer kept jumping into the shot and got into a “kerfuffle” with crew members. “Annie kept her cool, but I was unnerved,” Streep said.
Blunt also said the production drew a level of public attention she had never experienced before. “There were fans there every day,” Blunt said. “It was difficult at times because, of course, you want to keep everything under wraps.”
The sequel is under a lot of pressure because the original ‘The Devil Wears Prada’ became one of the most quoted fashion movies of the 2000s. Now, the follow-up has another layer of drama: whether Hathaway was pushing for a healthier image on screen, or whether insiders think she was trying too hard to control how fashion is portrayed.
