Meryl Streep Critiques Marvel-ization of Movies During ‘The Devil Wears Prada 2’ Press Tour

Meryl Streep is known for her candidness, and her recent remarks during the press tour for ‘The Devil Wears Prada 2’ have ignited a lively discussion online. While appearing on the Hits Radio Breakfast Show with Anne Hathaway and Emily Blunt, the Oscar-winning actress was asked about the evolution of her character, Miranda Priestly, in the sequel. She seized the moment to share her thoughts on the current state of cinema.

Streep expressed concern that the prevalence of superhero narratives has resulted in a decline in nuanced character development throughout the film industry. She pointed out that movies now often rely on simplistic portrayals of heroes and villains.

Her critique was not aimed at superhero films being inherently flawed, but rather at how their impact has diluted storytelling complexity across genres. Streep favors narratives where both heroes and villains are depicted as complex, flawed individuals with their own motivations and strengths.

“I think we tend to Marvel-ize the movies now. We got the villains and we got the good guys, and it’s so boring,” she remarked.

These comments were particularly relevant as she elaborated on why she finds Miranda Priestly a compelling character to revisit. Streep highlighted that what she enjoys about ‘The Devil Wears Prada 2’ is its messiness, suggesting that moral ambiguity is essential for maintaining character depth over time. It’s a sentiment that Miranda herself would likely appreciate.

“What’s really interesting about life is that some of the heroes are flawed and some of the villains are human and interesting and have their own strengths,” she added. “So that’s what I like about this [film]. It’s messier.”

‘The Devil Wears Prada 2’ premiered in theaters on May 1, reuniting Streep with Anne Hathaway, Emily Blunt, and Stanley Tucci, under the direction of David Frankel and the writing of Aline Brosh McKenna, the original team. The film is projected to earn between $75 to $100 million domestically, having already made $40.5 million on its opening day.

Critics have largely praised the returning cast, noting that Streep, Hathaway, Blunt, and Tucci effortlessly slip back into their roles while adding new layers to their characters. Streep also made headlines by revealing she negotiated a higher salary for the sequel after initially rejecting the studio’s first offer, confident that the film would be a success and that her presence was essential.

Online commentary has generally supported Streep’s observations, with many agreeing that the good-versus-evil narrative works well in superhero films but becomes restrictive when other genres attempt to emulate it for blockbuster success. The conversation she has initiated is one that the industry has been grappling with for years, and it seems fitting that it took Miranda Priestly to articulate it so clearly.

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