As “The Devil Wears Prada 2” arrives in theaters May 1, the original cast’s careers reveal a pattern: decades of book-to-screen adaptations across film and television.

Before and since they starred in 2006’s hit “The Devil Wears Prada”—based on Lauren Weisberger’s bestselling novel—Anne Hathaway, Meryl Streep, Emily Blunt and Stanley Tucci have appeared across all genres, including coming-of-age, drama, comedy, thrillers and musicals. They have also crossed each other’s paths in many other roles. 

Here’s a look at how their work in film and television extends well beyond a single adaptation.

Anne Hathaway

Hathaway has built one of the most wide-ranging careers in book-to-movie adaptations, moving from YA hits to literary dramas and romance.

She first broke out in 2001’s “The Princess Diaries,” based on the novels by Meg Cabot.  

Her star continued to rise in “The Devil Wears Prada” as Andy Sachs, a recent graduate whose goal is to be a serious journalist who is hired as a personal assistant to Runway Magazine editor Miranda Priestly (Streep).

Hathaway later portrayed author Jane Austen in the romance “Becoming Jane,” based on a book about the celebrated author’s romantic longing for Thomas Langlois LeFroy, played by James McAvoy.

The actress has stepped into comic book adaptation territory, playing Catwoman in “The Dark Knight Rises,” before taking on her Oscar-winning role in the musical “Les Misérables,” adapted from Victor Hugo’s novel.

Showing she will take on every genre, Hathaway starred in the 2020 version of Roald Dahl’s “The Witches,” which Tucci also appeared in. 

She continues to lean into her literary legacy as she stars in the upcoming epic “The Odyssey,” and the Colleen Hoover thriller “Verity.”  

In addition, she will star in and produce the adaptation of “Yesteryear.” The novel by Caro Claire Burke follows a tradwife influencer who gets sent back to 1855 to live the life she portrays online.

Meryl Streep

Streep has long been associated with prestige book-to-movie adaptations, often bringing literary and real-life figures to the screen.

Before portraying Miranda Priestly in “The Devil Wears Prada,” Streep starred in and won Oscars for roles in “Kramer vs. Kramer” based on Avery Corman’s 1977 novel and “Sophie’s Choice,” based on the devastating novel by William Styron. 

She continued her book-to-screen roles with 1985’s “Out of Africa,” based on Karen Blixen’s memoir, and “The Hours,” based on Michael Cunningham’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel.

She later appeared as chef Julia Child in “Julie & Julia,” based on Julie Powell’s memoir.

Streep also starred in adaptations of musicals “Mamma Mia” and “Into the Woods.”

In early April, Netflix announced that Streep will star as Enid in an adaptation of Jonathan Franzen’s 2001 book “The Corrections.”

Emily Blunt

Blunt has often leaned into thrillers and dramas, but she has also starred in musicals. 

After her breakout role as Emily in “The Devil Wears Prada,” Blunt starred in 2011’s “The Adjustment Bureau,” based on a short story by Philip K. Dick.

Blunt’s voice took center stage in adaptations of “Into the Woods”—opposite Streep again—and as Mary Poppins herself in “Mary Poppins Returns.”

She also starred in the 2016 thriller “The Girl on the Train,” based on Paula Hawkins’ bestselling novel.  

More recently, Blunt portrayed Katherine “Kitty” Oppenheimer in “Oppenheimer,” based on the biography “American Prometheus.”

She will next star in “Walk the Blue Fields,” alongside Andrew Scott, based on a short story by author Claire Keegan, bestselling author of “Small Things Like These.” 

Stanley Tucci

Stanley Tucci has become a standout presence in movies based on books.

After starring as Nigel in “The Devil Wears Prada,” he appeared in “The Lovely Bones,” based on Alice Sebold’s novel, and in “The Hunger Games” movies, adapted from Suzanne Collins’ bestselling series.

So while “The Devil Wears Prada 2” brings the story back, the cast has never really left this world—they’ve been adapting books all along.

About the writer

S. Lynn Bonanno loves both the book and film version of “The Devil Wears Prada.” She’s a little nervous about the sequel, but is looking forward to watching these characters return to the screen. Oh—and the fashion. She cannot wait for the fashion.