Retro-Cast: The Devil Wears Prada In The 1980s

Based on the bestselling novel by Lauren Weisberger, The Devil Wears Prada is one of the most commercially and critically successful big-budget dramedies of the past 15 years. Anchored by Meryl Streep’s wicked turn as Miranda Priestly, much of the appeal comes from the performances by young, fresh-faced actors such as Anne Hathaway and an introductory breakout role for Emily Blunt.

With the film celebrating its 15th anniversary in 2021, it’s worth wondering what the movie would look like if it were made two decades prior with some of the biggest and newest stars of the day.

8 Michelle Pfeiffer: Andrea Sachs

The role of Andrea Sachs requires virtue and vulnerability to go with thick skin and an enterprising attitude to make it in the world of high fashion. Considering how she exuded both qualities in Grease 2 and Scarface in consecutive years, breakout ’80s star Michelle Pfeiffer is an ideal casting choice for the lead role in an ’80s version of The Devil Wears Prada.

As a multitalented ingenue who could play both comedy and drama while going toe-to-toe with Al Pacino and other top-tier stars, Pfeiffer’s versatility and easy-to-root for onscreen presence would go a long way in making an ’80s version of the story extremely compelling, especially the prospect of seeing her square-off with Jane Fonda as Miranda.

7 Jane Fonda: Miranda Priestly

When considering the mean-spirited gravitas Miranda Priestly imbues as the cruel, cutthroat editor-in-chief of Runway magazine, only one actress from the 1980s comes to mind: two-time Oscar winner Jane Fonda, who can skillfully combine comedy and drama better than most. Those who’ve seen how bossy and terrifyingly high-strung Fonda is in Monster-in-Law or Grace & Frankie will agree.

The role of Miranda Priestly is so much larger than life and so cartoonishly evil that it requires a seasoned pro like Fonda to nail the nuances of the character and ground her in a sense of reality so the audience can believe the story and root for Andy as her main opponent.

6 Diane Lane: Emily Charlton

One of the most enjoyable aspects of The Devil Wears Prada is the irreverent turn by Emily Blunt as Emily Charlton, Andy’s quasi-competitor and angsty office confidant. A similar breakout star of the 1980s who would be an ideal replacement is Diane Lane, who starred in three consecutive movies directed by Francis Ford Coppola en route to becoming a major movie star.

As seen in her latter-day rom-coms, Lane has superb comedic timing to go with her stellar acting chops, making her an ideal screen partner with the equally new-faced Pfeiffer and the veteran Fonda. Emily requires a deft touch of biting sarcasm and heartfelt pathos, a combo Lane continues to prove as a major strength.

5 Nigel Kipling: Gene Hackman

Stanely Tucci gives a delightfully evil performance as Miranda’s brown-nosing assistant, Nigel Kipling. In another role that requires a delicate balance of comedy and drama, who better than the great Gene Hackman to play the role with such indelible credibility?

While he is most celebrated for his dramatic, Oscar-winning work, Gene Hackman’s stellar roles in Get Shorty, The Birdcage, The Royal Tenenbaums, and others prove how adept he is at comedy as well. Nigel exudes an air of snobby sophistication that requires an actor who can hold his own opposite the star-wattage of a performer like Streep or Fonda, and Hackman has the gold statuettes to prove his acting bona fides.

4 Nate Cooper: Nicolas Cage

One of Andy’s biggest conflicts in the film is her relationship with her boyfriend Nate Cooper (Adrien Grenier), with whom she reconciles at the end of the story. A hot new actor who came of age and found instant success in the 1980s was Nicolas Cage, who makes a lot of sense in the role.

As a teenage heartthrob who broke out in the rom-com Valley Girl before becoming one of the most well-respected actors of the ’80s and ’90s, Cage would no doubt lend a memorable turn as Nate with his offbeat brand of humor, strange line deliveries, and unforgettable screen presence. Nate needs to have an emotional heft to his character, something Cage continued to showcase on-screen as the ’80s progressed.

3 Christian Thompson: Rob Lowe

A dramatic hurdle Andy must leap in the film is her time apart from Nate, during which she meets the dashing writer Christian Thompson (Simon Baker) in Paris. To really make her conflict believable, the most handsome and charismatic actor imaginable is required. Queue ’80s movie heartthrob Rob Lowe to the front of the line.

If Michelle Pfeiffer plays Andy and Nicolas Cage plays Nate, the love triangle would turn electric with Rob Lowe added to the mix. After playing several roles as sexy love interests in teen comedies in the ’80s, Lowe really demonstrated his comedic chops in Wayne’s World and Tommy Boy.

2 Serena: Iman Abdulmajid

An beloved aspect of The Devil Wears Prada is the inclusion of real-life fashion models as a way to bolster the veracity of the story. World-famous supermodel turned actress Gisele Bundchen starred as Serena, an in-office clacker and close friend of Emily. If the film were made in the 1980s, the equally famous supermodel Iman would be an inspired casting decision.

While Bundchen had one acting credit prior to The Devil Wears Prada, Iman starred in four feature films in the 1980s, including the best picture Academy Award- winner Out of Africa, as well as several TV episodes. Casting her in the role would not only be a great example of representation, but her stature as a supermodel would make the story that much more authentic.

1 James Holt: James Spader

The final main character in the film is James Holt (Daniel Sunjata), a flamboyant budding fashion designer who is in line to overtake Runway from Miranda. He spends much of his time trying to impress a boss whom he loathes while keeping a smile on his face. One actor who seemingly made a career out of this sort of mendacity is James Spader, who would be perfect for the role.

As a fresh-faced actor in the ’80s, Spader gave impressive, wide-ranging performances in Pretty in Pink, Less Than Zero, Wall Street, and others, proving that he is far more than just a memorable villain. As Holt, Spader could almost recreate his manipulative and high-fashion turn as Mr. Richards in the 1987 comedy Mannequin.