Kate Hudson Gets Candid: Regrets Turning Down ‘The Devil Wears Prada’
That Was a Bad Call
Kate Hudson is looking back and wishing she had made things work when it came to one of the most iconic roles in modern film history. The actress recently admitted on the Capital Breakfast radio show that turning down The Devil Wears Prada was, in her own words, “a bad call.”
Before Anne Hathaway landed the role of the ambitious assistant Andrea “Andy” Sachs, the film’s director, David Frankel, reportedly met with a powerhouse lineup of Hollywood A-listers, including Hudson, Rachel McAdams, Scarlett Johansson, Natalie Portman, and Kirsten Dunst. But it was McAdams who was the studio’s first choice—not Hathaway.
Scheduling Woes and Missed Opportunities
So why did Hudson say no to the role that would go on to define Hathaway’s career? Timing, she explained.
“That was a bad call,” Hudson admitted. “It was a timing thing, it was one of those things where I couldn’t do it, and I should’ve made it happen, and I didn’t.”
She added that seeing the final product only reinforced her regret: “That was one where when I saw it I was like, ‘Ugh.’”
But Hudson, ever the optimist, maintains that “everything happens for a reason.” Still, she couldn’t help but acknowledge that The Devil Wears Prada was one film she “should’ve made work.”
What Could Have Been
Released in 2006, The Devil Wears Prada became an instant classic, grossing over $327 million at the box office and earning two Academy Award nominations. The film—led by Hathaway, Emily Blunt, and Meryl Streep as the formidable Miranda Priestly—became a cultural touchstone, filled with endlessly quotable lines and high-fashion drama.
At the time, Hudson was coming off the rom-com success of How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days (2003) and was juggling other projects like The Skeleton Key (2005) and You, Me and Dupree (2006). A few years later, she actually co-starred with Hathaway in Bride Wars (2009), proving that their Hollywood paths would still cross—just not at Runway Magazine.
A Sequel on the Horizon?
Fast forward to today, and The Devil Wears Prada is making headlines again. Disney has reportedly begun early development on a sequel, with the film’s original screenwriter, Aline Brosh McKenna, in talks to pen the script. The follow-up will reportedly see Miranda Priestly navigating the decline of traditional magazine publishing while facing off against Emily Blunt’s now-powerful executive character.
As for Anne Hathaway, she previously expressed doubts about a sequel, telling The View in 2022, “I don’t know if there can be [a sequel]. I just think that movie was in a different era.” Still, with Hollywood’s current obsession with nostalgia-driven sequels, anything is possible.
What If?
While Hathaway absolutely ate as Andy Sachs, it’s always fun to imagine what The Devil Wears Prada would have looked like with Kate Hudson in the lead. Would she have played Andy with the same wide-eyed charm? Would her chemistry with Meryl Streep have been as electric? One thing’s for sure—Hudson’s candid confession just made us appreciate the film’s casting journey even more.
Do you think Hudson would have nailed the role? Or was Hathaway destined to be Andy Sachs? Sound off in the comments!
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