For a film that serves as a commentary on the perilous economics of today’s media landscape, it’s fitting that promotion for The Devil Wears Prada 2 has been so frank about its finances.

Streep in the original film. Photograph: Allstar

Speaking ahead of the New York premiere, Meryl Streep revealed she initially turned down the role of withering fashion magazine editor Miranda Priestly in the 2006 original in a bid to extract more money from its producers.

“They called me up and they made an offer,” she told US TV show Today, “and I said, no, not going to do it. I knew it was going to be a hit, and I wanted to see [what would happen] if I doubled my ask. They went right away and said: ‘Sure!’ I thought, I’m 56 and it took me this long to understand that I could do that.”

Streep’s hardball bartering paid off all round.…