Was Anne Hathaway ever really gone? Recently Hathaway has returned to the center of Hollywood with projects including “Mother Mary,” “Verity,” “ Flowervale Street,” and the long anticipated sequel of The Devil Wears Prada franchise: “The Devil Wears Prada 2,” directed by David Frankel. Hathaway returns as Andy Sachs, a young fashion journalist who once interned for the biggest fashion critic: Miranda Priestly. The original “Devil Wears Prada” became a cultural phenomenon in 2006 as it grossed over 27 million dollars worldwide during opening weekend and turned into one of the most iconic fashion films in the 2000s
During the late 2000s and early 2010s, Anne Hathaway dominated Hollywood in blockbuster films and award winning performances. She had roles in The Dark Knight Rises, “The Princess Diaries,” “Les Miserables,” and “Interstellar”. Some of her career defining roles like Mia Thermopolis in “The Princess Diaries” franchise, which defined her as a charismatic actress later influencing her casting in “The Devil Wears Prada”. By the early 2000s, Hathaway had gained recognition as one of the most influential actresses in Hollywood as she balanced both commercial success and reviews from critics. However as Hathaway gained attention, the public’s opinions and criticism began to worsen. During the mid-2000s internet culture critiqued her acting and personality as annoying and “too much,” which is now known as the “Hathahate” era.” This was clear when critics criticized Hathaway’s acceptance speech at the Oscars as she won Best supporting actress in 2013 for “Les Miserables”.
Hathaway’s sudden return to Hollywood comes as a surprise after her lower profile in recent years. Hathaway still appeared in Hollywood, but only as minor characters in films including “Alice Through the Looking Glass” or “Ocean’s 8”. While she never fully disappeared from acting, she chose smaller acting roles during the last decade rather than lead roles. However, some films during that period struggled, like “Serenity,” with co-star Matthew McConaughey, which became one of the most talked about box office disappointments of 2019. Now Hathaway appears to be defining a new era of her career as she is moving away from dramas and blockbuster franchises as she looks to revive her career differently from the 2000s. Hathaway’s 2026 line up signals a shift in her career as she turns to psychological thrillers, independent films, and nostalgic sequels, proving that she was never truly gone from Hollywood but instead is just redefining her brand as an actress.