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Anne Hathaway, Nancy Meyers join forces in "The Intern"

Hathaway plays the founder of a fast-growing internet fashion startup who is juggling a young staff -- and now -- a "senior" intern
Anne Hathaway, director Nancy Meyers on new movie "The Intern" 08:45

Oscar-nominated writer-director Nancy Meyers is back with another movie, and it has plenty of Hollywood star power with Anne Hathaway and Robert De Niro.

Meyers, the mastermind behind a list of favorite American comedies, including "Father of the Bride," "The Parent Trap" and "Something's Gotta Give," said she wanted to try exploring a new kind of friendship in her latest film.

"I just wanted to write completely different, but I was always going to stay in the world of people and relationships," Meyers said on "CBS This Morning" Thursday.

"The Intern" tells the story of a founder of a fast-growing Internet fashion start-up, played by Hathaway, who juggles a young staff and now her very own "senior" intern, played by De Niro.

"I wanted to be in a Nancy Meyers movie for as long as I've wanted to be an actress," Hathaway said on "CBS This Morning," who said she was happy to get the gig after her third time auditioning for the director.

But Hathaway said she initially did not "see eye to eye" with Meyers on how she should portray her character. The actress felt that she should be more "unlikable" by showing a more "outward and obvious expression for her stress." Meyers disagreed.

"Nancy really showed me that there was strength in showing that ... she is a good person, not always making the right decision, messing up publicly but that it comes from a very, very good place," Hathaway said of her character. "She has a lot of potential, and there's a reason why people really like working there."

Hathaway said this trust and leadership are what distinguishes Meyers as a director.

Meyers, who has been in command of some of the biggest Hollywood names in her movies, such as Meryl Streep and Jack Nicholson, also shared her experiences from working with the industry's best.

"They are formidable people. What I've learned from all of them is they're open, they want to be good in your movie ... and so when you walk over to them, they lean over to you," Meyers said.

"The Intern" will be released in theaters nationwide Friday.

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