- Primary Subject: Adrian Grenier in The Devil Wears Prada 2
- Key Update: Director David Frankel explains why Adrian Grenier did not return as Nate in the sequel.
- Status: Confirmed
- Last Verified: April 27, 2026
- Quick Answer: Adrian Grenier missed the sequel because Nate had no narrative role, and a last-minute cameo attempt failed to materialize before the production schedule was finalized.
The director of The Devil Wears Prada 2 recently explained why Adrian Grenier was not brought back in the highly anticipated sequel.
While the majority of the main cast members from the first movie were brought back in the upcoming sequel, the most notable absence is Grenier, who played Andy's boyfriend, Nate. There have been debates about whether the character should have returned, but fans have also argued that the character was unlikable in the first movie.
Why Adrian Grenier Did Not Return in The Devil Wears Prada 2
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In an interview with EW, The Devil Wears Prada 2 director David Frankel opened up about Adrian Grenier's absence from the movie, to which he revealed that they almost tried to bring him back.
Nate's absence in the sequel stems from the character having no role in the story. However, the director admitted that there were attempts for Grenier to show up in a cameo.
"I had an idea about sneaking him into a cameo, and, in the end, it was just too late in our production schedule to make it happen," he explained.
When asked about what would have happened in Grenier's cameo in the sequel, the director declined to share any details.
"No, I probably shouldn’t say. But, I think I’m thrilled that he did a Starbucks commercial, which was really funny and so self-effacing. I love the humility and the comedy of it!" Frankel said.
The director is referring to a new Starbucks commercial where Grenier joked about his absence in the sequel and poked fun at his character.
Last month, Grenier opened up about his absence from the sequel, where he expressed his disappointment that he was not invited back.
"It was a disappointment that I didn’t get the call to be in the sequel, but I also understand there’s some backlash with Nate, the character, so that might have something to do with it. But I think that just leaves room for a spinoff," he said.
What to Expect in The Devil Wears Prada 2
Almost 20 years after making their iconic turn as Miranda, Andy, Emily, and Nigel, Meryl Streep, Anne Hathaway, Emily Blunt, and Stanley Tucci return to the fashionable streets of New York City and the sleek offices of Runway Magazine in the eagerly awaited sequel, The Devil Wears Prada 2.
The film reunites the original main cast with director David Frankel and writer Aline Brosh McKenna, and introduces an all-new runway of characters, including Kenneth Branagh, Simone Ashley, Justin Theroux, Lucy Liu, Patrick Brammall, Caleb Hearon, Helen J. Shen, Pauline Chalamet, and B.J. Novak. Tracie Thoms and Tibor Feldman also reprise their roles from the first movie.
It is set to arrive in theaters this May 1, kicking off the summer movie season slate.
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