Adrian Grenier Reacts to Not Being Part of "The Devil Wears Prada 2"

Twenty years after its iconic run, The Devil Wears Prada is once again putting on her red, trident stilettos. While most of the main cast are returning to reprise their roles, we can be sure to (not) miss one specific character.

Nate Cooper, Andy Sachs’ boyfriend turned ex, was a polarizing character in the movie. Initially supportive of his girlfriend, his attitude turns sour when Andy begins to take her new job seriously. Branded as “selfish” and immature” in internet discourse, Nate is often seen by fans as the “real villain” of the story.

Adrian Grenier, who played Nate, cites this as the reason why he probably wasn’t asked back for The Devil Wears Prada 2. “Obviously, it was a disappointment that I didn’t get the call to be in the sequel. But I also understand there was some backlash with Nate, the character, so that might have something to do with it,” he said in an interview with Page Six. “Either way, it leaves room for a beautiful spinoff in which Nate has his own film.”

In 2021, Adrian admitted to Entertainment Weekly that he at first did not understand the pushback against his character. “I didn’t see some of the subtleties and the nuance of this character and what it represented in the film,” he said, adding that it soon came to him after reading what viewers had to say online. The overwhelming negative response to Nate led him to “reflect” about his character’s shortcomings and to eventually change his perspective.

“All those memes that came out were shocking to me. It hadn’t occurred to me until I started to really think about it, and perhaps it was because I was as immature as Nate was at the time. And in many ways, he’s very selfish and self-involved; it was all about him. He wasn’t extending himself to support Andy in her career," said Adrian.

Since The Devil Wears Prada, Adrian has appeared in several other TV shows and movies, including Affairs of State, Stage Mother, and the 2015 satirical-comedy series Entourage.

The Devil Wears Prada 2 is set to premier in theaters this April 29, 2026.