Director David Frankel Explains Why Adrian Grenier’s Nate Was Cut From ‘The Devil Wears Prada 2’

Director David Frankel explains why Adrian Grenier’s Nate missed a cameo in "The Devil Wears Prada 2," citing a tight schedule and the character's 2006 legacy.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 26, 2026, 8:35 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from The Hollywood Reporter and Entertainment Weekly

The Missing Ingredient in the Sequel

As the global release of The Devil Wears Prada 2 approaches on May 1, fans have noted the conspicuous absence of Adrian Grenier’s character, Nate. While the core quartet of Meryl Streep, Anne Hathaway, Stanley Tucci, and Emily Blunt has reunited for the follow-up, the man who played Andy Sachs’ much-debated boyfriend has been left out of the script. Director David Frankel, who returned to helm the sequel twenty years after the original, recently clarified that while there was a brief window where a cameo was on the table, logistical and creative hurdles proved insurmountable.

Production Deadlines and Missed Opportunities

According to Frankel, the decision to exclude Grenier was partially a matter of timing. Speaking with Entertainment Weekly, the director admitted he had brainstormed a way to "sneak him into a cameo," but the production was under immense pressure to meet its May release date. Frankel noted that the film completed principal photography less than a month before its scheduled debut, leaving virtually no room for last-minute additions or reshoots. "There wasn’t time," Frankel explained, citing a schedule that was among the most aggressive in his career.

The Nate Backlash and Actor Reaction

Grenier himself has been vocal about his exclusion, previously describing the situation as a "disappointment." In interviews, the Entourage star speculated that the "villainization" of Nate by modern fans—who have spent the last two decades criticizing the character for being unsupportive of Andy’s career—likely influenced the creative team’s decision. Earlier this month, Grenier leaned into this narrative in a self-effacing Starbucks commercial, raising a toast to Nate while acknowledging the character "wasn't perfect" and suggesting it was best to "leave Nate in 2006."