The Devil Wears Prada is filled with divisive characters. For one, Miranda Priestly (Meryl Streep) is often lauded for being brilliant at what she does best, though some criticize her for her domineering behavior and for cultivating such a toxic work environment. Some may also find Andrea “Andy” Sachs (Anne Hathaway) downright disrespectful for showing up to a job interview she knows nothing about. Those reasons are utterly based on one’s opinion, but there’s one character audiences collectively hate the most: Andy’s boyfriend, Nate Cooper. Luckily, though fans may want to see Adrian Grenier on the big screen once again, the actor won’t be reprising his role for The Devil Wears Prada 2.

The follow-up movie for the beloved comedy-drama is confirmed to feature the return of some familiar faces, including Hataway as Andy, Streep as Miranda, Stanley Tucci as Nigel Kipling, and Emily Blunt as Emily Charlton. On the other hand, the Hercule Poirot film series’ Kenneth Branagh is joining the cast as the husband of Streep’s terror fashion magazine editor. Now that production is in full swing, having recently announced that the sequel is now in production, THR reported that Grenier — who played Nate in the first movie — won’t be returning for the highly anticipated sequel.

Why It’s for the Best Adrian Grenier’s Nate Is Not in ‘The Devil Wears Prada 2’

Miranda Priestly is often seen as the villain, which makes sense considering the unhealthy workplace she fosters. But to quote Andy herself, “If Miranda were a man, no one would notice anything about her, except how great she is at her job.” It’s true that Miranda can be tough and unreasonable at times, and her intense passion for the fashion industry came at the expense of the well-being of those around her — and, in turn, her own life beyond the professional realm. But Nate? Everyone agrees he’s the true villain.

Nate often criticizes Andy and shows little to no support for her goals and aspirations. Throughout the film, he displays negative behavior and consistently undermines her career at Runway magazine. As Andy’s supposed supportive boyfriend, he comes across as outright misogynistic and overly critical, and the character hasn’t aged well even nearly two decades after the film’s release. All we really want is to see Andy thrive in her career without the presence of an overbearing love interest. And leaving Nate out of The Devil Wears Prada 2 might finally give us that.

It was previously reported that the sequel will focus on the evolving world of print magazines in the face of digital dominance, following Miranda as she navigates these challenges. Filming for The Devil Wears Prada 2 takes place in New York and Italy. It is set to hit theaters on May 1, 2026.