Adrian Grenier could have made a cameo in “The Devil Wears Prada 2,” but there simply “wasn’t time” to make it happen.

David Frankel, who directed the original 2006 film and returned 20 years later for the highly anticipated sequel, told Entertainment Weekly his idea to briefly feature the “Entourage” actor fell apart as the movie was fully complete less than a month before its May 1 release date.

“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,” Frankel explained.

Adrian Grenier as Nate Cooper from The Devil Wears Prada, smiling in a green shirt.
Director David Frankel revealed why Adrian Grenier, seen here in 2006’s “The Devil Wears Prada,” isn’t returning for the sequel.©20thCentFox/Courtesy Everett Collection

Meryl Streep, Emily Blunt, Stanley Tucci, and Anne Hathaway pose on a red carpet.
In an Entertainment Weekly interview, Frankel said there “wasn’t time” to bring Grenier back alongside returning cast members Meryl Streep, Emily Blunt, Stanley Tucci and Anne Hathaway (pictured above).WireImage
Speaking to Page Six in March, Grenier theorized why he wasn’t invited to reprise his role of Nate Cooper, the former flame of Anne Hathaway’s Andrea “Andy” Sachs.

“Obviously, 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,” he shared.

Grenier said he “of course” would have loved to return alongside Hathaway, Emily Blunt, Stanley Tucci and Meryl Streep — but he isn’t holding a grudge.

Adrian Grenier smiling in a gray striped jacket over a red T-shirt.
“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,” Frankel explained of Grenier, seen above as Nate Cooper in the 2006 cult classic.©20thCentFox/Courtesy Everett Collection

Adrian Grenier speaking into a microphone onstage at SXSW.
Grenier, pictured here at SXSW in Austin in March 2026, previously opened up exclusively with Page Six about not returning for the sequel.The Hollywood Reporter via Getty Images
Despite not being asked back, he said, “We’re all fans of the movie, whether or not we’re in it.”

Grenier also hinted that his omission from the film“just leaves room for a spinoff” about his character.

In 2006’s “The Devil Wears Prada,” Andy’s relationship with Nate suffers as she prioritizes the demands of her hard-to-please boss, Miranda Priestly (Streep), the editor-in-chief of the fictionalized fashion magazine Runway.

Nate essentially forces Andy to choose between him and her work — and you can probably guess which way she goes.

Anne Hathaway and Adrian Grenier face to face in an embrace.
“Obviously, 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,” he shared.©20thCentFox/Courtesy Everett Collection

Anne Hathaway and Adrian Grenier in a restaurant scene from the film "The Devil Wears Prada."
Over the years, fans have dubbed Nate the true villain of the 2006 film as he wasn’t fully supportive of girlfriend Andrea “Andy” Sachs (Hathaway). The two are pictured here in a scene from the film.20th Century Fox Licensing/Merch
Grenier also poked fun at not being asked back for “The Devil Wears Prada 2” in a recent Starbucks commercial.

“You might have seen the headlines — I wasn’t asked to be part of a certain sequel,” he says, deadpanning to the camera. “But I’m good. Really. It’s all good energy.”

The actor then toasts to Nate, who has been branded the real villain of the first film for being unsupportive of Andy, and continues, “He wasn’t perfect.”

Grenier later jokes, “I mean if they call, I’m free.”

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Adrien Grenier speaking to the camera.
Grenier has taken the sequel snub in stride, even poking fun at himself in a recent Starbucks commercial, a screenshot of which is seen above.YouTube/starbucks

Adrian Grenier on the red carpet at the Venice International Film Festival.
In the ad, Grenier (pictured here at the 2025 Venice Film Festival) jokes about not being asked back, saying, “I mean if they call, I’m free.”Getty Images
Frankel addressed Grenier’s Starbucks commercial elsewhere in the Entertainment Weekly interview, saying he was “thrilled” to see the actor being “really funny and so self-effacing.”

He added, “I love the humility and the comedy of it!”

“The Devil Wears Prada 2” hits US theaters on May 1.