When news broke that The Devil Wears Prada 2 was officially in production, it raised a lot of questions centered around the cast and whether we would see actors like Emily Blunt and Stanley Tucci return to reprise their roles. Inquiring minds wanted to know: Will Nigel’s hard work and personal sacrifices finally pay off? Has Andrea been flourishing in her career as a journalist? Did Andrea end up moving to Boston with her boyfriend, Nate?
Well, fans of #teamNate may find themselves disappointed as EW has officially confirmed that Adrian Grenier will not be returning for The Devil Wears Prada 2.
Fans of The Devil Wears Prada will remember Grenier as Nate Cooper: the carefree, down-to-earth boyfriend of Anne Hathaway’s character, Andrea. In the film, Nate is a reflection of where Andrea is at the start of her journey of self-discovery– a naive, ambitious writer with little to no boundaries. With the help of his words of affirmation and late-night grilled cheese sandwiches, he keeps Andrea grounded, reminding her of her roots when she needs a reality check and providing a soft place to land during times of turmoil.
Although Nate is a kind, supportive boyfriend to Andrea at the start of the film, as she goes deeper into her career, conflicts begin to arise. Andrea’s new career in high fashion turns out to be quite demanding, forcing her to blossom into a woman that Nate doesn't recognize. What starts as an awkward, insecure, people-pleaser is reborn as an assertive, confident "glamazon" who prioritizes herself.
This shift in Andrea causes a clash in the relationship as Nate is determined to hang on to a version of her that doesn't exist anymore. Ultimately, due to Andrea’s change in values (as well as some questionable decision-making), the two grow apart, leading to a temporary break-up.
After a sobering trip to Paris makes Andrea reevaluate her life's direction, she meets up with Nate one last time before the end of the film. Although it seems the two have patched things up, the status of their relationship is left open-ended, concluding with Nate inviting Andrea to live with him in Boston and Andy announcing an interview for a new job opportunity.
It’s safe to assume that Grenier not returning for the sequel means that, by the start of The Devil Wears Prada 2, Andy and Nate are no longer a couple. The end of this relationship gives grace for a rebranding of Andrea's character. The Devil Wears Prada 2 could see a post glow-up Andrea, who’s learned to decenter men and focus on her career as a journalist in NYC (a la Carrie Bradshaw.) Or perhaps Andy's left the remnants of her relationship with Nate far behind her, learning from her mistakes, and moving on to a man who isn’t threatened by her confidence and ambition. With a theatrical release less than a year away, it won’t be much longer before we get the answers to our speculations.
So far, it’s been confirmed that Stanley Tucci, Meryl Streep, Emily Blunt, and Anne Hathaway have all signed on for the Devil Wears Prada sequel, which is great news for fans of Nigel, Emily, Andrea, and Miranda Priestly. However, since our first announcement of The Devil Wears Prada 2, there have been no additional updates as far as the plot or the role the characters will play in the film are concerned. Whether Andrea will have a love interest in the sequel has yet to be determined — but one thing’s for sure: The Devil Wears Prada 2 has a chance to reintroduce her as her own fully-realized lead.
The Devil Wears Prada 2 is slated to release in theaters on May 1, 2026.