Why One Original Cast Member Said No to ‘The Devil Wears Prada 2’, Director Explains

Director David Frankel has shared new details about cast changes in The Devil Wears Prada 2 during an interview with Entertainment Weekly. He confirmed that some original actors from the 2006 film were invited to return, but not all of them were able to join the sequel.

Frankel said the production team did reach out to several members of the original cast. However, scheduling became a major issue for at least one of them. He explained, “I think we reached out,” and added that it was difficult to make timing work for the return.

One of the actors discussed was Gisele Bündchen, who had a small role in the original film. She played a Runway staff member named Serena. Frankel said they tried to bring her back for the sequel but were unable to make it happen.

He said, “I think we reached out to Gisele Bündchen, who had a really memorable part.” He also explained that the timing did not work out because she was pregnant during the filming period and was not available. According to Frankel, this made it impossible to include her in the production schedule.

Entertainment Weekly also confirmed earlier that Adrian Grenier, who played Nate in the first film, will not return for the sequel. Other original cast members are also not part of the new film, even though the production does bring back some familiar faces.

Frankel noted that Bündchen was the only original cast member directly offered a return who could not participate. Other actors from the original film are also not involved in the sequel for various reasons, though some new and returning roles are still included in the project.

At the same time, the sequel does bring back several well-known characters. Emily Blunt and Stanley Tucci are both returning. Frankel also confirmed that Heidi Klum has a small cameo appearance in the film. In addition, there are other guest appearances, including pop star Lady Gaga, who also contributes a song to the soundtrack.

The director also reflected on past experiences related to the franchise. In earlier comments, he spoke about meeting Anna Wintour after the first film premiered. He described an awkward interaction and also shared that he once attempted to include her in a cameo for the sequel, but the footage was not used in the final version.

The Devil Wears Prada 2 continues the story from the original film and is set for theatrical release this Friday.

It is normal for sequels to lose some original cast members, especially when many years have passed. Scheduling and personal life often play a big role in these decisions. Still, fans usually notice when familiar faces are missing. What do you think about actors not returning for sequels like this? Share your thoughts in the comments.