The unthinkable has happened — Kim Cattrall will appear in And Just Like That season 2 despite her previous claims that she would never reprise her role as Samantha Jones again. From behind-the-scenes drama to how Sex and the City 2 underutilized Samantha, it seemed like fans had seen the last of Cattrall's iconic character. However, that will all change when the next season of the revival premieres in June.
Cattrall had an infamous feud with costar Sarah Jessica Parker that allegedly began during production on the first television series. Following the second movie, Cattrall determined that she was done with Samantha and Sex and the City, but she was still shocked to learn that Parker, Cynthia Nixon, and Kristin Davis had signed on for the revival series without her. Cattrall wasn't invited back for And Just Like That, which seemed to cement the idea that Samantha would never grace fans' television screens again. Fortunately, that isn't the case, and Cattrall will briefly reprise her Sex and the City role during an And Just Like That season 2 episode airing in August.
And Just Like That Season 2 Really Needed Samantha (& Her Return Was Setup)
The Sex and the City universe just isn't the same without Samantha — as a matter of fact, it wouldn't feel right without any of the four leading ladies from the original series. Samantha's absence was greatly felt in And Just Like That season 1, so it's not surprising that, according to Variety, Casey Bloys, the chairman and CEO of HBO and Max content, reached out to Cattrall to convince her to reprise her role in season 2. She surprisingly said yes, and fans will see her, albeit briefly, in an upcoming episode.
And Just Like That season 1 explained Samantha's absence by stating that she moved to London following a fallout between her and Carrie. The producers tried to incorporate her character into the revival via text messages between Samantha and Carrie, which was one of the season's best scenes. However, it was clear that Samantha was greatly needed to make And Just Like That successful. Thankfully, the inclusion of the texts perfectly set up Samantha's return. The upcoming episode will feature Samantha calling Carrie and hopefully, they will finally reconcile.
Kim Cattrall's Samantha Return Works Around And Just Like That's BTS Issues
Because Cattrall and the And Just Like That cast members still aren't on the best of terms, the producers found a way to film her cameo without forcing the actor to interact with Parker and the others. Neither Parker nor the showrunner, Michael Patrick King, was on set for Cattrall's scene. But Patricia Field, a costume designer who has worked on the Sex and the City franchise since the original show, was there to dress the actor.
So even though Cattrall did film one small scene for And Just Like That season 2, the problems between her and the cast and crew are likely unresolved. Fans will have this one cameo to look forward to this year. However, what follows after the episode premieres is unknown.
Will Samantha Have A Bigger Role In And Just Like That Season 3?
Although HBO Max has yet to renew And Just Like That for season 3, the news surrounding Cattrall's short return lights a fire under the possibility of the actor coming back full-time beyond season 2. Of course, it sounds like the issues between Cattrall and the cast and crew remain, but her cameo opens up a door that fans thought would be shut forever. The actor claimed to be done with Samantha, and that wasn't the case. Now, anything is possible, including Samantha's in-person reunion with Carrie, Miranda, and Charlotte.
As of the writing of this article, there are no guarantees regarding another Samantha appearance beyond season 2 or season 3 even happening. Cattrall's cameo could end up just being a one-off scene containing her official final performance as Samantha. But now that the door has been cracked open, hope has snuck its way in, and And Just Like That fans can wonder what the show would be like if Samantha was a main character.
Source: Variety