A recent announcement from the HBO Max production team reveals that Kim Cattrall as her character Samantha Jones will be making an appearance in the final episode of the second season of “And Just Like That...A New Chapter in Sex and the City.” The max revival of the iconic comedy series “Sex and the City” included many members from the original cast, including Sarah Jessica Parker’s Carrie Bradshaw, Cynthia Nixon’s Miranda Hobbes, and Kristin Davis’ Charlotte York. With a similar premise to the original show, “And Just Like That” expands upon the premise of “Sex and the City” to provide audiences with a comedic look into the charming and even more complicated reality of life for the beloved cast as they navigate their 50s. While the show is comprised of many of the same characters as the previous series, the revival series lacks one crucial member of the iconic crew: Samantha Jones. Her lack of an appearance in the series has left many to wonder: why has she not returned?
Various conversations circled around her lack of an appearance in the first season; most often attributed to her negative experiences on the set of “Sex and the City”. Cattrall has previously revealed that she and her co-star Sarah Jessica Parker have had a relatively tumultuous relationship over the years working together on the show. The tense dynamic between the two stars was highlighted in various interactions over social media and in interviews with Catrall in discussions of production dynamics.
While this reasoning has seemingly held Catrall back from returning as Samantha; previously resulting in the cancellation of the 3rd Sex and the City movie, Catrall has also expressed a desire to move on from the role altogether. While she has appreciated the work she has accomplished over the past 20 years within the franchise, she feels that the role of Samantha no longer serves her future endeavors.
This desire was further emphasized by a storyline for Samantha’s character that Catrall felt deeply disturbed by. The Sex and the City writers intended to cast Samantha in a storyline where she received nude photos from Miranda’s 14-year-old son. She felt this decision would be an improper and inappropriate reflection of her character, a large reason for her eventual decision to break away from Samantha altogether.
Catrall has expressed this desire on various occasions, a reality her fans were beginning to accept. That is why it came as a shock to many when it was revealed she was planning to return. She plans to make a cameo in the final episode of the second season, a scene that will likely air at the end of August. While it is unclear what her role in the new show might look like; whether her appearance will be brief or she will return for good, fans of the franchise wait anxiously to see Samantha Jones back in action.