And Just Like That: Will Samantha Return?

And Just Like That is gearing up for its season finale this week after being met with a mixed response from fans of Sex and the City. With frequent tie-ins and nods to its parent show, the big question leading up to the conclusion seems to be focusing on one thing in particular – will Samantha (Kim Cattrall) return for a last hurrah?

Reuniting the core three (Sarah Jessica Parker, Kristen Davis, and Cynthia Nixon) has felt like no time at all has passed but there’s been a persistent publicist-shaped hole throughout. The absence of Kim Cattrall’s foul-mouthed, sexually ambitious fan-favorite Samantha Jones is certainly leaving an impact. Prior to its premiere, fans were curious as to how the series would proceed without such a pivotal character.

Where is Samantha Jones?

Much to the surprise of many, Samantha wasn’t killed off – which was widely speculated before it aired – and instead, her leaving is the result of a heated disagreement with Carrie that had the publicist flying to London. Viewers were quick to note the similarities of the situation to the alleged long-standing rivalry with Parker and Cattrall that stemmed off-screen. Both leading ladies have since denied rumors of bad blood though it didn’t stop assumptions about the pair from spreading – which sparked further when the revival series was ordered without Cattrall.

The door has seemingly been left wide open for her to reappear though – noted by co-star Cynthia Nixon, who recently praised the writers for handling an otherwise tricky scenario. Samantha may not be physically present but the show has very much kept the fourth friend in the loop – albeit virtually and primarily through off-screen interactions. It’s heavily implied she and Carrie are in the process of rekindling their bond over frequent text messages.

Are the pair actually on the mend? There doesn’t appear to be any hard feelings as they easily fall back into the groove of teasing remarks; Samantha showed her support for Carrie following the death of great love Mr. Big, Carrie playfully jibs her over an anatomical comment made on a podcast – the dynamic is there in every way but physical. Nothing is concretely clear, however, should viewers prepare for a reunion?

Will Samantha Reunite with Her Pals?

In December 2021, And Just Like That showrunner, Michael Patrick King, shared to numerous reporters that he had no plans nor did he intend on having Cattrall reprise her role. His announcement comes years after the actress “decided she didn’t want to play Samantha” again hence her sudden departure across the pond. Does this rule out her returning? Not necessarily.

There isn’t really anything stopping Samantha from making the flight back to New York – clearly the quartet of pals care enough to check in. The upcoming finale could be the perfect opportunity to get these beloved characters together again. Here’s the catch though: if the writers do go down this route, it may not be the Samantha viewers have grown to love.

Cattrall set the record straight in 2019 – she has no interest in revisiting the character. Plus, with the tiny issue of matching schedules – the Golden Globe winner is currently starring in Hulu’s How I Met Your Father – it’s unlikely Cattrall would have been available to shoot. Of course the obvious alternative would be to recast the iconic role; considering Cattrall’s dedication to Samantha for the last 20 years, having another actor don the mantle would not only be strange but may be perceived as distasteful – which leaves the next possibility.

If Samantha reappears, she will be played by an extra rather than Cattrall. How can they pull this off? Well, if anyone knows how to make an entrance it’s Samantha Jones. This would be where the crew work their movie magic on the series. All it would take is a few shots of some designer heels clacking towards the main trio; the three sit at their usual table, an extra body filling the empty chair. Though her face wouldn’t be shown, the blanks wouldn’t be hard to fill.

Fans might not want to get their hopes up, the finale – as was the whole revival – will more than likely be Samantha-less. The best chance they’ll have at seeing her again will be a ominous shot of the group together to tie up any loose ends – or another text message to Carrie.

About And Just Like That

The iconic characters and world of Sex and the City are the exciting jumping off point for this all-new series, which finds Carrie, Miranda, and Charlotte navigating the complicated reality of friendship, family, and New York in their 50s.

Stream And Just Like That… on HBO Max.