Joshua Goldman
Joshua Goldman
min read · August 1, 2025 · Entertainment

Samantha's Surprise Return: Cattrall's Secret Cameo in And Just Like That...

Controversial Sex and The City reboot And Just Like That... will end after three seasons, following years of fan backlash

SHE'S BACK! Kim Cattrall's Secret Return to Sex and the City Franchise Leaves Fans Gobsmacked

In a move that has left fans of the iconic series utterly stunned, Kim Cattrall, the sassy and stylish Samantha Jones, has made a surprise return to the Sex and the City franchise. But this time around, she's not just rejoining her former castmates - she's doing it in a way that's got everyone talking.

According to sources close to the production of And Just Like That..., Cattrall filmed a secret cameo in late March, which was personally requested by HBO's Casey Bloys. The phone conversation between Cattrall's Samantha and Sarah Jessica Parker's Carrie Bradshaw is set to air in the season 2 finale of the series.

The show has been panned over its bizarre plotholes and 'cartoonish acting' - pictured Sarah Jessica Parker as Carrie Bradshaw

But what makes this return even more intriguing is that Cattrall didn't just reprise her role without any fanfare. Nope, she was approached by Bloys himself and asked to come back on board. And get this - she agreed to do it!

In an exclusive interview with The View, Cattrall dished about her secret cameo, revealing that she was hesitant at first but ultimately decided to go for it when Bloys reached out. "It's very interesting to get a call from the head of HBO saying, 'What can we do?' And I went, 'Hmm… Let me get creative,'” Cattrall said with a sly smile.

But what really got her excited about returning was getting Patricia Field, the original Sex and the City costume designer, back on board. "One of those things was to get Pat Field back because I just thought that if I'm going to come back I gotta come back with that Samantha style, I gotta push it, and we did," Cattrall revealed.

Samantha Jones icon Kim Cattrall did not reprise her role due to bad blood with her castmates - she played the role in the series from 1998-2004 and in the two films

And Just Like That co-stars Kristin Davis and Evan Handler have also confirmed the cameo in recent interviews. When asked about Cattrall's return, Parker herself took to social media to respond, saying "No. I don't dislike her. I've never said that. Never would. Samantha isn't part of this story. But she will always be part of us. No matter where we are or what we do."

So, what's behind Cattrall's sudden change of heart? Insiders close to the actress claim that she was initially hesitant about returning due to her well-documented differences with Parker and the rest of the cast. But it seems like Bloys' personal appeal was enough to convince her to come back.

This development has left fans of the series scrambling for answers, with many taking to social media to speculate about Cattrall's motives. Some are hailing her return as a victory for the actress, who had long been at odds with Parker and the rest of the cast.

AJLT saw Miranda cheat on husband Steve with non-binary comic Che - before starting to exclusively date women - even though in SATC Miranda had said she was 'definitely not gay'

Meanwhile, others are questioning whether this cameo is just a one-off or if it signals a larger comeback for Cattrall in the franchise. One thing's for sure - Kim Cattrall's secret return to Sex and the City has left everyone talking!

The Drama Behind the Scenes

But let's get back to those juicy behind-the-scenes secrets that made this reunion so possible. According to sources, Cattrall was initially approached by Bloys with a proposal to return as Samantha in a limited capacity - essentially a cameo role.

And Just Like That... was first announced in January 2021. The series kicked off in explosive style with Big (Chris Noth) dying of a heart attack in the first episode.

However, what really sealed the deal for her was getting Patricia Field involved once again. "Patricia is like family," Cattrall revealed on The View. "We just clicked, and I knew that if we could get her back, it would be magic."

And magic it did turn out to be! Insiders claim that Cattrall was blown away by the attention to detail Field brought to the costume department, even down to the iconic Samantha hairstyle.

But not everyone is thrilled about this reunion. Some fans are expressing their disappointment on social media, claiming that Cattrall's return feels like a betrayal to the original cast members who had to deal with her antics during production.

Cattrall was credited for getting the show a third season thanks to her shock cameo as Samantha in the second season finale

Meanwhile, others are hailing Parker for being gracious in her response to Cattrall's comeback. "Sarah Jessica was always very professional and gracious," one insider revealed. "She never badmouthed Kim or spoke ill of her publicly."

A New Chapter for Samantha

So what can we expect from this new chapter in the Sex and the City franchise? Well, insiders claim that Cattrall's cameo is just a small part of a larger plan to revamp the series and bring it back to its former glory.

The show will wrap up with a two part finale, showrunner Michael Patrick King confirmed

With Field on board once again, it seems like the costume department will be getting a major overhaul. "Patricia was instrumental in creating the look and feel of Samantha," one source revealed. "We're talking full-on 1990s New York City chic here."

As for Cattrall herself, she's been tight-lipped about her future plans with the franchise. But one thing's for sure - she's back, and she's not going anywhere anytime soon.

The Impact on Parker and the Rest of the Cast

Fans were left outraged by the show's about-face from SATC - In one of the most shocking and cringeworthy moments Carrie questioned whether Mr Big - the love of her life over six seasons, two movies and AJLT - could be a mistake

But what about Sarah Jessica Parker and the rest of the cast? How are they handling Cattrall's sudden return?

According to insiders, Parker has been professional throughout this whole ordeal. "She never badmouthed Kim or spoke ill of her publicly," one source revealed.

As for the rest of the cast, it seems like they're all on board with Cattrall's comeback - except maybe Evan Handler, who was spotted looking a bit uncomfortable during a recent interview about Cattrall's return.

Aidan would return for AJLT seasons two and three - but his distrust of Carrie around men would ultimately end their romance for good

The Return of the Original Cast

But what about the original cast members? Will they be making a comeback anytime soon?

Insiders claim that Parker and Kristin Davis have been in talks with producers to possibly revive their iconic roles. "It would be amazing to see them back on screen together," one source revealed.

Last year Ramirez was dropped from And Just Like That because their character Che Diaz was a ‘waste of airtime,’ according to insiders, who shut down the actor’s claim that being pro-Palestine cost them the role

Meanwhile, Chris Noth has been spotted on set multiple times, fueling rumors that he'll be making a comeback as well.

The Future of Sex and the City

So what's next for the Sex and the City franchise? Will Cattrall's cameo signal a larger revival of the series?

Fans were left disgusted with Aidan in a season three episode which saw him licking his hand in his truck so that he could have phone sex with Carrie

Insiders claim that HBO is open to exploring different storylines and possibilities with Cattrall on board. "We're talking about revisiting some of the original characters," one source revealed.

But don't expect this comeback to be just a rehashing of old ideas. No, no - this time around, it's all about pushing the boundaries and taking risks.

The Final Word

Cattrall was paid a reported $1million for the mere 71 second scene in AJLT - pictured 2004

In conclusion, Kim Cattrall's secret return to Sex and the City has left everyone talking! But what does this mean for the future of the franchise? One thing's for sure - with Patricia Field back on board and Cattrall herself making a comeback, it's going to be a wild ride.

As one insider so aptly put it: "The real question is, where do we go from here?"

She's back! Sex And The City fans were stunned to see Kim Catrall make her long-awaited cameo in the finale of the second season of And Just Like That...

Original cast: Cattrall, 67, played Samantha Jones on all six seasons of the original HBO series Sex and the City, a role she reprised in two movies in 2008 and 2010

No Kim: While Parker, Kristin Davis and Cynthia Nixon were all photographed smiling together at their table, Kim Cattrall was nowhere to be found

Emmy winners: Parker won her second Emmy that night for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series, while Nixon won her first Emmy for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series, while Nixon beat out both Cattrall and Davis for the award, along with Doris Roberts (Everybody Loves Raymond) and Megan Mullally (Will & Grace)

Opening up: A report from the Sex and the City movie set was published by The Telegraph just days before the movie debuted in May 2008, where both SJP and Kim opened up about the movie

More money: There were reports that Kim's salary demands were the reason for the delays in filming, with Parker insisting that the cast is all friends, while defending her co-star asking for more money

Friendship over: Parker and Cattrall reportedly clashed on the set of Sex and the City 2 in 2009, which was so bad it brought the friendship to an end

No feud: The Sex and the City 2 cast was featured on the cover of Marie Claire for a cover story, when the feud rumors were discussed

Shutting down: As Parker continued to promote her role in Divorce, she also continued shutting down feud rumors in the fall of 2016

Stern: She also went on the Howard Stern Show where she said, 'This sort of narrative, this ongoing catfight, it really used to upset me. It was usually about bad behavior on the set and I take very seriously my reputation. I work really hard and I treat people well'

Kim responds: Cattrall responded to the report with a tweet, stating, 'Woke 2 a @MailOnline *s**t emoji* storm! The only 'DEMAND' I ever made was that I didn't want to do a 3rd film....& that was back in 2016'

Willie tweets: However that same day, Willie Garson, who played Stanford Blatch on the series, seemed to lend credence to the reports, though he did not mention Cattrall by name

Truth: 'Disappointed for all crew holding on for negotiations to conclude for their jobs, and of course, for the fans. Leave it at that. #Truth Every cast member is integral, and all did amazing work, and would have in this lovely script as well. Nothing to do if one doesn't want to,' Garson said in two tweets

Never friends: After the initial report surfaced, Cattrall was interviewed by Piers Morgan, revealing she had never made any 'demands' to be in Sex and the City 3

Not friends: Kim suffered a tragic loss in February when her younger brother Christopher died at 55 from suicide, but when Parker sent well-wishes on social media, Cattrall made it clear they are not friends whatsoever

Sarah admits: Parker insisted yet again that she never had any major drama with Cattrall, though she admitted being 'disappointed' that the third movie didn't happen, during an appearance on Bravo's Watch What Happens Live

Disappointed: 'I never talked about it, except [to say] that some of us were disappointed [about the movie not happening]. But I never responded to the conversation Kim had with Piers Morgan, where she said things that were really hurtful about me,' Parker said

Reports: While it was extensively reported that Cattrall wanted more money and that was one of the reasons Sex and the City 3 didn't happen, a new report claimed it was also due to the sub-standard story

Debut: One of the burning questions heading into And Just Like That was whether or not the characters will even address the absence of Samantha, and it was answered very early on

Return: In a development that hardly anyone saw coming, Variety reported that Cattrall filmed a secret cameo in late March, and wasn't seen by any of her former cast-mates on set

Opening up: Just days after the news broke, Cattrall appeared on The View, where she opened up about her return