Kim Cattrall once claimed “it would never happen”.
And Just Like That… producers moved heaven and earth – and padded out her pay cheque – in order to get the actress back on board as saucy Samantha Jones for season two of the Sex And The City reboot.
According to an on-set source, the 66-year-old star only signed on after bosses agreed to her non-negotiable demands.
Cattrall is set to reprise her role as Samantha.
(Image: Getty)LAYING DOWN THE LAW
“Kim had two stipulations – one, that she would not act with any of the other girls, and two, she did not want to see Michael Patrick King,” says a source of the series’ showrunner, who reportedly sided with Kim’s co-star and nemesis Sarah Jessica Parker, 58, following their well-publicised feud.
Actor Evan Handler, who plays Harry Goldenblatt on the series – which returns on June 22 – confirmed that none of the cast interacted with Kim.
“Apparently, [it] was shot in the garage somewhere with no contact with anybody,” he said.
“The offer presented to Kim was always to be a phone call, shot alone as most calls would be,” TV bosses said in a statement.
“This was an easy and convenient way for Samantha to return. We are delighted it worked out.”
Cattrall and fellow Sex And The City star Sarah Jessica Parker are reportedly still not on good terms.
(Image: Getty)Speaking on The View, Cattrall also shared her initial reaction to the request to reprise her iconic role.
“It was very interesting to get a call from the head of HBO saying ‘What can we do?’,” Cattrall said, adding her first thought was “Hmmm, let me get creative.”
Cattrall also shared that in order for her to reprise her role, she requested that Patricia Field, her stylist from the original Sex And The City series, returned to dress Samantha.
“I just thought, if I’m going to come back, I’ve got to come back with that Samantha style. I’ve got to push it, and we did,” she added.
Field, who had not been previously involved in the reboot, also spoke on Cattrall’s request, stating “She asked for something specific and I provided it. She was doing this one cameo and I did it for her.”
“I love Kim, I loved dressing her… It was a wonderful opportunity,” Patricia continued.
The 82-year-old stylist wouldn’t be drawn on the feud. “I don’t want to get into the middle of anything,” she said.
MONEY TALKS
Producers had to pay through the nose for it though – the actress reportedly received $930,000 for her cameo.
“It just shows the power of Kim,” adds the insider. “They still need her on the show.”
“I’m sure she got paid handsomely,” agrees Sex And The City creator and author Candace Bushnell. “Kim is a grown woman and she does things on her own terms.”
Fans eagerly await the reunion of the famous friends.
(Image: Getty)PHONING IT IN
The fan favourite will feature in the season two finale in a car chatting to SJP’s character, Carrie Bradshaw, on the phone.
Speaking on Samantha’s comeback, Sarah Jessica Parker told Access Hollywood, “Samantha was already present. She was popping up in texts and we were continuing to convey that this was a relationship that was important to Carrie, as well as to Charlotte and Miranda.”
“It was just a nice opportunity, given the 25 years, to have that text turn into a face. It’s just a little quick phone call, it’s really nice, and it’s a sentimental moment in the story,” she added.
Despite her previous reluctance to revisit her much-loved character, Kim admits she’s clung to Samantha.
“Parts of her are with me. I played her, and I loved her… I’ve come to the conclusion that really the greatest compliment I could have as an actor is to be missed,” she said last year.
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