Andrew Scott Joins the Cast of 'The Comeback' Season 3: A First Look
The highly anticipated third season of the HBO series 'The Comeback' is set to premiere in March, with a first-look image revealing Lisa Kudrow back in action as the iconic Valerie Cherish. The news comes alongside the exciting announcement that Andrew Scott, known for his role as a hot priest in 'Fleabag,' is joining the cast. The season's plot revolves around Valerie being cast in the first-ever sitcom written by AI, a bold move that explores the implications of rapid AI development on the entertainment industry.
During a HBO Max slate presentation in London, HBO chief Casey Bloys shared the premiere date, and Kudrow and her co-creator, Michael Patrick King, joined him on stage. King revealed the season's premise, addressing the controversial topic of AI in the entertainment industry. He stated, 'The joke that's already played out is that AI is bad. We had to go deeper and figure out what would happen if AI was actually learning fast and people were trying to stay ahead of it.'
Bloys encouraged Kudrow and King to release the season quickly due to the fast-paced nature of the subject matter. King added, 'When we come on in March, we think we might still be a little bit ahead of the curve, but we don't think anyone will have owned it yet.'
Scott will portray a studio head who becomes a significant antagonist in Valerie's journey. King emphasized the importance of this character, stating, 'We decided that a very important part of the story would be the person who ran the studio... We got a very important actor to play him.' The crowd's reaction to Scott's casting was electric, with Kudrow exclaiming, 'I know, I almost cried!'
Kudrow also shared a touching anecdote about the show's production, stating, 'I had to guard myself every day that we were on that stage, otherwise I would cry.' The 'Friends' sound stage held sentimental value for her, as 'The Comeback' and 'Friends' both hold significant meaning in her career.
Other returning cast members include Dan Bucatinsky, Laura Silverman, and Damian Young, who reprise their roles as Valerie's publicist, reality show producer, and husband, respectively. Scott's recent work includes the Netflix psychological thriller series 'Ripley' and a cameo in Lena Dunham's 'Too Much.'
'The Comeback' originally aired for a 13-episode season in 2005 before being canceled and later revived for an eight-episode second season in 2014. The show follows Valerie Cherish, a B-list sitcom actress, as she navigates her return to television through a reality series. The second season saw Valerie attempt to produce her own reality TV pilot for 'Real Housewives' producer Andy Cohen. Further plot details for Season 3 remain under wraps.
'The Comeback' Season 3's cast also includes Tim Bagley, Matt Cook, Jack O'Brien, Ella Stiller, John Early, Barry Shabaka Henley, Abbi Jacobson, Tony Macht, Brittany O'Grady, Zane Phillips, and Julian Stern. Kudrow and King, alongside Bucatinsky and John Melfi, executive produce the series.
