After nearly a decade of silence, HBO’s cult-favorite mockumentary The Comeback is officially returning for Season 3 in March 2026, and it’s bringing a major new star along for the ride. Andrew Scott, who captivated audiences in Netflix’s psychological thriller Ripley, has joined the cast alongside lead actress Lisa Kudrow.
The news was announced by HBO Chief Casey Bloys during the network’s 2026 global programming slate presentation in London. According to Variety, Scott will portray “the head of a studio,” a role described by insiders as “intriguingly cynical and powerfully charming.”
HBO also released a first look image featuring Kudrow as her iconic character Valerie Cherish standing in a doorway, expression poised somewhere between hope and exasperation, capturing the comedic self-awareness that made The Comeback a critical darling.
Overview: The Comeback Season 3 Details
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Title | The Comeback — Season 3 |
| Platform | HBO / Max |
| Genre | Satirical Comedy / Mockumentary |
| Lead Cast | Lisa Kudrow, Andrew Scott |
| Returning Cast | Dan Bucatinsky, Laura Silverman, Damian Young |
| New Additions | Tim Bagley, Matt Cook, John Early, Abbi Jacobson, Brittany O’Grady, Zane Phillips |
| Creators | Lisa Kudrow & Michael Patrick King |
| Premiere Date | March 2026 |
| Plot Focus | Valerie stars in the first sitcom written entirely by AI |
| Tone | Satirical, darkly funny, “cynically hopeful” |
Lisa Kudrow’s Valerie Cherish Returns — Funnier and More Self-Aware Than Ever
Lisa Kudrow, who co-created the series with Sex and the City’s Michael Patrick King, reprises her Emmy-nominated role as Valerie Cherish, the fame-obsessed yet endearingly insecure actress desperate to stay relevant in Hollywood.
The third season finds Valerie once again thrust into the spotlight, this time as the lead in the first sitcom written entirely by artificial intelligence. The show-within-a-show concept promises sharp satire, poking fun at the entertainment industry’s reliance on algorithms, data-driven storytelling, and the blurred lines between technology and creativity.
In a joint statement, Kudrow and King said:
“Valerie Cherish always finds herself one step behind the times — but somehow, she always catches up. Season 3 explores what happens when Hollywood’s desperation for innovation collides with Valerie’s own hunger for a comeback.”
Andrew Scott Joins HBO After Ripley Success
The addition of Andrew Scott marks a significant coup for HBO. Scott, known for his emotionally layered performances, most recently starred in Netflix’s critically acclaimed miniseries Ripley, a stylish noir adaptation of Patricia Highsmith’s The Talented Mr Ripley.
| Andrew Scott Career Highlights | Details |
|---|---|
| Breakout Role | “Hot Priest” in Fleabag (2019) |
| Recent Hit | Ripley (Netflix, 2024) – 14 Emmy nominations |
| Other Credits | Too Much, His Dark Materials, 1917 |
| Upcoming HBO Role | Studio head in The Comeback Season 3 |
In Ripley, Scott played the manipulative and magnetic Tom Ripley, a con artist navigating deceit, art, and murder in 1950s Italy. His performance earned Emmy and Golden Globe nominations, establishing him as one of the most versatile actors of his generation.
HBO executives say Scott’s character in The Comeback will be “cynically intelligent and delightfully self-aware,” making him the perfect foil for Kudrow’s Valerie.
Entertainment critic Anita Ramirez remarked:
“Casting Andrew Scott is genius. His subtle cynicism will balance Kudrow’s chaotic optimism perfectly. It’s a pairing that could redefine the tone of this satire.”
The Plot: AI, Fame, and the Future of Comedy
According to co-creator Michael Patrick King, the new season will center around Valerie being cast in a sitcom scripted entirely by artificial intelligence, forcing her to navigate the absurdities of a tech-driven Hollywood.
“Valerie’s always chasing relevance,” King explained. “Now she’s working for an algorithm. It’s funny, tragic, and all too real.”
The storyline reflects the industry’s current anxieties about automation, creative ownership, and authenticity issues that have dominated conversations in the wake of the 2024 Hollywood strikes and AI-driven script experiments.
Critic Jordan Leong called the concept “intriguingly cynical,” noting:
“The Comeback has always been a mirror for the industry’s ego. Now it’s holding up that mirror to the machine that’s trying to replace us.”
Returning and New Cast Members
Longtime fans will be thrilled to see the return of several familiar faces.
- Dan Bucatinsky returns as Valerie’s neurotic publicist, Billy.
- Laura Silverman reprises her role as Jane, the quietly judgmental reality producer.
- Damian Young once again plays Valerie’s devoted husband, Mark.
New additions to the ensemble include Tim Bagley, John Early, Abbi Jacobson, Matt Cook, Brittany O’Grady, Zane Phillips, and Barry Shabaka Henley, many of whom are expected to play studio insiders, influencers, and media executives shaping Valerie’s comeback in the AI era.
HBO’s First Look: Valerie Cherish Faces the Future
HBO’s promotional image teases Kudrow as Valerie standing alone in a studio doorway half-lit, half in shadow. The symbolism isn’t accidental. Valerie, once dismissed as a relic of early 2000s sitcoms, is now being reinvented in a digital world that may no longer need her.
HBO’s marketing team described the new season as:
“A comeback about comebacks — part satire, part existential comedy, and 100% Valerie Cherish.”
The Legacy of The Comeback
Originally premiering in 2005, The Comeback was ahead of its time. Its mockumentary format depicting the uncomfortable intersection of fame, reality television, and self-delusion predated modern cringe comedies like The Office and Curb Your Enthusiasm.
Although HBO canceled the show after one season, it developed a passionate cult following. Nearly a decade later, Season 2 premiered in 2014, earning critical acclaim and an Emmy nomination for Lisa Kudrow.
Now, eleven years after its last episode, The Comeback returns once again a revival about a revival.
Media scholar Dr. Helena Shaw observed:
“What’s brilliant about The Comeback is how it evolves with the times. In 2005, it mocked reality TV. In 2014, it mocked celebrity comebacks. In 2026, it’s mocking AI itself — and in doing so, it stays as relevant as ever.”
Comparison: Ripley vs. The Comeback
| Element | Ripley (Netflix) | The Comeback (HBO) |
|---|---|---|
| Genre | Psychological Thriller | Satirical Comedy |
| Tone | Dark, brooding, noir | Bright, ironic, self-aware |
| Lead Role | Tom Ripley – a manipulative grifter | Valerie Cherish – a delusional actress |
| Themes | Identity, deceit, morality | Fame, relevance, ego |
| Visual Style | Black-and-white cinematography | Documentary-style realism |
| Audience Appeal | Prestige drama fans | Comedy and satire enthusiasts |
Why This Comeback Matters?
HBO’s decision to revive The Comeback reflects a broader trend of nostalgic yet socially relevant storytelling. But with its AI-themed narrative and Andrew Scott’s addition, the series promises more than nostalgia it promises reinvention.
Television analyst Mark Douglas explained:
“This revival isn’t about cashing in on old glory. It’s about re-examining fame in the age of artificial intelligence. Valerie Cherish was once a relic of the 2000s; now she’s a metaphor for all of us trying to stay human in a digital world.”
FAQs
It premieres on HBO in March 2026 and will also stream on Max.
Andrew Scott joins Lisa Kudrow, with returning actors Dan Bucatinsky, Laura Silverman, and Damian Young.
Valerie Cherish stars in the first sitcom written entirely by AI, leading to chaos, comedy, and existential questions about creativity.
What was Andrew Scott’s last major project?
He starred in Netflix’s Ripley, which earned 14 Emmy nominations in 2024.
Lisa Kudrow and Michael Patrick King, who also created Sex and the City.
It pioneered mockumentary-style satire and offered one of television’s sharpest critiques of Hollywood fame and vanity.
