The highly anticipated survival series Yellowjackets has finally returned with season 3 after a nearly two-year gap. The new episodes feature the addition of Hilary Swank, Joel McHale, and Ashley Sutton to the ensemble cast, while one of the original cast members, Juliette Lewis, will not be returning.
Lewis departed from the show following the shocking finale of season 2, in which her character Natalie died after preventing a tragic event. In an emotional Instagram post, Lewis expressed gratitude for the appreciation she received and thanked the entire team, including creators Ashley Lyle and Bart Nickerson, as well as her costars.
According to Christina Ricci, who plays Misty, returning to set without Juliette Lewis was still emotionally challenging. Ricci described Lewis as a “fun human being” and said it was sad to see her go. The actress also acknowledged that the departure of Lewis’ character Natalie had a significant impact on the storyline, particularly in the dynamic between Misty and Natalie.
Sophie Thatcher, who plays the teenage version of Natalie, reflected on Lewis’ departure after watching the new episodes. Thatcher admitted that she didn’t realize how much Lewis’ character meant to her until later on. However, she expressed her commitment to doing justice to Lewis’ portrayal and exploring new aspects of Natalie’s character in season 3.
The new season sees Misty struggling to cope with the loss of her friend Natalie. According to Ricci, Misty is “deeply disturbed” by what happened and has trouble connecting with her grief. As the story unfolds, Misty will question her friendships and ultimately find a way to process her emotions.
Yellowjackets season 3 returns on February 14th with two episodes on Paramount+ before its on-air debut on February 16th at 8 p.m. ET.
Source: https://people.com/christina-ricci-on-returning-for-yellowjackets-season-3-without-juliette-lewis-exclusive-11679372