Why Jessica Biel's Cora Didn't Return In Season 2
Mia Smith Jessica Biel's performance as murderer Cora Tannetti was the highlight of The Sinner season 1, so why didn't the actress return for season 2?
Jessica Biel received critical acclaim for her work in The Sinner season 1, so why didn't she return for The Sinner season 2? Biel remained onboard as a producer for season 2 and The Sinner season 3, but it seems that her role as Cora is done — at least for now.
Based on Petra Hammesfahr's novel of the same name, The Sinner season 1 kicks off with a grisly murder. Cora Tannetti (Biel) is enjoying a beach day with her family when suddenly, without warning — or subsequent memory of the murder — she is driven by a song to kill a man that she claims she doesn't know. The show proceeds to follow Detective Harry Ambrose (Bill Pullman) as he digs into Cora's psyche to figure out why she committed the crime.
Unsurprisingly, The Sinner season 1 ends with Cora in jail for the murder she committed. The first season of the show covers the entirety of the novel, but as the show became a success, it was decided to continue the story. Biel's performance earned her an Emmy nomination, so it was undoubtedly a tough call to continue without her character. But the decision not to bring back Cora in The Sinner season 2 allowed for the show to add new talent to the series like Carrie Coon and become a fascinating anthology series.
Although she ultimately didn't come back, the show considered having Cora return for The Sinner season 2. Indiewire reported that conversations about Cora's return took place, as Biel and team thought it'd be fascinating to follow what happens after an average suburban mom goes through a traumatic situation like Cora faced. It was decided that The Sinner season 2 was not the right time to continue Cora's story, so the show turned its focus to Ambrose and the cases he worked instead. However, Biel's comments to Indiewire were open-ended, leaving a possibility for Cora to return in a future season.
As Biel's performance is without a doubt what helped to earn the show a 2018 Golden Globe nomination, it'd be wise to bring her back before The Sinner eventually wraps up its run. As The Sinner season 1 saw Ambrose and Cora grow somewhat close to one another, it wouldn't be out of the question for her to eventually make her way back into his life. Biel's performance elevated The Sinner season 1, so it'd ultimately be beneficial to bring her back, even in a small arc. The Sinner was Biel's best work to date, so fans would undoubtedly welcome Cora back.
