Lana Condor Kept XO, Kitty Return a Secret for Years

The To All the Boys I've Loved Before star says she's "bad at lying" about her surprise appearance in the Netflix spinoff series.

Mar. 13, 2026 at 7:24pm

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Lana Condor, the star of the To All the Boys I've Loved Before film franchise, revealed that she had to keep her surprise appearance in the upcoming third season of the Netflix spinoff series XO, Kitty a secret for nearly three years. Condor, who played Lara Jean in the original films, said she's "bad at lying" and felt like she had to hide the news for a long time. Her former co-star Anna Cathcart, who plays Kitty in the spinoff, was also tasked with keeping Condor's involvement under wraps, using a fake name in the script.

Why it matters

Condor's return to the To All the Boys universe is highly anticipated by fans, as her character Lara Jean was central to the original film trilogy. Her surprise appearance in XO, Kitty will likely generate significant buzz and interest in the new season of the spinoff series.

The details

Condor said the best part about being on set was reuniting with her former co-star Anna Cathcart. "Honestly, I feel like no time has passed. We immediately went back into that sister dynamic and I felt like I was 14 again and she was in her early 20s," Cathcart said. Condor also expressed excitement about stepping into Cathcart's world and seeing what she's accomplished with the XO, Kitty series.

  • Condor had to keep the secret for "three years" before the announcement was made.
  • XO, Kitty Season 3 is set to premiere on Netflix on April 2, 2026.

The players

Lana Condor

The 28-year-old actress is best known for her starring role in the To All the Boys I've Loved Before film franchise.

Anna Cathcart

The 22-year-old actress plays the lead role of Kitty in the XO, Kitty spinoff series.

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What they’re saying

“I'm so bad at lying. It felt like I had to keep the casting news a secret for 'three years'.”

— Lana Condor, Actress

“It feels illegal that I can talk about it now because even her name in the script was a different name. We were being so careful, so I can't believe that we can announce it.”

— Anna Cathcart, Actress

What’s next

Fans will be able to see Lana Condor's surprise return when XO, Kitty Season 3 premieres on Netflix on April 2, 2026.

The takeaway

Condor's highly anticipated return to the To All the Boys universe showcases the enduring popularity of the franchise and the excitement surrounding the expansion of the story through the XO, Kitty spinoff series.