‘Y&R’ Is Hunter King Coming Back As Summer Newman?

Y&R: Is Hunter King Coming Back As Summer Newman? [Credit: YouTube]

Could Hunter King return to the Young and the Restless as Summer Newman? Rumors have been swirling that her character could get a recast. She left the show with her co-star Michael Mealor (Kyle Newman). Ever since the news of Mealor’s recent return to the show, King could follow him.

Fans have wondered if the CBS soap will get King back as Summer too. Read on to find out more and to see what’s happening with the iconic character.

Hunter King Leaving Y&R [Credit: Hunter King/Instagram]
[Credit: Hunter King/Instagram]

Why she left Y&R

The first time Hunter King left The Young and the Restless was in 2016 to focus on her role as Clementine Hughes in the primetime series, Life In Pieces. She then returned to the soap in 2018. In her storyline, Summer seduced her mother’s boyfriend Billy Abbott (Jason Thompson), to the dismay of viewers. They couldn’t get passed their obvious age difference.

Summer then focused on winning back her ex-fiance, Kyle Abbott. She didn’t care if he was with Lola Rosales (Sasha Calle) at the time. While Kyle initially married Summer, he still had feelings for Lola. He left her with Lola, but then he realized he really wanted Summer.

Summer Newman Following Kyle Newman? [Credit: CBS/YouTube]
[Credit: CBS/YouTube]
Summer and Kyle traveled to Italy for a new life after a series of road bumps. In 2021, Hunter King then made the decision to leave the show behind. Despite working in Y&R for 10 years, she wanted to grow and expand as an actress. King admitted that she wants to try new things.

Hunter King doesn’t rule out a return

Hunter King doesn’t regret her time with The Young and the Restless. She said she will always love playing Summer.

“I love playing Summer, she’s a big part of me for the last … almost a decade,” Hunter King previously said on Soap Opera Digest’s podcast, Dishing With Digest. “When these things happen, there’s a variety of reasons why they happen, but I do hope to always have Summer in my life in some capacity. … I know that I hold her very near and dear to my heart.”

Hunter King Moves On [Credit: Hunter King/Instagram]
[Credit: Hunter King/Instagram]
The daytime show got rid of both King and Mealor in the summer of 2021. King told Soap Opera Digest what happened during that time. According to the actress, it had to do with contract negotiations that didn’t work out. She admits that working on a soap is weird because it’s like a “business arrangement” but “it’s also feeling like it’s your family.”

Yet, she did tease a possible return to the series.

“I do hope to always have Summer in my life in some capacity. What that will continue to look like, I’m not quite sure yet, but I know that I hold her very near and dear to my heart.”

Not likely to happen

Mealor has been put back on contract as Jackson’s son. Since Kyle is still married to Summer, she’s likely to come back too… Right? Y&R made it clear that it was not happening. On April 20, 2022, the show announced that they recast the role of Summer with actress Allison Lanier.

She’s appeared in the indie movies It Happened in L.A., M.IA., and Fish Bones. Lanier also starred on Amazon’s Red Oaks. What are your thoughts on the recast? Will you miss Hunter King’s portrayal of Summer? Sound off below in the comment section.

Check back with TV Shows Ace for more news on Hunter King.

Chanel Adams

32 Comments

  1. Please bring back Hunter King !! Pay the woman what she deserves !! It want be the same without her as Summer !! This will probably stop me from watching Y&R …Sorry. Don’t fix something that’s not broken !! You all are making a mistake.

  2. Please bring back Hunter King. I have watched Y & R for years. The show currently is the most boring it has ever been. You have been getting rid of all the regulars, probably to save money, but it is going to cost you more if fans stop watching. Hunter King bring a lot of “spark” to the show.

  3. Hunter King was “okay” as Summer. I just watched the first episode with the new Summer, and I already like her. I wish HK well.

  4. Bring back Hunter King, the new Summer just does not fit. Been watching since the show started.

  5. I can’t believe you’re replacing Hunter King (Summer) you people keep replacing all the good actors. You should’ve killed off Ashland and let Ray live.

  6. Miss Summer no one can replace her, sorry but the replacement does not cut it, not the same at all, no sexiness no life…..

  7. I’ve been watching Y&R for approximately 42 years and I’m EXTREMELY DISAPPOINTED in the casting/recasting that’s been happening lately. Please bring Hunter King back as Summer!! Your replacement doesn’t cut it, she’s not as talented as Hunter King.

    Killing Rey off didn’t please me much either. You’ve recast Noah, Faith and now Summer…it’s hard to watch when many of the familiar faces are changing. It’s also concerning….are there funding issues the fans aren’t aware of? Are we losing our favorite soap??

  8. The new Summer isn’t engaging and has zero chemistry with Kyle or the audience for that matter. Please bring back Hunter King. Not fun to watch without her!

  9. Please brink back Hunter King, she is the best! The new Summer does not fit. I agree with all the other recasting all the alumni people from the show is really throwing things off.

  10. I have watched the YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS since the first day it came on. Watching all this time you can get a good feel for who will work out and who not so much! Please NEVER replace Victor or Nick Newman! They are the show!!

  11. We want Hunter King back on the young and the restless the girl that is taking Hunter’s place just don’t cut it.She has more of a baby face.

  12. Yea, I do miss Hunter. I hope she’ll come back. I like her mom, Phyllis also. I’ve been taking care of my mom the last couple of years at her house, and now I’m kinda “hooked” on the show. It rates up the with the, NFL, The Golden Girls, and Porn…

  13. Please bring back the original Summer to the young and Restless and quit replacing the older stars.I have watched this for years and it is not the same.You think you are saving money but your not.People have stopped watching it. Please bring her back.

  14. I wish Hunter King the best. I love the new Summer she’s beautiful and fits right in as the new Summer Abbott.

    1. I would love to see Hunter King come back to the role of Summer, but I will
      have to adjust to this new person if she decides to not come back just as in the past with every recast. we as fans of Y&R loosing cast members we become accustoms to it’s hard to see them go they become part of our weekdays.

  15. Please bring back Hunter King as Summer she is awesome the new one is pretty and a good actress and all but can never replace Hunter.

  16. I really miss Hunter King as Summer. The recasted person just doesn’t hold a candle to Hunter. Please bring back Hunter!

  17. Please, please bring Summer Newman back. She is such a great part of Y&R. I really would love to see her adapt as a parent to Harrison!!!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *