‘And Just Like That’: Everything We Know About the ‘Sex and the City’ Revival

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'And Just Like That': Everything We Know About the 'Sex and the City' Revival

Grab your cosmos! On January 10, Sarah Jessica Parker announced that an official Sex and the City revival is coming! The original series aired on HBO from 1998 to 2004, spanning 94 episodes during its six seasons. The show, which followed best friends Carrie Bradshaw (Parker), Miranda Hobbs (Cynthia Nixon), Samantha Jones (Kim Cattrall) and Charlotte York (Kristin Davis) living in New York City, earned 54 Emmy nominations (winning seven) and 24 Golden Globe nods (winning eight). The show also led to two box-office hit movies. 2008's Sex and the City grossed over $415 million worldwide. Despite being slammed by critics, 2010's Sex and the City 2 brought in $294 million worldwide. While a script was created for a third movie, Cattrall decided she did not want to be part of it, and the movie was ultimately scrapped. Over the years, the Filthy Rich star has been vocal about being done with the franchise, even calling out Parker for being "cruel" in 2018. However, following the revival announcement, the Hocus Pocus actress weighed in on doing the new show without her, adding they she will miss her on set. When a fan wrote, “She didn’t tag Samantha Jones,” and another replied, “They dislike each other," on Parker's Instagram, she quickly responded. "No. I don’t dislike her. I’ve never said that. Never would. Samantha isn’t part of this story, but she will always be a part of us," she wrote via Instagram. "No matter where we are or what we do. X.” [jwplayer RoOgPGeM-zhNYySv2] In 2019, Cattrall said she would "never" work on the franchise again during an interview with the Daily Mail. "You learn lessons in life and my lesson is to do work with good people and try and make it fun," the Tell Me a Story alum said at the time. As for the new show, the SJP Collection designer voiced how excited she is about the new show and being back with the women. “[We’re] shooting it in a city that we love and hoping to be part of a city that’s able to support artists and culture and institutions that have been closed down and the businesses that have been hurt [during COVID-19],” she told TMZ in January 2021. Scroll through the gallery below for everything we know about the revival so far. [podcast_block]

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What It's About

And Just Like That will follow Carrie, Charlotte and Miranda once again through their lives in New York City, this time navigating what love and friendships are like in their 50s.

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Where It Will Stream

And Just Like That will be available on HBO Max.

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When It Will Start

The writers' room opened in January 2021, with filming beginning in the spring. The first two episodes of And Just Like That will debut on HBO Max on December 9. The next eight will be released each Thursday.

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Cast Cameos

In addition to the three women, Jennifer Hudson — who appeared as Carrie's assistant in the first film — shared in January 2021 that she would love to appear in the revival.

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Will They Replace Samantha?

“It’s not as black and white as that,” the two-time Emmy winner told TMZ in January 2021, sharing when asked whether they will replace the fourth character in Cattrall's absence. “We’re not looking to bring in a fourth character. We have New York City as a fourth character. There will be lots of interesting, new characters that we’re excited about.”

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It Will Address the Coronavirus Pandemic

Parker said during an interview with Vanity Fair at the end of January that the COVID-19 pandemic "will obviously be part of the storyline because that's the city [these characters] live in. And how has that changed relationships once friends disappear? I have great faith that the writers are going to examine it all."

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We’ll Miss You, Smith Jerrod

Jason Lewis, who played Samantha Jones’ beloved boyfriend (and later ex) Smith Jerrod on the show, revealed he won’t be returning for the revival — just like his former onscreen flame.

“I have not [been asked back], but I would be the last to know!” the actor told Fashion Week Daily in April 2021. “As much as I appreciate the flattery, the conversation is about the girls.”

As for whether his character would still be with the PR expert today, Lewis said it's unlikely.

“I think that they moved away from each other,” the model added. “But I think they’d still like each other!”

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Aidan's Back

In April 2021, John Corbett told Page Six that he "might be in quite a few" episodes of the upcoming HBO Max project, sending Team Aidan fans into a frenzy. Parker played coy about her former costar's comments, hinting via Instagram at the time, "I'm not saying one way or another whether our beloved Mr. Corbett's interview deals in facts or fiction. But the response is amazing to read... x."

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Mr. Big Is Back

In May 2021, HBO Max revealed Chris Noth will be reprising the role.

While The Equalizer actor confirmed his official return to the role, he revealed to Yahoo Finance Live in June 2021 that he was “hesitant” to play Mr. Big again. “I didn’t really feel I had anything to offer in that role again. It kind of felt like I had done it,” he said.

Fans started to question in what kind of capacity Mr. Big would appear in the revival after Parker was filmed kissing Jon Tenney in October 2021.

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Sara Ramirez Joins

Sara Ramírez is a new series regular, starring as Che Diaz, a non-binary, queer, stand-up comedian who hosts a podcast that Carrie frequently joins. "Che is a big presence with a big heart whose outrageous sense of humor and progressive, human overview of gender roles has made them and their podcast very popular," HBO Max said in a press release in May 2021.

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More Men!

David Eigenberg and Evan Handler, who played will Miranda's husband, Steve Brady, and Charlotte's husband, Harry Goldenblatt, respectively, will both appear, HBO Max confirmed in June 2021. Additionally, Mario Cantone will reprise the role of Anthony Marentino and Willie Garson will be back as Stanford Blatch.

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Ready to Roll

Parker visited Carrie’s apartment in June 2021, one day before the cast reunited for their first table read of the new series. “Pure coincidence AND JUST LIKE THAT, we find ourselves on this street called Perry the night before it all begins again,” she captioned a series of photos from outside the iconic pad. “MPK, here we go. And I’m thrilled and terrified. X, SJ.”

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Back in Action

Parker reunited with Nixon and Davis in June 2021 for the first table read in New York City. “Together again. 💜,” she captioned the sweet snap. “Read through our first episodes. @justlikethatmax Alongside all the fellas and our newest cast members. Like an ice cream sundae. X, SJ.”

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The First Episode Title

We have a name! Parker revealed in a July 2021 Instagram post that the first episode of And Just Like That will be called “Hello It’s Me.”

Alongside the cover of her script, she laid out some of her filming necessities, including snacks, books, a speaker and a cooling face globe.

“In preparation for 1st day of shooting @justlikethatmax somewhere on the island of Manhattan. Tomorrow. Always bringing enough to share. Not pictured, deodorant,” she wrote.

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Filming Begins

In July 2021, Parker shared a selfie that showed her getting ready for the first day of filming with help from hairstylist Serge Normant and makeup artist Elaine Offers. "7:15 am EST NYC," she captioned the Instagram photo. "Here she comes. X, SJ."

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Together Again

HBO Max released the first official image from the new series in July 2021. In the snap, Nixon, Parker and Davis walk down a New York City street in costume as Miranda, Carrie and Charlotte, respectively. Compared to past SATC looks, their outfits in the photo are somewhat subdued, but Carrie's commitment to outrageous footwear remains intact with a pair of black patent leather platforms.

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Meet the Newbies

Sarita Choudhury, Nicole Ari Parker and Karen Pittman joined the cast in July. Choudhury will play real estate broker Seema Patel, Parker will portray documentarian and mother of three Lisa Todd Wexley and Pittman will star as Columbia Law School professor Dr. Nya Wallace.

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Natasha Is Back in NYC!

Bridget Moynahan was spotted in New York City in July 2021 filming for the upcoming series. The Blue Bloods star played Natasha, Mr. Big’s second wife, in the original HBO show. Natasha and Mr. Big called it quits after he cheated on her with Carrie.

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Charlotte's Kids

Deadline confirmed that Alexa Swinton was cast in the role of Charlotte and Harry's younger daughter Rose after she was spotted filming with the cast in July 2021. Later, the official And Just Like That Instagram account shared that Rose's older sister, Lily, will be played by Cathy Ang.

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Here’s Brady!

Miranda and Steve’s son, Brady Hobbes, will be played by Niall Cunningham. Naturally, the young actor has brilliant red hair.

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Another New Face

The HBO Max series tapped Broadway alum Isaac Powell for a series regular role as the character George. The Modern Love actor confirmed the news via his Instagram, writing, “Big big thanks to HBO and @justlikethatmax for inviting me into this legendary family. … Brace yourselves for some epic fashion…#andjustlikethat."

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Bitsy Von Muffling Will Be Joining

Deadline confirmed in August 2021 that Julie Halston will have a recurring role on the reboot, reprising her Bitsy Von Muffling character. The actress was last seen during season 6 of the original series when Bitsy was pregnant and gave advice to Charlotte on how to conceive. It’s still unknown as to whether Nathan Lane, who played Bitsy’s cabaret singer husband Bobby Fine on SATC, will have a cameo.

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What to Expect With Dr. Nya Wallace

Ahead of her debut on And Just Like That, Karen Pittman teased her character's storyline — law professor Dr. Nya Wallace — during a September 2021 interview with Entertainment Tonight.

“I think people will really like [her],” the Morning Show star told the outlet. “There is plenty of sex in the city happening with [LeRoy McClain, who plays her TV husband].”

She continued, “What remains in And Just Like That from Sex and the City is that a story about love and friendship and womanhood and sisterhood… It really is a love letter to women and New York City.” 

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Back in Paris

In October 2021, Noth and Parker were spotted filming scenes for the show on the Pont des Arts bridge in Paris. The city was featured heavily in season 6 of the original series after Carrie moved there with her artist boyfriend Aleksandr Petrovsky (Mikhail Baryshnikov). After their relationship fell apart, Carrie reunited with Mr. Big, who flew to Paris to find her at the behest of Miranda, Charlotte and Samantha.

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Cynthia Nixon at the Helm

"Roll camera! 🎥 I am thrilled to share that I am directing an episode of @JustLikeThatMax this season. It’s been a complete dream to work with my beloved co-stars and crew in this new role," Nixon wrote alongside a compilation of photos of her on set via Instagram in October 2021. "I have truly never felt so supported in my life. (And don’t worry, Miranda is still going to be in the episode — it was surreal to do both at once!) #AndJustLikeThat."

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Diversity Conversations

"I really think it is going to showcase the way that our beloved trio can actually interact with women of color today," Cathy Ang, who stars as Charlotte's daughter in the revival, told Cosmopolitan magazine in October 2021. "If you go down the list of everyone who's cast: Sarita Choudhury, Sara Ramírez, Nicole Ari Parker—they have such large personalities and energies that they bring to the table. And even at a table read, there's always discussion about how to make sure that these characters are properly representing a real person."

She continued, "It’s too much pressure to be like, 'I’m representing all these Asians in New York City,' obviously, but maybe I’ll be able to represent how complicated it is to be a Chinese adoptee in a richer, white household. And I think those conversations are constantly happening with the writers, with the producers, and they’re so open to it. And I see it in the story lines. I also don’t think it’s going to reduce anyone to just the color of their skin. Everyone is a little surprising."

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Diverse Characters Are Embraced

As the show adds more characters who are people of color, non binary and from other underrepresented groups, the Carrie Bradshaw actress said they're taking extra care to make sure the characters aren't shoehorned in. “In no way were we interested in tokenism,” Sarah Jessica told Vogue in November 2021. “You can’t bring people on the show and not let the camera be with them! These characters are all gifts to us.”

Ramírez praised Parker, who is also executive producing And Just Like That. “Sarah Jessica came into this project with such intentionality and care. I play a complicated queer character who’s smart and funny and sexy and dynamic,” they told the magazine.

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Still Plenty of Sex

The ladies have settled down, but their sex lives are still very active. “And let me tell you, there’s still a lot of sex in this version of Sex and the City," Nicole Ari Parker told Vogue in November 2021.

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That's a Wrap!

On November 8, Parker revealed that she had wrapped filming for the series. "This is my last walk for now as Carrie," she said in an Instagram Stories video filmed backstage at a studio. "Just wrapped. Wow. An adventure and I'm feeling very sentimental, and that's it."

Nixon wrapped in December, sharing via Instagram, "For the very late final night of shooting had to send off this A+ cast and crew in style and with @NYCLoveCoffee in hand. ☕ I'm so grateful and in awe of what our incredible crew accomplished. My thanks to each and every one of you. I also want to give it up for the badass team that helped me become Miranda every day for AJLT & some ever since SATC! 🥰😻 Zoom in to our matching aviator wear to see the words that inspired the Miranda Unit for this next chapter."

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The Samantha of It All

"What you know is that Kim Cattrall is not in it,” executive producer Michael Patrick King told Emmy Magazine in November 2021 of how the dynamic will shift on the new series without the original actress. “You don't know this: that Samantha is not."

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First Trailer

The first 90-second video of the new series gave more details about what the cast is up to and who the new characters are. It also included many Easter eggs, including references to Carrie storing her clothes in the oven and talking to her shoes.

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The Spinoff Never Included Samantha

Showrunner Michael Patrick King revealed in a December 2021 interview with The Hollywood Reporter that the revival “never was on the radar as four [characters] because Kim Cattrall, for whatever reason, didn’t want to play Samantha anymore while we were doing the [third] movie.”

He continued, “I never thought, ‘Oh, there’s a hole I have to fill.’ Samantha doesn’t not exist in their lives. The show was born of these three characters: What’s their life, and who can I bring in to inform it?”

While some fans of the original might be sad to hear this, the writer said they shouldn’t be. And Just Like That is something new and original —and that’s what excited him about it.

“Listen, I wouldn’t do this again if I wasn’t excited about the idea. And even though people think this is a franchise that they’re familiar with, there’s something new in this version,” he told the magazine. “This isn’t what was; it’s what’s next.”

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Will There Be a Season 2?

“Everything I do, I always end,” King told THR in December 2021. “I always leave a finished something. … So, there’s no crazy cliffhangers here. I’m just telling a story to see what it is.”

However, he teased, “But of course, there’s interest [in doing more]. Everybody loves everything, in theory.”

One month earlier, King also told Emmy Magazine that he would be interested in continuing the show. “As we were working, it always felt like the beginning. It didn't feel like a beginning, middle and an end," he said. "So I think it's possible to keep going — if we have enough good stories."

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Everyone's Alive

In a December 2021 interview with The New York Times, the showrunner confirmed that "nobody's dead" in the revival amid rumors that Big or Samantha were killed off. He also shared that the show decided not to write Garson's death into the show "because it wasn't charming and I knew that the audience would know."

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Filming Fake Scenes

Ahead of the HBO Max series' premiere, speculation swirled that the cast filmed fake scenes to keep fans on their toes — and it turned out the rumors were true.

During a December 2021 appearance on The Late Show With Stephen Colbert, Davis answered, "Yes, definitely,” when asked whether the actors shot faux moments to keep story lines under wraps.

While she didn’t go into detail, host Stephen Colbert said he believed her, no questions asked. “That’s why I play Charlotte,” she joked, explaining that the reason for the ruse was simple. “We want the fans to enjoy the show,” Davis said. “I think that’s the important part.”

At the time, Nixon agreed, adding that she wanted fans to have a spoiler-free viewing experience. “We don't want them to know,” she said. “We don't want them to read the CliffsNotes beforehand."