Everything To Know About The Sex And The City Reboot

Sex and the City may have ended in 2004, but with two feature films and a prequel series under its belt, it’s safe to say the show has a life beyond its initial run. Now the hit series is officially returning to the small screen with Sarah Jessica Parker, Kristin Davis, and Cynthia Nixon in tow. So here’s everything we know about HBO Max’s Sex and the City reboot titled And Just Like That..., including the details behind Kim Cattrall's noticeable absence and whether Chris Noth will return as Mr. Big.

Ever since the announcement of Sex and the City’s reboot, which will start streaming in December 2021, fans have been kept on their toes with various hints and teasers about what to expect. In July 2021, a leaked script revealed that Carrie Bradshaw is now a podcast host who is entangled in a messy divorce, and new photos taken of the set in New York City spoiled that Mr. Big’s ex Natasha has returned to thicken the plot.

A trailer dropped by HBO in September showcasing their autumn slate also gave us a glimpse into And Just Like That... (AJLT). The trailer features five seconds from the upcoming series, showing Carrie and the girls out and about in New York plus a couple of romantic moments between her and Mr. Big, suggesting the will-they-won’t-they pair are very much together in the reboot. Phewf!

Keep reading to find out everything else we know about AJLT.

The Sex and the City Reboot Premiere Date

The reboot will premiere its first two episodes on Dec. 9. The following eight episodes will premiere weekly on Thursdays.

Although Parker didn’t give an exact premiere date, diehard SATC fans will be thrilled to know that the reboot is coming ahead of the new year. The brief, 40-second clip also offers fans a glimpse of Parker, Nixon, and Davis strutting down 5th Avenue — and yes, they look just as fashionable as ever.

The Sex and the City Reboot Trailer

HBO Max released an official teaser for the reboot on Nov. 12. It shows the women in various scenes around New York City while Carrie narrates. “They say some things never change. But the truth is, life is full of surprises,” she says. “And as your story unfolds, the city reinvents itself. And just like that, a new chapter begins.”

On Nov. 30, another trailer, mostly an extended version of the first one, was released. “The more I live, the more I find that if you have good friends in your corner, anything’s possible,” Carrie, now a podcaster, speaks into a microphone.

The one-and-a-half-minute trailer puts to rest any worries about couples breaking up — at least for now. Carrie and Big are very much together as she singsongs, “Oh, honey, I’m home,” the moment she enters their apartment. Charlotte and Harry are attending something together. Even Steve and Miranda are spotted together.

The trailer does beg more questions than it answers, like why is Charlotte in tears when Sara Ramirez’s new character beckons, “You’re not happy with who you are? Step out of that box and change”? Why does Carrie seem forlorn staring at her reflection? And when did Miranda start taking the subway?

“And just like that, after all the years and all the changes, you’re still you,” Carrie narrates as the trailer ends with her opening her walk-in closet full of Manolo Blahniks, and telling them, “Hello, lovers.”

The Sex and the City Reboot Plot

AJLT will follow Carrie (played by Parker), Charlotte York (Davis), and Miranda Hobbes (Nixon) as they “navigate the even more complicated reality of life and friendship in their 50s,” according to HBO Max. All three actors shared the same teaser video on social media, with Parker adding the caption: "I couldn't help but wonder... where are they now?" The video, which sees footage of busy NYC streets, is accompanied by someone typing the title of the reboot along with Carrie's familiar narration.

In a Feb. 10 virtual interview for the Central Park Conservancy's Playground Partners, Parker said the idea for the series originally started as a potential podcast between her and showrunner Michael Patrick King. “It actually happened during shelter in place, I was listening to a podcast and it occurred to me that Michael Patrick and I had never talked about our experience working and producing the show,” she began. “We started talking about maybe doing a podcast and as we were talking about that we just realized ‘Why are we doing a podcast? Should we maybe think about a new chapter?’”

On July 15, Page Six revealed that script details from an upcoming episode had been leaked during filming, giving fans insight into the hardships the show’s iconic characters will face. Shockingly, it appears Mr. Big and Carrie, who now hosts a podcast, have broken up since their reunion at the end of Sex and the City 2 and are embroiled in a difficult divorce. One scene from the leaked script highlights a potential reason for their separation: During a meal with Charlotte, Miranda, and Stanford (Willie Garson), Carrie laments, “I was taping the podcast, I was washing my hair. Yes, I wasn’t eating or sleeping, but at least I felt good about my marriage. Now I’m just one of the wives he was taking care of?”

The Sex and the City Reboot Cast

Parker, Davis, and Nixon are all confirmed to return, but some original characters will be noticeably absent. Although Page Six previously reported that Chris Noth would not reprise his role as the polarizing Mr. Big, Noth’s return to Sex and the City was confirmed on May 26. In response to the exciting announcement, King said in an official statement, “I’m thrilled to be working with Chris again on And Just Like That... How could we ever do a new chapter of the Sex and the City story without our Mr. Big?”

When rumors about his involvement in the series first began to circulate, Noth weighed in on speculation via Instagram. “Everything changes — including announcements in the rags,” the 66-year-old actor commented when a fan asked if he would appear in the revival. When another commenter asked Noth to not make viewers “sad” and to “please reconsider” making a cameo, he replied, “Well, if Page Six says it … it must be true 😉.”

Another actor likely returning is John Corbett, who plays Carrie’s ex-fiancé Aidan Shaw. On April 15, he told Page Six that he would be in the show, saying he thinks he might be in quite a few episodes and that it was “very exciting.” However, HBO declined to comment and has not confirmed his appearance.

In response to an Instagram post by Sex and the City fashion account @everyoutfitonsatc, Parker commented, “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.”

Aidan isn’t the only ex SATC fans can expect to see. Bridget Moynahan, who fans will remember played Mr. Big’s second wife Natasha during the second and third seasons, was spotted filming on the show’s SoHo set on July 19. According to Entertainment Weekly, the scene featured Moynahan exiting a car and walking into a building, but who she was going there to meet is still a mystery.

David Eigenberg, who played Miranda's husband Steve Brady, was also reportedly still in negotiations about returning for a time. He told Us Weekly in March, “I really love that show,” and added that he looked forward to possibly working with Nixon again as she’s “a dream to work with.”

Come June 9, HBO revealed Eigenberg would reprise his role, and this announcement came with good company. Mario Cantone will return as Anthony Marentino, Willie Garson as Stanford Blatch, and Evan Handler as Harry Goldenblatt.

On May 19, HBO Max announced that Grey’s Anatomy star Ramirez will be joining the cast of And Just Like That... as the franchise’s first main cast member who doesn’t identify as a straight white woman. Ramirez will portray Che Diaz, a queer, non-binary comedian who hosts a podcast that often features Carrie as a guest and has become popular for its humor and progressive takes on gender and sexuality.

After production began, HBO announced on July 14 that Sarita Choudhury (Little Fires Everywhere), Nicole Ari Parker (Empire), and Karen Pittman (The Morning Show) will also appear in AJLT. Choudhury will star as Seema Patel, a self-made real estate broker in Manhattan; Parker will play Lisa Todd Wexley, a documentarian and mother of three who resides on Park Avenue; and Pittman will take on the role of Dr. Nya Wallace, a Columbia Law School professor. Weeks later, Deadline reported that HBO cast Hamilton’s Christopher Jackson will play banker Herbert Wexley, Lisa’s husband. The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel’s LeRoy McClain will play musician Andre Rashad Wallace, Dr. Nya’s husband.

Whether Che (who, like Ramirez, uses they/them pronouns), Seema, Lisa, and Dr. Nya will officially join Carrie, Miranda, and Charlotte’s friend group is yet to be determined, though they’ll certainly help fill the void left by one beloved character’s absence. Which brings us to...

Why Samantha Won't Be In The Sex and the City Reboot

Samantha Jones (Cattrall) won't appear in the reboot, which is unsurprising considering Cattrall has been pretty vocal about not wanting to return to the role. In the past few years, the actor has publicly distanced herself from Sex and the City and her co-star Parker. She has even been accused in the past of being the reason a third Sex and the City movie did not happen, which she adamantly denies. "It's quite extraordinary to get any kind of negative press about something I've been saying for almost a year of 'no', that I'm demanding or a diva," she told Piers Morgan in 2017. "This is really where I take to task the people from Sex and the City, and specifically Sarah Jessica Parker, in that I think she could have been nicer."

However, it appears that Parker has no issues with her former co-star. As reported by Entertainment Tonight, Parker dismissed rumors of a feud with Cattrall in the comments section of an Instagram post. "No. I don't dislike her. I've never said that. Never would," she responded to one follower before confirming that Cattrall would not star in the reboot. "Samantha isn't part of this story. But she will always be part of us. No matter where we are or what we do."

Corbett also said in his Page Six interview that he never noticed any tension on set between Cattrall and Parker, saying that “they were always cordial” and that “I never saw it or heard about it”. He did note, however, that he only worked closely with Parker and only had one scene that included all the women.

Last December, Cattrall shared her philosophy of leaving things in the past and moving on. "Walking away, even if it's the only thing to do, you always feel a bit of shame I think," she told the Women's Prize for Fiction podcast (via Bustle). "You have to let go of that [shame]," she continued. "You don't want to become that caged bird." Cattrall added that "being in new territory is always exciting," but at this period of her life she wants to use her platform "to tell stories about women my age who have gone through loss." Over the past decade, the actor lost her father and brother. "Loss is the biggest headache of my 60s so far," she said.

Despite Cattrall's public comments, it seems that her co-stars are keeping the door open for a future return. Parker remarked in a separate Instagram comment that she, Davis, and Nixon will miss Cattrall, and hinted that fans haven't heard the last of Samantha just yet. "She will always be there. And we are so excited," she wrote. There's always the possibility that Cattrall could have a change of heart, but for now, Sex and the City will return sans Samantha.

As for how her character's absence will be explained in the story, HBO Max Chief Content Officer Casey Bloys told TVLine, "Just as in real life, people come into your life, people leave ... Friendships fade, and new friendships start. So I think it is all very indicative of the real stages, the actual stages of life." He continued, "They’re trying to tell an honest story about being a woman in her 50s in New York. So it should all feel somewhat organic, and the friends that you have when you’re 30, you may not have when you’re 50."

On Nov. 23, The Daily Mail provided a little more clarity as to Samantha’s whereabouts — she will reportedly be living in London, sources told the paper, because “we couldn't have Samantha roaming around New York City and not have the other women ... interacting with her. It just wouldn't have made sense.” Though Carrie and Samantha had “fallen out,” the sources said, the show still hopes Cattrall will be back for potential future installments.

Contributions from Sophie McEvoy, Savannah Walsh, Kay Leong, Jack Irvin, Emlyn Travis, Jordyn Tilchen, and Shannon Barbour.