The rumors are true: Sex and the City is coming back.
A 10-episode revival, titled And Just Like That..., is headed to HBO Max with members of the original cast: Sarah Jessica Parker, Cynthia Nixon, and Kristin Davis. According to past reports, Kim Cattrall won't return to reprise her role as Samantha Jones.
The stars have been teasing the show for months (they first began promoting it on social media back in January) but Parker finally helped nail down the premiere date, posting a very short clip revealing that it will come to the screen in December. "I couldn't help but wonder... where are they now?" Parker teased in an Instagram video, channeling Carrie Bradshaw's signature writing style.
"Anything is possible....Meet you there!" wrote Davis, who'll return as Charlotte York. Nixon, who plays Miranda Hobbes, posted, "You, me, New York...anything is possible."
SATC, created by Darren Star (Younger, Emily in Paris) and based on the book by Candace Bushnell, originally aired on HBO from 1998 to 2004. It was followed by a film in 2008 and sequel in 2010.
Rumors first bubbled up last December that the reboot was a possibility, although without Cattrall. The upcoming revival will focus on Carrie, Miranda, and Charlotte "as they navigate the journey from the complicated reality of life and friendship in their 30s to the even more complicated reality of life and friendship in their 50s," Deadline reported.
Here's what else we know.
Here's our first look at the series.
The official teaser trailer showcases our favorite original characters making a grand return to the screen — minus Samantha, of course.
During the 2021 Emmy Awards, HBO released a teaser of their upcoming fall programming which included our first glance at And Just Like That...
The quick clip featured Carrie Bradshaw, Miranda Hobbs, and Charlotte York together again as well as Carrie and Big embracing in their (very luxe!) kitchen and cooking together. Carrie? Cooking? We have a lot to catch up on. Watch the new clip below.
On July 9, HBO Max shared the first official photo of And Just Like That..., featuring our leading trio Cynthia Nixon as Miranda Hobbes, Sarah Jessica Parker as Carrie Bradshaw, Kristin Davis as Charlotte York.
The wardrobe looks updated for 2021 but is no less chic with Miranda in cream wide-leg pants, Carrie in a tartan skirt and platform heels, and Charlotte in a polka dot off-the-shoulder number.
"And just like that, it was day one!!" Nixon wrote while sharing the photo on Instagram.
The show will premiere on December 9, 2021.
Sarah Jessica Parker confirmed in a new video clip teasing the upcoming "next chapter" of Sex and the City that Carrie, Miranda, and Charlotte's city adventures will return to our screens this December.
Upcoming episodes are going to talk about race.
Actress Nicole Ari Parker spoke to Variety about how a more diverse cast will impact the storytelling of And Just Like That...
"I’m excited to be a part of something that’s different for them," Parker told the outlet. “We can talk about the elephant in the room that there were no fully fleshed-out characters of color, but now here’s the four of us. We’re real people, and they’ve been great to work with, and some of our [storylines] deal with race and deal with real experiences. It’s New York City!”
The cast is back on set.
On June 11, Sarah Jessica Parker shared a picture of herself along with OG Sex and the City costars Cynthia Nixon and Kristin Davis after doing read-throughs to prepare to get to work filming the revival series.
"Together again. 💜," she wrote in the photo's caption. "Read through our first episodes.
@justlikethatmax. Alongside all the fellas and our newest cast members. Like an ice cream sundae. X, SJ."
Cynthia Nixon will direct an episode.
On Instagram, the actress shared photos of herself on set and revealed that she would be in front of and behind the camera for an episode of the highly anticipated revival.
"Roll camera! 🎥 I am thrilled to share that I am directing an episode of @JustLikeThatMax this season," Nixon wrote. "It's been a complete dream to work with my beloved co-stars and crew in this new role. 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!)"
We got a hint about Samantha's absence.
HBO's president of programming, Casey Bloys, said that the network isn't "trying to re-do" Sex and the City. He explained, "They're not trying to say that these characters are reliving their 30s. It is very much a story about women in their 50s, and they are dealing with things that people deal with in their 50s."
Hinting at Samantha's absence, he added that "just as in real life, people come into your life, people leave."
Bloys continued, "Friendships fade, and new friendships start. So I think it is all very indicative of the real stages, the actual stages of life."
Mr. Big is coming back after all.
Months after Page Six reported that Chris Noth would not be reprising his role as Mr. Big, Deadline confirmed that the actor will indeed appear in the Sex and the City reboot as his beloved character.
"How could we ever do a new chapter of the Sex and the City story without our Mr. Big?" executive producer King said, echoing all our thoughts. Noth had actually "been in talks for a while," per Deadline, despite reports saying otherwise.
The actor even teased fans when rumors broke in February saying he wouldn't be in the revival. He joked to one commenter on Instagram, "Well if Page Six says it... it must be true😉." And to another, he replied, "Everything changes—including announcements in the rags."
Page Six had also reported that David Eigenberg, who plays Miranda's man, Steve Brady, also wouldn't be returning, but a rep for the actor said that he's in negotiations to make an appearance on the new show.
Aiden is coming back.
In an interview with Page Six, John Corbett confirmed that he will be returning for the revival to reprise his role as Carrie's ex-fiancé, furniture designer Aidan Shaw.
"I’m going to do the show," he said, adding that returning to the role is "very exciting."
When asked how many episodes fans can expect to see Aiden in, Corbett had very good news (for Aiden fans, anyway—not-so-much if you're so firmly Team Big that you want zero Aiden in the revival).
"I think I might be in quite a few," he said. Of the cast and crew of the long-running HBO comedy, he added, "I like all those people, they’ve been very nice to me."
Steve will return.
HBO Max announced the news on And Just Like That...'s Instagram page, confirming that David Eigenberg will reprise his role as Steve Brady. The news came months after rumors of Eigenberg's return began circulating.
The actor previously talked to Us Weekly in March 2021 of the possibility of his return. "I really love that show. I think it’s really interesting that they’ve brought it back," Eigenberg said at the time, adding that he would love to work with his onscreen wife, Cynthia Nixon, again. "[She’s] a dream to work with."
Eigenberg did point out one hesitation he has about returning to his iconic SATC role, however: It would mean playing Steve without Anne Meara, the legendary actress who played his character's mom, Mary Brady.
"That’s kind of heartbreaking because she was a dear lady and a dear friend of mine," Eigenberg said of Meara, who died in May 2015. "It’s a sad thing to go back because that character, you know, [the] lineage is gone, and Anne as a human being wouldn’t be there. It’s a strange thing, but we’ll see. … If it can work out, we may be going down that road."
The COVID-19 pandemic will play a part.
In an interview with Vanity Fair, Parker revealed that the pandemic would have an impact on And Just Like That..., which is set to start shooting in 2021. Parker told the publication that COVID-19's effect on New York City would "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."
She continued, "I think that Cynthia [Nixon], Kristin [Davis], and I are all excited about the time that has passed. You know, who are they in this world now? Have they adapted? What part have they played? Where have they fallen short as women, as friends, and how are they finding their way? Did they move with momentum? Are they like some people who are confused, threatened, nervous [by what's happening in the world]? I'm so curious and excited to see how the writers imagine these women today."
Sarita Choudhury, Nicole Ari Parker, and Karen Pittman are joining the cast.
In May 2021, TVLine reported that the SATC reboot writers were "dramatically expanding Carrie, Miranda and Charlotte's social circle" with about half a dozen new characters—three of them women of color and series regulars. Months later, we finally found out who they would be, per The Hollywood Reporter.
"Choudhury (Little Fires Everywhere, Homeland) will play Seema Patel, a self-made, powerhouse Manhattan real estate broker. Parker (Empire, Chicago PD) plays Lisa Todd Wexley, a documentarian and Park Avenue mother of three. Pittman (The Morning Show, Luke Cage) will play Dr. Nya Wallace, a brilliant and challenging professor at Columbia Law School."
Half of the writers are non-white.
King, also the showrunner, is leading the writer's room, and half of the team is non-white, TVLine also reported. Samantha Irby (Shrill, author of We Are Never Meeting in Real Life), Rachna Fruchbom (Fresh Off the Boat), and Keli Goff (Black Lightning) join King and longtime SATC writers Julie Rottenberg and Elisa Zuritsky.
King and Sarah Jessica Parker "didn’t want to tell a story with all-white writers or an all-white cast" for the revival, HBO's Casey Bloys previously said. "It’s not reflective of New York. So they are being very, very conscious about understanding that New York has to reflect the way New York looks today."
During her interview with Vanity Fair, Parker also praised the writing team for being "incredibly diverse in a really exciting way."
Samantha's longtime boyfriend, Smith Jerrod, won't be a part of the revival.
Actor Jason Lewis, who played the longtime model-turned-actor romantic companion of Kim Cattrall's Samantha Jones, confirmed that there aren't plans for his character to make a comeback on the upcoming HBO Max revival. Along with portraying Jerrod for 16 episodes during the hit series, the actor also appeared in both feature film sequels.
"I have not [been approached}, but I would be the last to know! As much as I appreciate the flattery, the conversation is about the girls," he told the Daily Front Row.
Lewis not being a part of the new reiteration also makes sense considering Cattrall's absence from the reboot as well.
Sara Ramirez is joining the cast.
Deadline reported that Grey's Anatomy star Sara Ramirez will play a new character, Che Diaz, a nonbinary stand-up comedian who hosts a podcast that regularly features Carrie Bradshaw. "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," the site reported. They would also be the first nonbinary character in the franchise, The Hollywood Reporter notes.
"Everyone at And Just Like That … is beyond thrilled that a dynamically talented actor such as Sara Ramírez has joined the Sex and the City family," King told Deadline. "Sara is a one-of-a-kind talent, equally at home with comedy and drama—and we feel excited and inspired to create this new character for the show."
Patricia Field won't be part of the reboot.
The iconic Sex and the City costume designer won't be returning for And Just Like That. Field currently has her hands full working on Season 2 of Darren Star's Emily in Paris, consulting on the Starz series Run the World, running a gallery on the Lower East Side, and more.
"The main reason was a time conflict," she told WWD of not returning to SATC. "I wasn’t able to be in New York doing that and be in Paris doing Emily in Paris. But I told them to call my very dear friend Molly Rogers, who also worked in my store back in the day. She did Sex and the City with me from start to finish. She knew it well so she’s doing it. My dance card was full."
In addition to SATC, Rogers has worked on costumes for The Devil Wears Prada and Ugly Betty.
Anthony, Harry, and Stanford are also returning.
Mario Cantone will be back as Anthony Marentino, and Evan Handler will reprise his role as Harry Goldenblatt. HBO Max has also said that Stanford Blatch will return. Willie Garson, who played him, passed away earlier this year.
The first table read has already happened.
Sarah Jessica Parker shared a sneak peek at the first And Just Like That... table read on June 11. Her script made an appearance in the snap, but unfortunately, we couldn't read what was in it.
And in a nostalgic move, Parker prepared by hit Carrie Bradshaw’s house the night before.
"Pure coincidence AND JUST LIKE THAT, we find ourselves on this street called Perry the night before it all begins again. MPK, here we go. And I’m thrilled and terrified," she wrote.
Charlotte is walking with a new dog.
Davis was seen filming a scene for the reboot with a bulldog—not Charlotte's beloved pooch, Elizabeth Taylor. What might've happened to her famous pup? Regardless of the answer, it looks like she has stayed loyal to her signature Burberry dog accessories.
A leaked script reveals a twist about Carrie and Big's relationship.
The Internet has been abuzz with news of a leaked script from And Just Like That..., which reportedly reveals that Carrie, now a podcast host, is amid a divorce from Mr. Big (Chris Noth). According to Page Six, one part reads, "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?"
And after Natasha (Bridget Moynahan), one of Big's exes, was seen on set, signs seem to further point to Carrie and Big's breakup. But we'll have to wait and watch to confirm.
Carrie and Big look cozy in a new photo.
Parker and Noth took to Instagram to share pics of Carrie and Big reunited, taken on the And Just Like That... set. One pic, shared from Parker's account, shows the couple gazing into each other's eyes, with Carrie smiling as Big holds her face. Big's wedding ring is also visible in the shot, despite previously leaked script details saying that the couple would be divorcing on the reboot.
Parker captioned the pic, "These 2. I bet they stay out late tonight. X, SJ."
Noth commented on Parker's post with several whiskey glass emojis. The actor then shared a pic of Carrie and Big from his own Instagram, with the caption "Together again!" The pic shows the couple sitting side by side, and Carrie has her arm wrapped around Big's shoulders.
Carrie's iconic tutu is getting an upgrade.
Sarah Jessica Parker shared a new video from the And Just Like That... set that makes a nod to the original series' title credits. The actor posted a video of herself twirling in an ankle-length tiered tulle skirt and two-toned Chanel booties. The booties were a familiar wardrobe item from Sex and the City, with Carrie wearing the shoes in multiple scenes in Season 6. Parker captioned the video, "Now and then. X, SJ."
The And Just Like That... costume designers also posted the video on their Instagram, with the caption, "AND…teaching us all the art of the twirl." The floaty tulle skirt seems to be the remake's upgrade of the tulle skirt that Carrie wore in the original's opening credits. The tutu has been a staple of the franchise so far, as it also made an appearance in the first Sex and the City film.
Set pictures reveal the show's first new man.
Looks like And Just Like That... will keep one of the hallmarks of the original series, a renewing cast of hot men. New pictures from the reboot's set taken September 17 show Carrie and Charlotte interacting with a new man, played by French actor and model Thomas Canestraro.
In the shots, Carrie wears a white button-down and pants, as well as a black brace on her left leg, as she holds a baguette. The new character carries an apparently hurt Carrie up the steps of her brownstone apartment, while wearing a form-fitting male romper printed with the logo "Hot Fellas Baked Goods." We're wondering if Canestraro will be sticking around for several episodes, or bring any of his fellow bakers.
See All the Photos from the <i>And Just Like That...</i> Set
Watch this space for updates.
Erica Gonzales is the Senior Culture Editor at ELLE.com, where she oversees coverage on TV, movies, music, books, and more. She was previously an editor at HarpersBAZAAR.com. There is a 75 percent chance she's listening to Lorde right now.
Amy Mackelden is a freelance writer, editor, and disability activist. Her bylines include Harper's BAZAAR, Nicki Swift, Cosmopolitan, Marie Claire, ELLE, The Independent, Bustle, Healthline, and HelloGiggles. She co-edited The Emma Press Anthology of Illness, and previously spent all of her money on Kylie Cosmetics.
Quinci LeGardye is an LA-based freelance writer who covers culture, politics, and mental health through a Black feminist lens. When she isn’t writing or checking Twitter, she’s probably watching the latest K-drama or giving a concert performance in her car.
