Sex And The City is returning to our screens, and not in a disastrous film format where Carrie and her gal pals end up in Bora Bora mid-mid-life crises, but in an actual television series where Mrs. Bradshaw has transcended her iconic main-character status to become a podcaster.
The news originally came from Deadline, who confirmed via HBO in late December and will see almost all original cast members return to their roles in the show, titled And Just Like That. Sarah Jessica Parker, Cynthia Nixon, and Kristin Davis will return, however Kim Cattrall - who allegedly had some rather hefty beef with Parker - will not.
Back in September 2020, Parker spoke about the sequel to Hocus Pocus, telling Entertainment Tonight, "I think to do some episodes of Sex and the City, I wouldn't call it a reboot, I would call it a ‘revisit.’”
“I’d like to see where all of them are,” she continued. “I’m curious. The world has changed even since the movie. I mean, the world has changed so much; technology and social media. Those characters never talked about social media, which I think would be really interesting, and also sexual politics and the #MeToo movement. I think Carrie Bradshaw would just be so greedy to share her feelings and thoughts.” We too can't help but wonder, will Carrie have changed with the world progressing? We finally have an idea, with the official trailer having just been released ahead of its premiere on HBO on December 9.
Watch the trailer below, alongside everything you need to know about the Sex and the City reboot, And Just Like That.
Who will star in And Just Like That?
As mentioned, Sarah Jessica Parker, Cynthia Nixon, and Kristin Davis will all return for the reboot, with the heartbreaking absence of the show's best character, Samantha Jones (played by Kim Cattrall). As a vague explanation on her absence, HBO's president of programming, Casey Bloys, said that the network isn't "trying to re-do" Sex and the City. "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." he explained, "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."
Apparently, Samantha’s absence will be addressed in the first episode. Bloys, however, has noted that she will not be killed off, rather replaces with not one, not two, but three entirely new women. The women in question, have been confirmed as Sarita Choudhury, Nicole Ari Parker, and Karen Pittman joining the cast. Earlier this year, TVLine reported that the And Just Like That writers were "dramatically expanding Carrie, Miranda and Charlotte's social circle" with a number new characters, which explains the addition of cast members like Grey's Anatomy star Sara Ramirez, who will play Che Diaz, a non-binary stand-up comedian who hosts a podcast that regularly features Carrie Bradshaw. "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." executive producer Michael Patrick King told Deadline.
Alongside the new cast members, old flames will return. It has been confirmed that Chris Noth will return as Mr. Big, alongside David Eigenberg as Steve Brady; John Corbett, as Carrie's ex-fiancé, Aidan Shaw; Mario Cantone as Anthony Marentino; Willie Garson as Standford Blatch; and Evan Handler as Harry Goldenblatt.
To our dismay, the iconic and over-the-top Sex and the City costume designer, Patricia Field won't be returning for And Just Like That due to time conflicts with the season 2 filming of Emily In Paris, alongside other projects.
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What will And Just Like That? be about?
According to Deadline, 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."
When the show was first announced, Parker shared an Instagram teaser, with the caption "I couldn't help but wonder... where are they now?" channeling Carrie Bradshaw's signature writing style. "Anything is possible....Meet you there!" wrote Davis, while Nixon, who plays Miranda Hobbes, posted, "You, me, New York...anything is possible."
As far as extra details, if there was ever a concern that the upcoming reboot wouldn't be rooted in 'real life', Parker revealed to Vanity Fair that the COVID-19 pandemic will definitely feature as part of the show's storyline. "Obviously [the pandemic] will be part of the storyline, because that's the city [these characters] live in," shared the actress. "And how has that changed relationships once friends disappear? I have great faith that the writers are going to examine it all." She said.
However, with the hope that Carrie's character has become less self-involved over the years, we are getting hints that perhaps not too much has changed, with the news that a small script from Just Like That has been leaked, and Mr. Big has continued to act like the elusive, uncommunicative nuisance he is. In the leaked script, Carrie complains, “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?” she says to Stanford, Miranda and Charlotte. It begs the question, has Mr.Big been a big fat cheater? Or is Carrie referring to his previous spouses from the previous years on the show? After Big's ex, Natasha, played by Bridget Moynahan, was peeped on set, it reeks of adultery!
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When will And Just Like That be released?
In a new teaser for the forthcoming Sex and the City reboot, And Just Like That, it announces that the show’s premiere date will be December 9 2021 - basically tomorrow!
Watch all of the teaser trailers that have been released so far, below.
