Sarah Jessica Parker says there's a "distinct line" between Samantha Jones and Kim Cattrall. After having a falling-out with Parker and the Sex and the City team, Cattrall has publicly let it be known that she has no interest in returning for And Just Like That..., the show's sequel series on HBO Max. The series moved ahead without Cattrall's involvement, though Samantha was kept around as an off-screen character who'd communicate with Parker's Carrie Bradshaw through text messaging.
Some fans might have thought keeping Samantha so involved in the story might mean Cattrall could come back in a potential second season if the actress happens to have a change of heart. This does not seem to be the case, as series creator Michael Patrick King recently said the door is closed on that possibility as there's no "realistic expectation" for Cattrall to return. Parker has backed up King's comments, recently telling Variety she doesn't really want to see Cattrall on the set of the revival series.
"I don't think I would, because I think there's just too much public history of feelings on her part that she's shared," Parker said when asked if she'd be on board with Cattrall's return. "Samantha's not gone. Samantha's present, and I think was handled with such respect and elegance. She wasn't villainized. She was a human being who had feelings about a relationship, so I think we found a way to address it which was necessary and important for people that loved her."
Kim Cattrall Parted Ways With Her Sex and the City Co-Stars Years Ago
After a TV series and two movies, there were plans to bring all of the Sex and the City stars back together for a third movie. During negotiations, Kim Cattrall made it clear that she wanted no part of the franchise anymore and departed the project. Without Kattrall, the film was shelved as it didn't feel right for the rest of the team to make another movie without all four leads. Eventually, as we know now, everyone saw the potential in continuing as a revival series on HBO Max without Cattrall.
"We didn’t go to Kim for this, you know," Parker said. "After we didn’t do the movie and the studio couldn’t meet what she wanted to do, we have to hear her and listen to her and what was important to her. It didn’t fit into what was important or needed for us. There’s a very distinct line between Samantha and Kim. Samantha’s not gone. Samantha’s present, and I think was handled with such respect and elegance. She wasn’t villainized. She was a human being who had feelings about a relationship, so I think we found a way to address it which was necessary and important for people that loved her.”
Another actor who is no longer involved with the series is Chris Noth. After briefly appearing in the series premiere before his character was killed off, Noth was publicly accused of assault and a planned appearance in the series finale was axed. As for whether the show will continue, And Just Like That... hasn't yet been officially renewed, but fans and the show's cast and crew are hopeful that it will. You can watch the first season on HBO Max.