The Shocking Truth Behind Kim Cattrall's Absence in 'And Just Like That' Revival

The highly anticipated Sex and the City revival series, And Just Like That, has been making headlines, but with one noticeable absence. Kim Cattrall, who portrayed the beloved PR maven Samantha Jones, will not be returning for the new show. The announcement of the new chapter was made by Sarah Jessica Parker in January 2021 through an Instagram video featuring clips of New York City, leaving fans wondering where the iconic characters are now.

The actress from The Family Stone received 10 Primetime Emmy nominations during the original run of the show from 1998 to 2004. She won a trophy in 2001 for producing and another one in 2004 for her role as Carrie Bradshaw, for which she won Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series. When the revival series was announced, HBO confirmed the return of Carrie's best friends Miranda Hobbes and Charlotte York, but without the involvement of Cattrall due to her well-known feud with Parker. While some fans were disappointed by the trio's reduced number, others saw it coming.

Cattrall’s request for a salary of $1 million per episode in December 2004 led to rumors of tension, with her ultimately deciding to move on when the network didn't seem keen on meeting her demand. Parker spoke out in support of her former costar’s right to ask for more money, acknowledging that no one should be vilified for wanting a pay raise. Despite this, the rest of the cast expressed disappointment at not being able to make the movie, but also respected and supported Cattrall’s decision not to participate.

Following the news that a third Sex and the City film was cancelled, tensions between the cast reached an unprecedented boiling point nearly a decade later. Sarah Jessica Parker expressed her disappointment, but the late Willie Garson retweeted an article suggesting that Kim Cattrall was responsible for the film's demise. In September 2017, he confirmed the allegations by writing, "And that is that. And sadly, the reasons are true. Period." However, the conflict escalated to a personal level after Cattrall's brother passed away in February 2018. When Parker offered her condolences via Instagram, Cattrall publicly called her out.

On Instagram, she expressed how your continuous efforts to reach her are a painful reminder of your past and present cruelty. She firmly stated that you are neither her family nor her friend. She also warned you to stop exploiting their tragedy to regain your "nice girl" image. Despite fans' hopes for a reconciliation before the revival's production began, the Golden Globe winner did not make an appearance in the new series after its December 2021 release.

The season 2 finale of And Just Like That will feature a brief appearance by Cattrall as Samantha, as reported by Variety in May 2023. Check out what the Sex and the City cast and crew have had to say about her absence from the show below.

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Everything the ‘Sex and the City’ Cast and Crew Have Said About Kim Cattrall’s Absence in the 'And Just Like That' Revival

The highly anticipated Sex and the City revival series, And Just Like That, is down to just three of its original four leading ladies. Unfortunately, Kim Cattrall, who portrayed the iconic PR maven Samantha Jones, will not be reprising her role in the upcoming show.

Sarah Jessica Parker announced on Instagram in January 2021 that a new chapter of Sex and the City was being developed at HBO Max. She shared a video clip of New York City and posed the question, "I couldn’t help but wonder ... where are they now?" During the show's original run from 1998 to 2004, Parker was nominated for 10 Primetime Emmys and won for producing in 2001 and for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series in 2004 for her portrayal of Carrie Bradshaw.

HBO announced that Miranda Hobbes (Cynthia Nixon) and Charlotte York (Kristin Davis) would be joining the revival series, without Kim Cattrall's character. While some fans were disappointed, the absence of Cattrall didn't come as a surprise given her highly publicized feud with Sarah Jessica Parker. Speculation of tension between the two began in 2004 when Cattrall requested a salary of $1 million per episode, to which she was denied.

Parker came to the defense of her former costar's salary negotiation, emphasizing that she should not be criticized for asking for more money. Parker explained that the decision made to not make the movie had caused people to vilify Cattrall, without taking into account the disappointment felt by the rest of the cast. Despite Parker's initial support, tensions between the cast resurfaced years later when the possibility of a third film was off the table due to reasons that were confirmed to be true.

Following the death of Cattrall's brother in February 2018, the tension between the two actresses escalated from professional to personal. Parker expressed her condolences via Instagram, but Cattrall publicly called her out and accused her of exploiting their tragedy to restore her "nice girl" persona. Cattrall made it clear that Parker was neither her family nor her friend, and asked her to stop reaching out.

Despite fans' hopes for a reconciliation prior to the revival's production in spring 2021, the Golden Globe recipient did not make an appearance in the new series following its premiere in December of the same year. However, according to a report by Variety in May 2023, Cattrall is set to make a brief return as Samantha in the season 2 finale of And Just Like That, appearing in a single scene.

Keep scrolling to see everything the Sex and the City cast and crew have said about Cattrall's absence from And Just Like That:

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Kristin Davis

After news broke of Samantha's season 2 cameo, which was filmed solo, Davis weighed in on the reports that Cattrall chose not to film with her former costars.

"I cannot force anyone to change their mind, so I choose to respect their wishes instead of wasting my energy on it," said Davis in an interview with The Telegraph in June 2023. "Although I empathize with the disappointment of fans, I am unable to fix the situation as it is beyond my control.

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Darren Star

Star, the creator of Sex and the City, expressed his thoughts on how And Just Like That… dealt with the absence of Cattrall. In a July 2022 interview with SiriusXM’s Radio Andy, he acknowledged the challenge the show faced but appreciated the decision to keep her character alive and leave room for future possibilities.

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Sarah Jessica Parker

Despite the absence of Cattrall in the revival, Parker reassured fans that Samantha's presence would still be felt in the show. During an appearance on Watch What Happens Live With Andy Cohen in February 2022, Parker emphasized that while the actress playing the role had changed, the character remained an important part of the characters' lives. "People are not absent from your life if you don't want them to be," she said.

The creator, Michael Patrick King, received high praise from the actress for his handling of the plot with genuine "love and affection for that character." She went on to explain that, in her opinion, the way the situation was handled was realistic. "It reflected the ups and downs of many friendships, where there are challenges and struggles, but the desire to stay connected is too strong to simply walk away," she stated.

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Sarah Jessica Parker

Parker announced that the revival would not be introducing a replacement for Cattrall, stating that New York City would serve as the fourth character. Instead, the show will feature a host of new and interesting characters. Parker also clarified that she does not dislike Cattrall, responding to an Instagram comment that suggested otherwise. She stated that although Samantha is not part of the current storyline, she will always be a part of the show's history.

"I don't believe I would invite her to join a potential second season," Parker stated to Variety as the revival concluded in February 2022. "There has been a lot of publicized emotional baggage on her part that she has shared, which makes me hesitant. Although I have not personally read any articles, people tend to inform me. We did not approach Kim for this project. Following our decision not to proceed with the third Sex and the City film, and the studio's inability to meet her demands, it was necessary for us to listen to her and prioritize her needs. However, it did not align with what we required or deemed essential."

"There's a clear distinction between Samantha and Kim," explained Parker. "Samantha hasn't disappeared. She's still present and I believe we handled her character with utmost respect and grace. She wasn't portrayed as a villain but rather as a human being with emotions regarding her past relationship. I think we addressed this in a necessary and important way for those who cared about her."

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Chris Noth

"I am not privy to her thoughts or feelings," revealed the star of The Equalizer to The Guardian in December 2021 when asked about Cattrall's absence from the reboot. "However, I have a strong bond with SJ and the way [Cattrall] portrayed her character falls short of reality."

The actor, set to return as Mr. Big in the upcoming series, expressed his protective nature towards Parker and was displeased with Cattrall's statements about her. "I admired [Cattrall], she was exceptional in the show, and people move on for various reasons," he stated. "I am not aware of hers. I only wish this unfortunate incident had never occurred as it was a distressing and uncomfortable experience."

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Michael Patrick King

During an interview with The Hollywood Reporter in December 2021, the executive producer of And Just Like That confirmed that there were no plans to include Kim Cattrall's character in the revival. According to the producer, Cattrall did not want to reprise her role as Samantha during the production of the third movie, and the character's absence in the revival was not a result of a need to fill a void. The focus of the show remains on the lives of the three main characters and the addition of new characters to inform their stories.

King confirmed in an interview with The New York Times that none of the characters have died in the new episodes, including Stanford Blatch, played by the late actor Garson who passed away from pancreatic cancer in September 2021. King explained that he chose not to write Garson's death into the show because it wouldn't have been charming and the audience would have noticed. However, King also stated in a later interview with Variety that there is no chance of Kim Cattrall returning to the show, as she has made her stance clear. According to King, he only engages in magical thinking in fiction and has no realistic expectation of Cattrall ever appearing again.

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Candace Bushnell

Despite Kim Cattrall not returning for And Just Like That, author Candace Bushnell, who served as a loose inspiration for the original series, expressed her support for the actress's decision. In an interview with Page Six in January 2021, Bushnell stated, "Kim is a grown woman who has made a decision that I'm sure she has 10 very good reasons for, and I respect her for that. It's all good."

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Casey Bloys

Bloys, the chief content officer for HBO and HBO Max, suggested that Samantha's absence in the upcoming Sex and the City revival would be a natural reflection of the ebb and flow of friendships over time. "As you get older, friendships change, and that's a natural part of life," he explained in an interview with TVLine in February 2021. "The show is trying to be honest about what it's like to be a woman in your 50s in New York, and part of that is acknowledging that the friends you had in your 30s might not be the same friends you have in your 50s."

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Kristin Davis

During a December 2021 appearance on the Today show, Davis expressed his love for Samantha and confirmed that she will always be a part of the story in some way. He emphasized the importance of respecting her and stated that the show would never do anything to disrespect her.