Warning: This article contains Sex and the City and And Just Like That... spoilers
And Just Like That..., season two of Sex and the City's reboot series is finally here. Sarah Jessica Parker revealed the news in September 2022 by posting an image of the script on her Instagram page. The 57-year-old actor shared a snap of the cover page for the script, identifying it was for 'episode 201', but she didn't give too much away as the title was scribbled out.
On March 21, 2022 HBO Max confirmed a renewal of the popular spin off for a second season. Showrunner King gave excited fans the news via a statement to The Hollywood Reporter: 'I am delighted and excited to tell more stories about these vibrant, bold characters — played by these powerful, amazing actors.
'The fact is, we're all thrilled. And Just Like That our Sex life is back.'
The 10-episode first series injected some much-needed frivolity and Fendi baguette bags into our lives when it landed on HBO in December 2021.
Parker's co-star Sara Ramirez, 47 also posted about the second season of show being in production.
She previously shared a photo of scripts and guidelines, and simply wrote: 'Shhhhh…. [sic]' in an accompanying caption. The photo was seemingly taken at a cast table read, as she had a name card for season two with her character's name, Che. The series' costume designers also revealed that preparations for the upcoming season had begun.
In 2021, actors Sarah Jessica Parker, Cynthia Nixon and Kristin Davis announced they were starring in a follow-up series to their hit Nineties and Noughties drama, which ended with their respective characters settling down with Mr. Big (Carrie Bradshaw), Steve Brady (Miranda Hobbes) and Harry Goldenblatt (Charlotte York).
In the first series, written by Michael Patrick King, Bradshaw is seen navigating life as a single fifty-something following the death of Big, Hobbes splits from Brady to move to Los Angeles with her non-binary comedian partner Che Diaz, and York navigates parenting two children with her ever adorable partner. While Kim Cattrall declined to participate in the project, her character Samantha Jones is referred to numerous times during the reboot, and now lives in London.
While some SATC fans have praised the new show for its progressiveness, addressing issues like gender identity, racial sensitivities, sexuality and ageing head-on, others have criticised it for its sometimes clumsy attempt to push a ‘woke’ agenda. ‘We can’t just stay who we were, right? There are more important issues in the world,’ Hobbes tells her human rights law professor in one of the earlier episodes.
The second season of the sequel also debuted to lower viewing figures than its predecessor. Season one of AJLT averaged 1.1 million households during the live-plus-three-day viewing period, according to data provided by Samba TV, which measures TV engagement. Season two’s debut episode was watched by 463,000 households during the same period, a decrease of 59%.
The reboot also hasn’t been without its controversy, not only for Cattrall's refusal to take part in the first season, but also with scenes involving actor Chris Noth (Mr Big) being removed as a result of allegations of sexual misconduct coming out soon after episode one of AJLT… aired. Noth has denied all the accusations.
But in true SATC fashion, the sequel's wardrobe continues to thrill. Fans were treated in the first season to larger-than-life tangerine Valentino SS19 couture gowns, a traditional maroon lehenga by Falguni and Shane Peacock and a powder blue bodycon Norma Kamali dress that was almost identical (if not for the colour) to Carrie’s black mini dress in the second season of Sex and the City.
Grab your tutu skirts and Manolo Blahniks and read on to find out everything you need to know about AJLT… season two:
What do we know about Kim Cattrall's appearance in And Just Like That… season two?
We never thought we'd see the day but for Sex and the City and And Just Like That... fans, Cattrall will reprise her role as Samantha Jones in the season two finale of the AJLT second season.
According to sources close to the show, the actor will only appear in once scene and she shot her dialogue in March 2023 in NYC, without her former co-stars present, nor the show's showrunner. Variety reports that in the scene, Samantha, who we previously learned is now living in London, will have a phone conversation with Carrie and the two make a plan to see each other to reconcile. Sex and the City costume designer Patricia Field, who hasn't been working on And Just Like That..., dressed Cattrall for her scene.
In a recent interview on The View, Cattrall said of her return to the show: 'It’s very interesting to get a call from the head of HBO saying 'What can we do?' And one of those things was to get Pat Field because, you know, if I’m going to come back, I’ve got to come back with that Samantha style, I’ve got to push it — and we did.'
Previously speaking of a potential return to the series in an interview with Variety, Cattrall revealed that she turned down the initial series multiple times before agreeing to join as her character Samantha.
'I turned it down three times. I didn’t think I could do it,' she said. 'At 42, I really didn’t think I could pull it off. I finally said, "You're making a mistake here." We did the pilot — it was good but it wasn't there.
'And then it started to find its way. I realised, because I’d never done a series before, the more you play the character, like in theatre, the more you add to it and change. I remember one day, a laugh came out, and I thought, "Holy s**t, that’s great. Sam just got a new laugh."'
As for watching the spin-off show continue without her, she noted: 'It’s odd, isn’t it? I don’t know how to feel about it. This feels like an echo of the past.'
This doesn't take away from the joy she felt playing her SATC character previously.
She explained: 'Other than the really wonderful feeling of — it’s rare in my business — people wanting more, especially at 65. That feels powerful, that I’ve left something behind that I’m so proud of. I loved her. I loved her so, so, so much. It’s tough competition. The original show is in all of our imaginations. But for me, it feels clean.'
She also spoke of being unaware about Parker saying she 'wouldn’t be OK’ with Cattrall returning to the show. 'I don't think I read it,' she said. 'It wouldn't happen anyway, so nobody has to worry about that.'
Elsewhere in the interview, Cattrall revealed: 'I was never asked to be part of the reboot and found out about it like everyone else did — on social media.' She admitted to being heartbroken over a storyline intended for the the series' potential third movie, which was pitched to her, involving a sexting plot line between Samantha and Miranda's son Brady, 14.
She deemed it to be the reason she quit her SATC character.
Cattrall added: 'It’s a great wisdom to know when enough is enough. I also didn’t want to compromise what the show was to me. The way forward seemed clear.'
While she wasn't fond of the proposed plot line for the third movie, Cattrall toyed with the idea of it involving Samantha's 'financial woes', in relation to the 'tough' 2008 recession and having to sell her PR company 'to some guy who's wearing a hoodie'. What a plot line that would be.
In a recent comment on Instagram, Cattrall showed her amusement regarding her refusal to take part in a third Sex And The City film. On an Instagram post, which showed a photo of Shakira wearing a trench coat emblazoned with the word “NO”, alongside a caption saying: 'Kim Cattrall after reading the SEX AND THE CITY 3 script,' the actor commented saying 'Ha!!!'
When previously asked whether Cattrall could appear in a future season of And Just Like That..., if it was to be commissioned, Bloys said: ‘I don’t think [she’d return]. I think they handled it really sensitively and really well. I don’t expect to have those conversations.’
In the opening scenes of And Just Like That... season one, Parker, Hobbes and York Goldenblatt tell character Bitsy von Muffling that Jones is living in London ‘for work’, and later touch on how the move came as a result of a dispute with the trio.
Discussing how Jones is dealt with in the show, Nixon told us in 2021: ‘I really love it, I think it's great - the way we address it, head on.'
‘We reveal that there are layers to it. There’s what you tell casual acquaintances is the situation, and then when you're left alone and discuss it amongst yourselves, we get to a deeper level of sadness and confusion about it. We love this character, and we want to show great respect for her.’
Who will make up the cast of And Just Like That season two?
Show creator King confirmed to Entertainment Weekly in May 2023 that Candice Bergen, who plays Carrie’s Vogue editor Enid Frick in the SATC series, will reprise her role for season two of AJLT.
King enthused: ‘Candice Bergen is back as Enid, which we're thrilled about because I always loved Enid. She is a cold, wonderful diva of publishing.’
In addition trailblazing feminist and political activist Gloria Steinem will be playing herself.
English singer Sam Smith has been confirmed as a guest star in the series, after he teased in February that he was ‘up to something unholy’ on the set of the series.
At the time, he shared behind-the-scenes images from the season two set in New York.
King added: ‘Then there's some treats, which I'm not gonna tell you. There's a couple of surprises every now and then.'
Aside from Corbett's shock return to the Sex And The City world, we can confirm that the majority of the OG season one cast will also feature in the upcoming series.
King also previously confirmed that Sara Ramirez's polarising character Che Diaz will also return. 'I want to show the dimension of Che that people didn't see, for whatever reason — because they were blinded, out of fear or terror,' he explained. 'I want to show more of Che rather than less of Che. Like, really.'
What will happen in the And Just Like That… season two plot?
Your guess is as good as ours, but it’s likely season one just touched on the surface of the protagonist’s complex relationships.
If we could dream up the second season, Patel and club owner Z, who began dating at the end of season one, would still be together (yet enjoying the occasional open relationship jaunt) and taking over the New York City social scene, one Old Fashioned at a time.
Despite enjoying a passionate kiss with her podcast producer Franklyn (Ivan Hernandez), Bradshaw would be back on the dating scene and writing yet another book, while York Goldenblatt and her husband would be loved-up as ever and coming to terms with their daughters beginning to date.
Diaz and Hobbes will likely have split up, given the comedian’s admission that they don’t want to follow conventional dating tropes, while Brady (Steve, not his and Hobbes’ teenage son, FYI) will be in a relationship with a younger bar tender in Brooklyn and still enjoying his movie nights and ice cream toppings.
Now, we must emphasise, that none of the above has been confirmed – but there's no harm in dreaming, right? In fact, one of the only plot points that has indeed been confirmed (albeit vaguely) is that Carrie's GBFF Stanford Blatch will be honoured in season two.
Willie Garson, who played Blatch throughout the SATC series and films, sadly passed away aged 57 in September 2021. He was set to have his own big storyline in the And Just Like That season one, but his story was tragically cut short as his health began to decline.
Mario Cantone, who played Garson's partner Anthony Marentino, revealed in a recent interview with E! News that season two will keep Garson's memory alive. 'We miss him terribly. We really do,' Cantone said. 'He's definitely talked about in the next season. We keep him alive. I miss him a lot.'
AJLT star Sarita Choudhury, who plays Carrie's realtor-turned-friend Seema Patel, has also spoken about what we can expect from the second season. In a recent interview with Page Six, the 56-year-old actress said that season two, which has almost finished filming, will be 'very different from Season 1'.
Though she kept understandably tight-lipped on the details, Choudhury teased that the upcoming series will be 'funnier' and spoke about John Corbett's return. '[The excitement] makes sense,' she said. 'I would also be like that. When you think about it, he’s back?! I’d never met him so I was kind of like a fan as well, you know what I mean?' she continued. 'He’s great, he’s a great guy.'
Meanwhile, actor Evan Handler who plays Charlotte's husband Harry Goldenblatt, shared a photo on Instagram from behind the scenes of season two and hinted at what fans can expect to see in the upcoming series.
'On Monday night, I turned and looked back at the 6 months I'd just finished filming Season 2 of "And Just Like That,"' wrote Handler. 'For all of those who loved or hated Season 1, here's what I can tell you about Season 2: "Sex and the City" is back. You heard it here.'
Not only do Handler's comments suggest that filming has wrapped on the SATC reboot, meaning we could be graced with season two sooner than planned – but also that the show will be back in all its original Noughties glory. We already know about Carrie and Aidan's much-anticipated reunion, but does that mean the fab four could finally be back together again too? Only time will tell!
Is it true that John Corbett will be reprising his role as Carrie’s ex-fiancé Aidan Shaw in And Just Like That... season two?
It had previously been reported that John Corbett's character Aidan Shaw could be revived for season two of And Just Like That... after all. A report from Deadline, published in August 2022, sparked speculation that Bradshaw's loveable ex-fiancé Shaw might make a return.
And finally, our questions (and prayers) have been answered. In January 2023, Parker seemed to confirm that Corbett will indeed return in And Just Like That season two, posting not one but five photos to Instagram of herself and the actor holding hands on set. Her caption cryptically read, 'Shh. Don’t tell anyone.'
Naturally, fans absolutely lost their minds. While rumours about Aidan's return have been circling for months, the images showing him and Carrie Bradshaw holding hands seem to confirm that not only will he return to the series – but that the two might even rekindle their historic, ill-fated romance.
But, show creator King revealed in a May 2023 interview with People that the both of them are single when season two starts. While AJLT watchers knew Carrie had been single since the sudden death of her longtime love and husband, Mr. Big, in season one, there was speculation as to whether Aidan was also single.
After all, the The Sex and the City 2 movie revealed Aidan was a father-of-three with his fellow furniture designer wife Kathy.
King told People: ‘I started season two knowing I was bringing Aidan back, and I felt very strongly about that.’
Aidan was seen briefly at the end of the teaser trailer released in April.
King added that he 'felt very strongly about’ killing off Mr. Big in season one. Without giving away too much detail about Carrie and Aidan’s reunion, King teased: 'I would not make Carrie Bradshaw a home-wrecker. That's the biggest leak I can give you. That's not the story.
'The story is [they're] open for business. They're both single. You know how she's single. You don't know how Aidan's single.’
Speaking with Extra during the launch of the New York flagship for her SJP shoes collection in February 2023, Sarah Jessica Parker previously revealed further details of Corbett's return to the series. 'He brings a lot of joy,' she said. 'He's a kind of preternaturally happy person and he's so excited to be back.'
At the time, the actor kept things relatively vague about the storyline. 'It's an amazing story that [executive producer King] and the writers have sorted out,' she explained. 'I think it will be really meaningful to the audience who feel a lot of affection for him.' Interesting...
'I can't say anything except, it's just really great to be in his company again,' continued Parker. 'And to have a storyline that is also happy and fun and familiar, but new because it's been 10, 15... years.'
Photos of the duo filming on set included one showing Corbett's Aidan and Parker's Carrie kissing on the streets of New York City and outside Carrie's iconic apartment too.
In November 2022, Parker stunned her SATC fans when she was spotted dashing around New York City wearing her iconic Vivienne Westwood wedding gown from the first SATC film.
While filming the second instalment of AJLT, she stepped out in the West Village wearing the corseted, full-skirted gown that will forever be remembered as the dress Carrie Bradshaw wore in the movie's infamous jilted bride scene.
A photo of her stepping off a trailer was shared to the official AJLT Instagram page, with the accompanying caption: 'Déjà vu?'
Fans have since flocked to the comments section to share their shock. 'What’s happeningggggggg [sic],' wrote one person. 'This dress just upped the ante AGAIN [sic],' commented another.
A third asked a question that's on all of our minds: 'Is she marrying Aidan?!' - who fans will know is her loveable ex-boyfriend she ended up kissing in the second SATC film, and whose character is set to return for AJLT season two.
Is there an And Just Like That… season two trailer?
Yes, a teaser trailer was released in April 2023, which you can watch at the top of this article.
And Just Like That ... is now available to watch on HBO Max.
We will continue updating this article as more information comes in.
And Just Like That Premiere: All The Best Looks From The SATC Reboot's Cast
Katie O'Malley is the Site Director on ELLE UK. On a daily basis you’ll find Katie managing all digital workflow, editing site, video and newsletter content, liaising with commercial and sales teams on new partnerships and deals (eg Nike, Tiffany & Co., Cartier etc), implementing new digital strategies and compiling in-depth data traffic, SEO and ecomm reports. In addition to appearing on the radio and on TV, as well as interviewing everyone from Oprah Winfrey to Rishi Sunak PM, Katie enjoys writing about lifestyle, culture, wellness, fitness, fashion, and more.
Naomi May is a freelance writer and editor with an emphasis on popular culture, lifestyle and politics. After graduating with a First Class Honours from City University's prestigious Journalism course, Naomi joined the Evening Standard as its Fashion and Beauty Writer, working across both the newspaper and website. She is now the Acting News Editor at ELLE UK and has written features for the likes of The Guardian, Vogue, Vice and Refinery29, among many others.
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