Cast of And Just Like That…: Seasons 1-3 Cast & Drama

Friendship on set doesn’t always survive the credits. For the cast of And Just Like That…, the question of whether Sarah Jessica Parker and Kim Cattrall ever really got along became its own story—one that played out across tabloids, talk shows, and ultimately shaped whether Samantha Jones would ever return to Carrie Bradshaw’s life.

Lead Actress: Sarah Jessica Parker as Carrie Bradshaw ·
Seasons Aired: 3 (2021-2025) ·
Core Original Cast: Cynthia Nixon, Kristin Davis ·
Notable Absence: Kim Cattrall as Samantha Jones ·
Episodes: 20+

The table below summarizes key production details for the And Just Like That… cast and series.

Why is Samantha not part of Just Like That?

Kim Cattrall’s Samantha Jones never appeared as a full cast member in And Just Like That…. The actress publicly rejected the revival, citing years of tension with co-star Sarah Jessica Parker that she said dated back to the original Sex and the City run.

Kim Cattrall’s real-life feud with Sarah Jessica Parker

The rupture between Cattrall and Parker traces to money disputes during Sex and the City production. Parker became executive producer before season 2, a role that bumped her salary to $300,000 per episode, while Cattrall renegotiated her own contract in response (Business Insider). By December 2004, Cattrall cited salary disagreements as part of why Sex and the City ended after six seasons (RadarOnline).

The conflict didn’t end there. Crew members reported that tension persisted through the movie years, with other cast members reportedly not sitting with Cattrall at mealtimes during 2004-2008 (Elle). In May 2008, The Telegraph reported long-standing salary tensions between Cattrall and her co-stars.

Why don’t Kim Cattrall and SJP get along?

The feud between Cattrall and Parker escalated beyond professional disagreements into deeply personal territory. Their public rift shaped not only the original series’ movies but ultimately prevented a full And Just Like That… reunion.

Timeline of the feud

Parker’s initial public defense of Cattrall in 2004 seemed to suggest unity. She told reporters “we are all friends” and no one should vilify Cattrall for mentioning money (Elle). However, the relationship deteriorated steadily.

When a third Sex and the City movie was planned, Cattrall reportedly rejected a storyline involving her character receiving unwanted images from Miranda’s son. She announced via tweet in September 2017 that her only “demand” for the film was not to make it (Elle). The third movie was canceled that September, with Parker calling it “heartbreaking” (Business Insider).

The feud reached its lowest point after Cattrall’s brother died in 2018. Parker posted condolences on Instagram, and Cattrall accused her of “exploiting” the tragedy (RadarOnline). Parker responded on Watch What Happens Live, calling Cattrall’s “never been friends” comment “very upsetting” (RadarOnline).

The implication: by the time And Just Like That… launched in 2021, both actors had accumulated years of public grievances that made a full reconciliation onscreen nearly impossible.

Why was Big killed off in Just Like That?

Chris Noth’s Mr. Big was killed off in season 1 of And Just Like That…, removing Carrie Bradshaw’s onscreen husband just as the revival began. Noth later addressed his exit from the series.

Chris Noth’s exit reasons

Noth’s character John Preston “Big” Specter died in the first season’s penultimate episode, hit by a heart attack while on a Peloton ride after reconciling with Carrie. While the show’s writers crafted this narrative decision, Noth spoke about being removed from the series.

Reports indicated Noth’s axing came as the series moved forward without him. Noth later reflected on the departure in subsequent interviews.

The catch: with Big gone, the show could explore Carrie’s grief and growth, but it also meant losing one of the original series’ most iconic pairings.

Who was Carrie Bradshaw’s true love?

Carrie Bradshaw’s romantic history spans multiple relationships throughout both Sex and the City and And Just Like That…, but the series repeatedly positioned one man as her central attachment.

Main relationships in the series

Big served as Carrie’s primary romantic interest across the original series and its two films. Their on/off relationship, marked by Big’s reluctance to commit, became the emotional throughline of Sex and the City. After his death in And Just Like That… season 1, Carrie processed her grief while navigating new connections.

The show established Big as Carrie’s defining love story, even as other figures like Aidan Shaw appeared across the revival’s three seasons.

Who turned down the role of Carrie Bradshaw?

Before Sarah Jessica Parker landed the role that would define her career, other actresses reportedly passed on the part or were considered for what became one of television’s most iconic characters.

Casting history insights

Sex and the City premiered on HBO in June 1998, launching Parker as Carrie Bradshaw in a role she would inhabit for more than two decades across the original series, films, and revival. The casting process reportedly considered multiple actresses before Parker secured the part.

Confirmed facts vs. rumors

What this means: the public narrative suggests a clear rupture, but the entertainment industry rarely operates in pure black and white. Sources with conflicting accounts, anonymous crew reports, and varying timelines make definitive conclusions difficult.

Cast timeline

Below is a chronological look at the key moments shaping the And Just Like That… cast dynamics.

The pattern: cast tensions that began as professional disputes over compensation ultimately shaped who appeared on screen decades later, demonstrating how off-screen economics can dictate on-screen storytelling.

What the cast said

“I felt after six years it was time for all of us to participate in the financial windfall of Sex and the City. When they didn’t seem keen on that, I thought it was time to move on.”

— Kim Cattrall, RadarOnline

“Never been friends” and Parker “could have been nicer.”

— Kim Cattrall, Business Insider

“Very upsetting because that’s not the way I recall our experience.”

— Sarah Jessica Parker, RadarOnline

“I don’t think I would, because there’s just too much public history of feelings on her part.”

— Sarah Jessica Parker, Cosmopolitan

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The ensemble drama, including Samantha’s feud-driven absence and Big’s exit, centers on Sarah Jessica Parker’s Carrie in the main actors and season 3 overview spanning seasons 1-3.

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