Sex and the City is returning for a new series - but why won't Kim Cattrall be involved?

It was one of the most popular TV shows of the late 90s and early 00s, scooping multiple Emmy and Golden Globe awards.

Now Sex and the City is officially making its return.

A new series titled ‘And Just Like That’ was confirmed by star Sarah Jessica Parker, who released a “trailer” featuring a New York backdrop on her Instagram account.

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Words typed out by her character read “and just like that .. the story continues”, and the US actress wrote next to the trailer: “I couldn’t help but wonder… where are they now?”

Here is everything you need to know.

What will happen in the new series?

Sarah Jessica Parker, Cynthia Nixon and Kristin Davis will all return to star in new series, And Just Like That.

Fans will see Carrie, Miranda and Charlotte in the “even more complicated reality of life and friendship in their 50s”.

The series is based on the book Sex And The City by Candice Bushnell, and the original TV series created by Darren Star. It “will follow 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.”

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Sarah Aubrey, HBO’s head of original content, said: “I grew up with these characters, and I can’t wait to see how their story has evolved in this new chapter, with the honesty, poignancy, humour and the beloved city that has always defined them.”

Further casting details are yet to be announced.

The original six-season show ran between 1998 and 2004, following the lives of Carrie (Parker), Samantha (Kim Cattrall), Charlotte (Davis) and Miranda (Nixon) as they struggled through the world of dating.

Why is Kim Cattrall not returning?

Cattrall has previously claimed the cast of the hit show were "never friends" (Photo: Dan Callister/Liaison)Cattrall has previously claimed the cast of the hit show were "never friends" (Photo: Dan Callister/Liaison)
Cattrall has previously claimed the cast of the hit show were "never friends" (Photo: Dan Callister/Liaison)

Despite the show’s return, one central character won’t be making an appearance: it's been revealed that Kim Cattrall – who played promiscuous PR worker Samantha – isn’t involved in the reboot.

Rumours of a rift with Parker were fuelled in 2017, when Cattrall said the cast were “never friends” and that Parker “could have been nicer” after Cattrall turned down another movie.

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Cattrall also later criticised Parker for reaching out when her brother Christopher Cattrall died, writing on Instagram: “I don’t need your love or support at this tragic time Sarah Jessica Parker.”

Catrall’s indifference put plans for a third big screen outing for the foursome on hold; it was reported in 2018 that she did not want to appear when she learned of a storyline involving her character receiving nude images from Miranda's teenage son.

The actor later cleared up any rumours, saying she decided again signing on for the third film because she had gone “past the finish line" of portraying Samantha, due to her love of the series.

"It was a blessing in so many ways but after the second movie I’d had enough,” she told The Guardian. “I couldn’t understand why they wouldn’t just replace me with another actress instead of wasting time bullying. No means no.”

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Parker later said she was “not sure if I can imagine doing another movie without her”, and expressed disappointment that a third film would not be made, but later said in an interview that she respected Cattrall’s decision to say no.

“I’d just like to remind everybody that there is no catfight,” Parker told Vulture. “I have never uttered an unkind, unsupportive, unfriendly word, so I would love to redefine it.

Now she has told a fan on Instagram: “Samantha isn’t part of this story. But she will always be part of us, no matter where we are or what we do.”

When can I watch it?

The 10-episode series will begin production in New York in the late spring.

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That means it may be at least a year until fans are able to see it for themselves.

In the US, it will be available through HBO Max – fitting, as the original show is credited with helping to increase HBO's popularity as a network – while in the UK it is likely to be broadcast on Sky Atlantic due to Sky’s exclusivity deal with HBO.

A version of this article originally appeared on our sister title, the Yorkshire Evening Post