It’s the drama that never dies, and we’re not talking about Carrie Bradshaw’s love life. No, the real saga playing out behind the scenes of Sex and the City and its reboot And Just Like That has everything to do with the long-standing feud between Sarah Jessica Parker and Kim Cattrall. And if you were hoping for a full-on Samantha Jones comeback in season three, you might want to temper those expectations.
Despite Kim Cattrall’s much-hyped return in the season two finale, fans were left with a mere 74-second cameo that, while iconic, did little to satisfy those craving more Samantha sass. And now, with season three on the horizon, she’s nowhere to be found in the trailer, and sources are saying that’s exactly how the rest of the cast and crew prefer it.
According to insiders who spoke to Closer, not having Kim involved this season has been a “big relief,” especially for SJP. One source dished, “She feels the show stands on its own and the friendships are still worth following even without Samantha. She’s very clear they don’t feel they need her to succeed.”
Kim Cattrall’s Samantha was a fan favorite throughout the original run from 1998 to 2004. Her bold one-liners, unapologetic sexuality, and ride-or-die loyalty made her unforgettable. So, it’s not surprising that some fans are worried her absence could hurt the show. One source noted, “No matter how much everyone that worked on [the show] loves it, they need the big streaming numbers to feel it’s a real success.
Sarah Jessica Parker and Kim Cattrall Still Feuding
If the ratings aren’t there when they launch, that will change things dramatically. For now, everyone is on board with this new direction. But if the worst happens and it flops, it’ll be humiliating because it will absolutely be blamed on the fact that they don’t have Kim.”
Behind the scenes, things have been icy for a long time. Their feud reportedly started all the way back in 2004 when the original show wrapped. Kim was vocal about being paid less than Sarah and decided it was time to move on. Things escalated with whispers that the other women on set “wouldn’t even sit with [Kim] at mealtimes.” Kim kept it real, saying, “Are we the best of friends? No. We’re professional actresses. We have our own separate lives.”
It went nuclear years later when Kim’s brother tragically passed away, and SJP posted a condolence message on Instagram. Kim wasn’t having it. She clapped back hard, writing, “Your continuous reaching out is a painful reminder of how cruel you really were then and now. Let me make this VERY clear (If I haven’t already). You are not my family. You are not my friend.”
And while Sarah hasn’t been as vocal about the feud, she has hinted at the difficulties of working on the original SATC set. On Kristin Davis’ podcast Are You A Charlotte?, she reflected, “It isn’t always the case that people fold into each other so beautifully.” She also talked about how grueling the filming schedule was, with “80, 100-hour weeks for years on end,” adding, “It was like this thing that we all shared. But yeah, it’s problematic for a family life.”
Cattrall Had a Cameo on And Just Like That in Season 2
So, while Kim was reportedly paid a cool $1 million for that blink-and-you-miss-it cameo last season (which she filmed separately from everyone else, by the way), it seems that chapter is firmly closed. The rest of the cast is pressing forward without her, and they don’t seem too concerned about backlash.
Still, for fans who fell in love with the fabulous foursome, it’s hard not to feel like something’s missing. Whether And Just Like That can truly thrive without Samantha Jones remains to be seen—but if it flops, we all know who’s getting the blame.
Kenna Raye 
Sofia Bassett 
