Fans of Sex and the City are eagerly awaiting the third season of its spin-off, And Just Like That..., which will return later this year with both familiar and fresh faces. The beloved characters Carrie Bradshaw (Sarah Jessica Parker), Miranda Hobbes (Cynthia Nixon), and Charlotte York Goldenblatt (Kristin Davis) are back, but this time they will be joined by Broadway icon Patti LuPone among other newcomers.
Michael Patrick King, the executive producer of the series, announced LuPone's casting, stating she will have "an arc on our show this season," according to reports from Entertainment Weekly. Fans are also set to see Kathy, the ex-wife of Aidan (John Corbett), played by Rosemarie Dewitt, with a larger role this season. King expressed, "It’s a lot of ‘new’ within the familiar, but even the familiar characters are going through new things." He elaborated, noting how both Carrie and Miranda have new apartments.
Development for And Just Like That... began back in December 2020, and HBO Max gave the series a straight-to-series order by January 2021. It premiered the following year but was thrown slightly off balance by the absence of Samantha Jones, played by Kim Cattrall, who opted not to return for the spin-off.
Despite mixed reviews from critics, with many audiences claiming it paled compared to the original series, the spin-off captured the hearts of loyal Sex and the City fans eager to see their favorite characters navigate the complex facets of life well past their 30s. The first season, initially planned as a standalone mini-series, saw a successful second season announced just one month after its conclusion.
While the excitement builds for the new season, it has also been confirmed via interviews with Michael Patrick King, both Che Diaz (Sara Ramírez) and Nya Wallace actress Karen Pittman will not be returning, leaving room for new talent such as Mehcad Brooks, Rosie O'Donnell, Cheri Oteri, Jonathan Cake, and Logan Marshall-Green. The third season is said to focus on new challenges and stories for the characters, indicating significant character growth and evolution.
During the season, Carrie will explore her relationship with Aidan, which has recently taken on new dimensions following their five-year break. King has promised more depth this time around, stating, "I have no interest in torturing an audience too much. It’s interesting when you have Carrie Bradshaw, who has to figure out how to make this work when everyone has a past." Expect to see insights from Carrie’s perspective as she writes about her experiences, as King mentioned the return of her voiceover—a cherished aspect fans missed. King explained, "For the first two seasons of And Just Like That, I took the voiceover away because I didn’t think she knew what she was feeling. She’s starting to feel things again... it’s almost a direct, intimate conversation with the viewer."
Alongside Carrie, significant arcs are expected for her friends Miranda, Seema Patel (Sarita Choudhury), Lisa Todd Wexley (Nicole Ari Parker), and Anthony (Mario Cantone) as they also navigate their challenges. King has hinted at numerous new loves and unforeseen obstacles influencing the characters' growth and development.
The anticipation surrounding the show is palpable, with fans curious about the creative directions the series will take. With familiar characters facing new life stages and challenges, And Just Like That... season three aims to deliver fresh experiences against the backdrop of beloved old narratives.