Warning: This article contains major spoilers for the season finale of And Just Like That…’.
For the And Just Like That… die-hard fans among us, it’s assumed knowledge that the reboot’s season finale has already been watched (and probably rewatched more than once by now).
As we process the first season’s final episode, fans might remember a certain scene that gave us hope for the return of Samantha Jones, and in turn, Kim Cattrall. However, Sarah Jessica Parker doesn’t want to get our hopes up.
In the episode’s final scenes, Carrie travels to Paris alone to scatter Big’s ashes into the Seine River from the Pont des Arts bridge—the very bridge that Big told Carrie she was ‘The One’ in the original show’s series finale.
Following the ash scattering, Carrie texts Samantha and asks to meet for a cocktail, which Samantha agrees to. Of course, we never see their reunion take place, so it’s not known whether it actually happened or if the former friends never met face-to-face.
It turns out, an in-person reunion is likely never going to happen despite rumours hoping otherwise.
Now, Parker has spoken to Variety to clarify that bringing Cattrall back for And Just Like That… was never considered in the first place and a future with Cattrall reprising her role as Samantha will also likely never happen.
“We didn’t go to Kim for this, you know,” she told the publication.
“After we didn’t do the movie and the studio couldn’t meet what she [Cattrall] wanted to do, we have to hear her and listen to her and what was important to her. It didn’t fit into what was important or needed for us.”
Parker also added that even if Cattrall changed her mind, she wouldn’t embrace Samantha’s in-person return to the franchise.
“I don’t think I would, because I think there’s just too much public history of feelings on her part that she’s shared,” Parker said, seemingly referring to their former disagreements.
“I haven’t participated in or read articles, although people are inclined to let me know.”
Parker continued: “There’s a very distinct line between Samantha and Kim. Samantha’s not gone. Samantha’s present, and I think was handled with such respect and elegance.”
“She wasn’t villainised. She was a human being who had feelings about a relationship, so I think we found a way to address it which was necessary and important for people that loved her,” she explained.
And Just Like That… showrunner Michael Patrick King agreed with Parker, confirming that Cattrall was never asked to participate “because she’s said what she had said”.
“Magically thinking, it’s great to have Samantha,” he explained, adding, “[But] I have no realistic expectation of Kim Cattrall ever appearing again”.
Despite her feelings toward Cattrall’s return, Parker did reveal that she found Carrie and Samantha’s friendship “really valuable”, and that their characters’ post-finale chat was comforting.
“I think that the conversation was grown up. I think it was a détente,” she said. “I think it allows for comfort on all sides.”
Currently, a second season of And Just Like That… is yet to be confirmed, however Parker did reveal that she “feels like there’s momentum” for another chapter.
In the meantime, you can rewatch (and re-cry over) season one (and the documentary) of And Just Like That…on BINGE now.
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