“And Just Like That…” Season 3 is right here with new characters and a few acquainted faces.
Since Season 3 began filming across the metropolis in Could 2024, followers have been clutching their Manolo Blahniks, ready to seek out out which beloved characters wouldn’t be returning to the favored “Sex and the City” spinoff.
After Carrie Bradshaw (Sarah Jessica Parker), Miranda Hobbes (Cynthia Nixon), and Charlotte York (Kristin Davis) had been noticed filming a funeral scene again in June, hypothesis swirled that Miranda’s estranged husband, Steve Brady (David Eigenberg), may be the one who died.
Right here’s what we learn about who’s returning and who’s out for “AJLT” Season 3.
Warning: spoilers under:
Steve Brady
Eigenberg’s beloved character has been a part of the “Sex and the City” franchise since his first look in Season 2 of the HBO present.
The charming bartender, with out a plan for the longer term, stole Miranda’s coronary heart regardless of the fierce lawyer attempting her damndest to push him away. Over time, the pair married and welcomed a baby: Brady Hobbes, a mixture of each names.
Steve and Miranda’s marriage noticed tough instances, with him admitting within the 2008 “Sex and the City: The Movie” that he had a one-night stand. Regardless of breaking apart, she in the end forgives her husband.
Nevertheless, the couple splits in Season 1 of “AJLT,” permitting Miranda to go on a sexual quest, which is later fulfilled in a same-sex relationship.
In January, Eigenberg was noticed filming a dinner scene with Nixon in Astoria, Queens, for “AJLT,” confirming that his character will probably be featured in Season 3.
Nevertheless, it didn’t essentially debunk the fan concept of Steve’s attainable loss of life. That’s, till the casting discover for the funeral made the rounds, revealing that manufacturing was searching for background actors to painting “a row of ex-girlfriends” who could be featured within the scene, per Bustle.
Regardless of stepping out of his marriage as soon as, Steve’s coronary heart was at all times Miranda, so the exes mourning over his physique wouldn’t actually make sense.
It’s nonetheless unsure the extent of his return at this level — however Steve will probably be in Season 3.
Che Diaz
Che Diaz was the character who grabbed Miranda’s consideration in Seasons 1 and a pair of of “AJLT.”
The nonbinary comic, performed by Sara Ramirez, bought blended evaluations from followers with their poisonous but charismatic vitality.
However within the sixth episode of Season 2, Che and Miranda referred to as it quits after they realized their relentless combating would by no means finish.
The breakup left Che’s future on the present unknown — till Ramirez (who’s nonbinary in actual life and makes use of they/them pronouns) took to Instagram to assert that their character was dropped from the present as a result of “casting directors and agents are making blacklists of actors and workers who post anything in support of Palestinians and Gaza to ensure they will not work again.”
Nevertheless, manufacturing sources later dispelled these allegations, telling the Every day Mail, “Sara was not fired as a result of they assist Palestine and the ceasefire. Sara was fired as a result of Che introduced nothing to the present anymore.
“They were on the chopping block since last season. After Che split with Miranda, the character really held no value anymore and fans found them annoying. The storyline as a struggling comedian was a waste of airtime and Sara knew it.”
Nya Wallace
Miranda’s faculty professor-turned-buddy Nya Wallace (performed by Karen Pittman) is not going to be returning to Season 3.
Not like Ramirez, Pittman is out of the spinoff resulting from scheduling conflicts, as she is starring on Apple TV+’s “The Morning Show” and the forthcoming Netflix collection “Forever.”
Showing in 17 out of the mixed 22 episodes of Seasons 1 and a pair of, Max introduced Pittman’s shock departure in March.
“As we have thoroughly enjoyed working with this dynamic actress, so too have others. Due to her commitments to two other streamer series, it has become apparent that filming three shows at once isn’t possible,” the streaming web site’s assertion learn.
“Karen and Nya will be missed, and her Max family and fans will all be cheering her on in her other endeavors.”
Samantha Jones
Identified for taking part in the feisty character Samantha Jones with a male-sized urge for food for intercourse, Kim Cattrall, who as soon as made the trio (Carrie, Miranda and Charlotte) a foursome, confirmed she is not going to be in Season 3 regardless of a short cameo within the Season 2 finale.
“Aw that’s so kind but I’m not,” Cattrall wrote on X in July 2024, responding to a declare that she’d be showing on the subsequent season of “AJLT.”
Followers’ prayers for Samantha’s comeback had been additional dashed when the Season 3 trailer was launched in April and didn’t function the enduring character.
At this level, it’s Samantha, who?
Mr. Large
John James Preston, generally often called “Mr. Big” or simply “Big,” performed by Chris Noth, was Carrie’s longtime love within the TV collection, the films and “AJLT,” however he was killed off within the first episode of the spinoff’s Season 1 in 2021 after struggling a coronary heart assault whereas using a Peloton bike.
Whereas the present’s writers had deliberate for Large to make a cameo within the finale, that was scrapped when a number of ladies got here ahead with sexual assault allegations in opposition to Noth.
The actor denied the claims and was by no means charged with any crime.
The “AJLT” crew launched a press release following the accusations.
“We are deeply saddened to hear the allegations against Chris Noth,” the message posted to Instagram and signed by Parker, Nixon and Davis learn.
“We support the women who have come forward and shared their painful experiences,” they mentioned. “We know it must be a very difficult thing to do and we commend them for it.”
For sure, Mr. Large is useless for good.
Willie Garson
Carrie’s homosexual finest good friend for the previous a number of many years, Stanford Blatch, performed by the lovable Willie Garson, is not going to be in Season 3, because the actor died from most cancers in September 2021 on the age of 57.
Stanford shot a number of scenes and was featured in Season 1, which started airing two months after his loss of life, leaving producers the duty of tying up the unhappy unfastened finish for Garson’s beloved character within the second season.
Enter the plot twist.
As an alternative of killing Stanford off, they turned him right into a Shinto monk who left New York with out warning to stay his brand-new life.
“We didn’t want Stanford to die,” Michael Patrick King, govt producer and creator of the collection, mentioned of the choice on the podcast “And Just Like That. . .The Writers Room.”
“We wanted Willie to be alive, as Stanford, somewhere in the world.”
Patti LuPone
Patti LuPone, a New York steady, joined the Season 3 solid of “AJLT.” Nevertheless, little is understood concerning the legendary performer’s half within the present, because the creator has saved the main points near his chest.
King advised Leisure Weekly in January that LuPone could have “an arc on our show this season,” however that’s all he’d quit.
Rosie O’Donnell
Comic Rosie O’Donnell confirmed she had joined the solid in an Instagram submit on Could 1, 2024, sharing a picture of her Episode 1 script.
The picture revealed her character’s title is Mary.
In June 2024, O’Donnell set to work in entrance of the cameras in Instances Sq.. Her character Mary was seen within the vacationer entice in a “Wicked” t-shirt with Miranda.
Some speculate she may be Miranda’s new love curiosity; nevertheless, one factor is obvious — Mary’s not a New Yorker.
“That is fair to say,” King shared of her character. “That is not a cutting edge Carrie Bradshaw moment.”
Cheri Oteri and Kristen Schaal
“Saturday Night Live” alum Cheri Oteri and “Bob’s Burgers” star Kristen Schaal additionally joined the “AJLT” Season 3 solid.
Oteri was noticed taking pictures “AJLT” in Lincoln Middle Plaza in Could 2024. Whereas King didn’t reveal a lot about their characters, he did share that comedy is a big side of the most recent installment — and, after all, they are going to be bringing the style.
“Yeah, they’re different, and they’re all uniquely special,” he shared of Oteri and Schaal. “Everyone was up for fun. Everyone was excited to be dressed. Everybody’s so excited to come on the show because they get to look a certain way that maybe they don’t usually look. There’s always a designer element to every character on the show, whether they’re a designer character or not. They have a design to them.”
Logan Marshall-Inexperienced, Mehcad Brooks and Jonathan Cake
Rounding out the newbies are three hunks, prone to be somebody within the solid’s love curiosity.
Logan Marshall-Inexperienced, recognized for taking part in Trey Atwood on “The OC,” was seen leaving Carrie’s new condominium and sharing a cute second together with her cat, main many to consider that he may need the hots for the best-selling creator.
Mehcad Brooks from “Law & Order” fame can even be featured in Season 3. He performs an “award-winning editor” who falls for Nicole Ari Parker’s character, Lisa Todd Wexley, which is an issue contemplating she’s fortunately married.
Lastly, British actor Jonathan Cake from “Desperate Housewives” was additionally seen filming a scene that certain regarded like his character was getting cozy with Carrie, which may throw a wrench into her fortunately ever after with Aidan Shaw (John Corbett).
“And Just Like That” Season 3 airs on Thursday, Could 29, at 9 p.m. ET on Max. New episodes will drop weekly on Thursdays till the finale on August 14.
