Carrie Bradshaw’s closet is getting a massive overhaul, and honestly, it’s about time. After a second season that felt like a chaotic fever dream of sourdough starters, Che Diaz stand-up sets, and that blink-and-you-miss-it Aidan Shaw reunion, And Just Like That Season 3 is officially on the horizon. Max renewed the Sex and the City revival before the Season 2 finale even aired, which tells you everything you need to know about the show's streaming numbers, regardless of how many people complain about it on X (formerly Twitter).
The production cycles for this show are notoriously long. We saw the first season drop in late 2021, the second in mid-2023, and now, thanks to the massive industry strikes that halted Hollywood in 2023, we are looking at a 2025 release date for the third installment. It’s a long wait. Fans are impatient.
Who is actually coming back to the Upper East Side?
The biggest headline for Season 3 isn't who is joining, but who is leaving. Karen Pittman, who played Nya Wallace, is officially out. Scheduling conflicts with her other projects, specifically The Morning Show, made it impossible for her to balance both. It’s a bummer because Nya was finally starting to feel like a real person rather than a plot device for Miranda’s "enlightenment."
Then there’s the Che Diaz situation. Sara Ramirez is not returning. Whether you loved the character or—more likely—found them to be the most polarizing figure in modern television history, Che’s exit changes the entire DNA of Miranda’s current arc. Without Che, Miranda is back to being just Miranda. Is that a win? Probably.
But let’s talk about the core. Sarah Jessica Parker, Cynthia Nixon, and Kristin Davis are obviously locked in. We’ve also seen set photos of Sarita Choudhury (Seema) looking absolutely lethal in high-end neutrals, proving that she is essentially carrying the "fabulous" quota of the show right now. John Corbett is also expected to return as Aidan, though he’s currently in that weird "five-year break" period he demanded from Carrie. If the show sticks to that timeline, we might see a lot of FaceTime calls or a very convenient time jump.
The New Faces Joining the Chaos
Production has been spotted all over Manhattan, and we have some confirmed new blood. Rosie O’Donnell is joining the cast as a character named Mary. There’s a lot of speculation that she might be a new love interest or a foil for one of the main women, but the details are being kept under wraps by showrunner Michael Patrick King.
We also have some heavy hitters coming in for guest spots or recurring roles:
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- Mehmet Kurtuluş
- Logan Marshall-Green
- Jonathan Cake
The addition of these actors suggests that the dating world is very much alive in Season 3. Carrie is living in that massive new apartment she bought to "wait" for Aidan, but let’s be real—Carrie Bradshaw sitting alone in a giant house for ten episodes sounds like a snooze fest. She needs conflict. She needs dates. She needs to spend $800 on shoes she doesn't need.
What is the story actually going to be about?
Last time we saw Carrie, she was on a beach in Greece with Seema, sipping cocktails after Aidan told her he needed five years to focus on his kids in Virginia. It was a bittersweet ending. Or a frustrating one, depending on how much you value Carrie’s character growth. In And Just Like That Season 3, the narrative has to address the "Aidan Problem."
Is she really going to wait?
History says no. Carrie Bradshaw has never been good at waiting. The show is likely to explore the reality of long-distance longing versus the immediate spark of New York City life. There’s also the matter of Carrie’s dog, Shoe. Yes, the kitten she adopted. We expect Shoe to get a fair amount of screen time, mostly because SJP actually adopted the cat in real life.
Miranda’s Second (Third?) Act
Miranda Hobbes has been through the ringer. She blew up her life, moved to LA, came back, interned at the UN, and survived a breakup with a non-binary comedian. Season 3 seems to be positioning her for a return to her roots. Set photos show her looking more "Classic Miranda"—tailored suits, sharp wit, less "stumbling through life." There’s a rumor circulating that she might revisit her legal career in a more meaningful, perhaps political, way.
Charlotte’s Career Renaissance
One of the highlights of Season 2 was watching Charlotte York Goldenblatt realize she’s more than just a "moms-who-lunch" caricature. Her return to the art gallery world was a refreshing pivot. In Season 3, we expect to see the fallout of that. Balancing a high-stakes job with the demands of teenagers like Lily and Rock isn't easy, and Charlotte’s quest for perfection is always where the best comedy lies.
Why the Kim Cattrall cameo didn't change everything
Everyone lost their minds when Samantha Jones appeared for sixty seconds in a car in London during the Season 2 finale. It was a digital miracle. But don’t hold your breath for a full-time return. Kim Cattrall has been very clear: it was a one-off tribute for the 25th anniversary.
The absence of Samantha still leaves a hole, but the show has stopped trying to fill it with just one person. Instead, it’s using Seema, Lisa Todd Wexley (Nicole Ari Parker), and the rest of the expanded cast to create a different kind of ensemble. It’s not the original four, and it never will be again. The sooner the audience accepts that, the more they can enjoy the weird, messy evolution that is And Just Like That Season 3.
Production details and what to expect next
Filming kicked off in New York City in May 2024. They’ve been spotted in the West Village, at the usual upscale boutiques, and in several parks. Michael Patrick King is still steering the ship, which means we can expect the same blend of high-fashion escapism and occasionally tone-deaf social commentary that makes the show a "hate-watch" favorite for some and a comfort watch for others.
The fashion, curated by Molly Rogers and Danny Santiago, is already looking insane. We’ve seen Carrie in a massive oversized hat that looks like a UFO and Seema in more gold jewelry than a Fort Knox vault. This is what the fans come for. They come for the clothes and the vicarious thrill of living in a version of New York where rent doesn't seem to exist.
Actionable steps for fans
If you're trying to stay ahead of the curve before the premiere, there are a few things you can do to prep. First, re-watch the final two episodes of Season 2. There are small nuggets of dialogue regarding Carrie's "expectations" for her five-year wait that will likely be the primary conflict of the new season.
Second, keep an eye on the official Max social media accounts starting in late 2024. That’s when the "first look" teasers usually drop. Given the 2025 release window, a full trailer likely won't appear until the very end of this year or early next.
Lastly, if you're in NYC, keep your eyes peeled in the Chelsea and Upper East Side neighborhoods. Production is ongoing, and this cast is surprisingly open to being seen by the public during outdoor shoots. Just don't expect any spoilers from SJP—she’s a pro at keeping a secret.
The reality of this show is that it isn't Sex and the City. It’s a sequel about aging, grief, and the awkwardness of trying to stay relevant in a world that moves faster than you do. Season 3 has the chance to finally find its footing now that the "reintroduction" phase is over. It’s time to see if Carrie can actually be happy in that big house, or if the ghost of Big and the shadow of Aidan will keep her wandering the streets of Manhattan forever.