A fan-favorite character is joining 'And Just Like That' season 2

We couldn't help but wonder, "Will there be an And Just Like That season 2?" after the final episode of the Sex and the City reboot dropped on Thursday, February 3 on HBO Max.

Across ten episodes, the much-anticipated reboot—which first premiered on December 9, 2021—caught audiences up with the franchise's beloved leading ladies Carrie Bradshaw, Miranda Hobbes and Charlotte York Goldenblatt (alas, no Samantha Jones), now in their 50s, and also introduced fans to a new crop of New York women, including Sarita Choudhury as Seema Patel, Nicole Ari Parker as Lisa Todd Wexley and Sara Ramirez as the very divisive Che Diaz.

We got to visit old friends like Stanford Blatch and Steve Brady on our screens, and now it looks like we'll be welcoming another fan-favorite Sex and the City character back into the life of Ms. Bradshaw. 

So, with all of that in mind, will we get an And Just Like That season 2 or is the HBO reboot over after only one season? Here is what we know. 

*Warning: spoilers ahead!*

John Corbett 'And Just Like That' season 2:

Yes, John Corbett's Aidan Shaw is coming back to the Sex and the City universe. According to Deadline, Carrie's on-again-off-again love will be featured in a "substantial, multi-episode arc" in the second season of the SATC spinoff. 

The casting news finally makes good on a promise Corbett made back in April 2021, when he told Page Six: “I think I might be in quite a few [episodes].” At the time, series star Sarah Jessica Parker played coy about the possibility of Aidan's great return, writing on Instagram: “I’m not saying one way or another whether our beloved Mr. Corbett’s interview deals in facts or fiction but the response is amazing to read…x."

As for why it took the showrunners so long to bring the character back into the fold, executive producer Michael Patrick King told Deadline in February 2022: "There’s nothing old news about Sarah Jessica Parker and John Corbett as actors and beings and interests. The fact of the matter is, we never said anything about Aidan, just like we never said, Steve and Carrie or getting together. We always try to be very restrained and look at the reality of what people are experiencing and it has nothing to do with Aidan coming or not coming." 

It really just felt like this was a lot for Carrie. This season was a lot. We wanted to get her through this and into the light—the last episode is called, “Seeing the Light.” We wanted to get her out," King continued. "[Aidan’s return] is a big storyline that everybody at home wrote that we had never intended."

Looks like he listened to the fans after all!

Who else will be in 'And Just Like That' season 2?

Well, we can tell you who won't be in it. Tragically, the late, great Willie Garson, who played Carrie's BFF Stanford Blatch, passed away during the filming of the revival's first season, having to step away from production after just three episodes of And Just Like That due to his pancreatic cancer diagnosis. 

King revealed to Variety that Garson's character was meant to be in all 10 episodes of the season, with Blatch meant to go through a midlife crisis. "There was a series of really fun, flirty, hilarious confidante scenes with Carrie that I loved," King said. "That old, old, very specific chemistry that Carrie and Stanford have, which is based totally on the uniqueness of Willie and Sarah Jessica’s history."

Another character that you can count out is Noth's Mr. Big, who died in the reboot's first episode from a heart attack. Given that Noth's appearances in the season one finale were cut, it's safe to assume we won't be seeing any Mr. Big flashbacks in any future episodes. 

And a third guarantee is Kim Cattrall, though the reboot frequently flirted with the character of Samantha Jones, having her send flowers to Big's funeral and showing Carrie try to make amends via text to her estranged friend, who relocated to London following a spat with the gals. Despite Samantha Jones living on, albeit distantly, don't hold your breath for Cattrall to make a grand return should the series be picked up for a second season. 

King told Variety: "There was no thought that Kim would ever participate in And Just Like That, because she’s said what she had said."

"The only place I participate in magical thinking is in fiction. You take people at their word, and you’re a smart producer—you don’t back yourself into a corner. Magically thinking, it’s great to have Samantha. I have no realistic expectation of Kim Cattrall ever appearing again."

When is the 'And Just Like That' season 2 release date?

The show was officially picked up by HBO on Tuesday, March 22. Production on And Just Like That season 2 will kick off in October 2022, reports Variety, with plans to premiere on HBO Max in summer 2023. 

"I am delighted and excited to tell more stories about these vibrant, bold characters—played by these powerful, amazing actors," Michael Patrick King said in a statement. "The fact is, we're all thrilled. And Just like That… our Sex life is back."

Sarah Aubrey, the Head of Original Content at HBO Max, said that the team is "delighted by the cultural conversation generated by these characters and their stories, set in a world we already know and love so much," per People. 

Aubrey added: "We are proud of the work Michael Patrick King and our wonderful writers, producers, cast and crew have done to bring these stories to the screen. We can't wait for fans to see what's in store for season 2!"

“It always felt exciting to play Carrie,” Parker said to Variety. “To consider doing it again and to be on the set, it felt really good.”

All 10 episodes of And Just Like That are available for streaming on HBO Max.