Nicole Ari Parker is confirmed to be a part of the Sex and the City reboot And Just Like That… and it is speculated that she might be replacing Kim Cattrall and play the beloved character of Samantha Jones.
The internet was convinced there is a new Samantha when Sarah Jessica Parker uploaded a picture to her Instagram with Cynthia Nixon (playing Miranda Hobbes), Kristin Davis (playing Charlotte York Goldenblatt) and herself (as Carrie Bradshaw) with Ari Parker, the group hugging on set.
This seems plausible following the backlash that came upon the revelation that Samantha would not be a part of the reboot after the series and two movies.
Cattrall has been open about her struggles on set and feeling corralled in the environment she deemed toxic. She has been pretty set on not being back on the sets with this particular cast again.
“I went past the finish line playing Samantha Jones because I loved Sex and the City,” she said. “It was a blessing in so many ways but after the second movie I’d had enough. I couldn’t understand why they wouldn’t just replace me with another actress instead of wasting time bullying. No means no.”
HBO Max would not officially confirm this news, but they did tell CNN in an article posted on August 23, “Nicole Ari Parker plays ‘Lisa Todd Wexley,’ a Park Avenue mother of three and documentarian.”
The show has also come under fire for the lack of diversity. For the reboot to be accepted wholeheartedly by the public, this time around, this wrong had to be righted and addressed.
As well as Ari Parker’s starring role, the reboot will introduce three characters played by people of colour, with Sara Ramirez, Karen Pittman and Sarita Choudhury to join the cast.
Based on the book by author Candace Bushnell, Sex and the City revolves around the fashion-obsessed relationships columnist Carrie and her three friends, Miranda, Charlotte and Samantha. It first aired in 1998 and ran for six seasons, winning seven Emmys and eight Golden Globe awards.