Kristin Davisis addressing the absence ofKim Cattrall’s Samantha Jones in the upcomingSex and the Cityrevival.Davis, 56, is reprising her role as Charlotte York in the HBO Max series, titledAnd Just Like That…,alongsideSarah Jessica Parker’s Carrie Bradshaw andCynthia Nixon’s Miranda Hobbes. The final member of their originalfoursome, Cattrall, did not return for the long-awaited revival, set to premiere Thursday.During a Tuesday appearance onToday,Davis confirmed that the show will explain where Samantha is despite Cattrall’s absence.“We love Samantha. Samantha is never not going to be a part in some way, so there is respect for Samantha,” Davis said. “It’s part of the story. We’d never disrespect Samantha.“Speaking toThe New York Times,And Just Like That…showrunner Michael Patrick King previously addressed rumors that Cattrall’s character was killed off.For more onAnd Just Like That…and other top stories, listen below toour daily podcast on PEOPLE Every Day.“Nobody’s dead,” he said of Samantha, and ofChris Noth’s Mr. Big.Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.Cattrall, 65, played Samantha Jones onSex and the Cityfrom 1998 until 2004 as well as in the the two subsequent spinoff movies.While a third movie, and then a series reboot, were long believed to be in the works, Cattrall previously explained her reasoning fornot wanting to reprise the role.“I’m lucky enough to have choice, not that I haven’t worked for it, but I have it,” the actress said last December. “It’s something I feel very lucky to have and I’m very protective of it. I wouldn’t be any good doing something that I really didn’t want to do.“Sex and the City.EverettIn an interview withThe Guardianon Monday, Noth, 67, responded to the long-rumored tension between Parker, 56, and Cattrall.“I have to tell you, I have absolutely no idea what [Cattrall’s] thinking is, or her emotions,” said Noth, who will appear in the revival. “I do know that I’m very close with SJ and [Cattrall’s] descriptions of her don’t even come close.““I liked her, I thought she was marvelous in the show and some people move on for their own reasons. I don’t know what hers were. I just wish that whole thing had never happened because it wassad and uncomfortable,” Noth continued.“I just don’t like to see anyone talking down about SJ because she’s a target and people can be nasty,” he added of Parker. “I feel very protective of her and I was not happy about that. That’s all I’ll say about that.“And Just Like That…premieres Thursday on HBO Max.

Kristin Davis, Kim Cattrall

Kristin Davisis addressing the absence ofKim Cattrall’s Samantha Jones in the upcomingSex and the Cityrevival.

Davis, 56, is reprising her role as Charlotte York in the HBO Max series, titledAnd Just Like That…,alongsideSarah Jessica Parker’s Carrie Bradshaw andCynthia Nixon’s Miranda Hobbes. The final member of their originalfoursome, Cattrall, did not return for the long-awaited revival, set to premiere Thursday.

During a Tuesday appearance onToday,Davis confirmed that the show will explain where Samantha is despite Cattrall’s absence.

“We love Samantha. Samantha is never not going to be a part in some way, so there is respect for Samantha,” Davis said. “It’s part of the story. We’d never disrespect Samantha.”

Speaking toThe New York Times,And Just Like That…showrunner Michael Patrick King previously addressed rumors that Cattrall’s character was killed off.

For more onAnd Just Like That…and other top stories, listen below toour daily podcast on PEOPLE Every Day.

“Nobody’s dead,” he said of Samantha, and ofChris Noth’s Mr. Big.

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

Cattrall, 65, played Samantha Jones onSex and the Cityfrom 1998 until 2004 as well as in the the two subsequent spinoff movies.

While a third movie, and then a series reboot, were long believed to be in the works, Cattrall previously explained her reasoning fornot wanting to reprise the role.

“I’m lucky enough to have choice, not that I haven’t worked for it, but I have it,” the actress said last December. “It’s something I feel very lucky to have and I’m very protective of it. I wouldn’t be any good doing something that I really didn’t want to do.”

Sex and the City.Everett

sex and the city

In an interview withThe Guardianon Monday, Noth, 67, responded to the long-rumored tension between Parker, 56, and Cattrall.

“I have to tell you, I have absolutely no idea what [Cattrall’s] thinking is, or her emotions,” said Noth, who will appear in the revival. “I do know that I’m very close with SJ and [Cattrall’s] descriptions of her don’t even come close.”

“I liked her, I thought she was marvelous in the show and some people move on for their own reasons. I don’t know what hers were. I just wish that whole thing had never happened because it wassad and uncomfortable,” Noth continued.

“I just don’t like to see anyone talking down about SJ because she’s a target and people can be nasty,” he added of Parker. “I feel very protective of her and I was not happy about that. That’s all I’ll say about that.”

And Just Like That…premieres Thursday on HBO Max.

source: people.com