Which Cast Members Are Not Returning for And Just Like That Season 3?

And Just Like That… returns for season 3 minus several key cast members who have been with the show since the first episode. Life & Style reveals which costars aren’t coming back and the reasons behind their departures.

Which Cast Members Are Not Returning for ‘And Just Like That Season 3’?

Sara Ramirez is not coming back to the show as nonbinary comedian and podcaster Che Diaz, even though they have been with the show since season 1. Similarly, another two-season regular, Karen Pittman, won’t be back to reprise her role of law professor Nya Wallace.

Why Did Sara Ramirez Leave ‘And Just Like That’?

The Grey’s Anatomy alum and showrunner Michael Patrick King “felt that that character had run its course,” AJLT star and Sex and the City alum Cynthia Nixon told Variety in May 2024.

Cynthia’s Miranda Hobbes fell for Che in season 1, causing her to split from husband Steve Brady, played by David Eigenberg. Che and Miranda’s romance blossomed throughout the season as Miranda explored her sexuality.

Season 2 saw Che suffer a major career downturn after their comedy pilot didn’t get picked up. They went back to working in a veterinarian’s office and the podcast they cohosted with Sarah Jessica Parker‘s Carrie Bradshaw was cancelled after the studio was shut down.

Che’s romance with Miranda also came to an end, after the intensity of being involved so deeply in each other’s lives took a toll. That left Sara without much to do on the show, as their character’s ties to both Carrie and Miranda were no longer there going into the third season.

Sara Ramirez’s Departure as Che Opens New Doors for Cynthia Nixon’s Miranda

“One of the things that it meant was that Miranda was single again, and that the tensions between Miranda and Che, and also Miranda and Steve, had been quelled and quieted,” Cynthia told E! News on May 28, 2025, about her character finally being free of any partner heading into season 3 of AJLT.

“Just speaking for Miranda, it meant that she was setting out on this new dating world, having decided she wanted to date women and nonbinary people, but not really quite knowing how to go about that,” the New York native added.

Why Did Karen Pittman Leave ‘And Just Like That’?

Karen’s busy schedule didn’t have room for her to return as Miranda’s former law professor and close pal, as she was shooting Apple TV+’s The Morning Show season 4 and the Netflix’s series Forever during AJLT‘s season 3 production.

“It has been a joy to have Karen Pittman play the smart and stunning Professor Nya Wallace on the first two seasons of And Just Like That. As we have thoroughly enjoyed working with this dynamic actress, so too have others,” a spokesperson for HBO told multiple outlets on March 22, 2024.

They noted that “it has become apparent that filming three shows at once isn’t possible.”

“Due to the production realities, we are disappointed to announce that scheduling conflicts will not allow us to continue with this character as part of season 3 of And Just Like That. Karen and Nya will be missed, and her Max family and fans will all be cheering her on in her other endeavors,” the streaming service added.

The character of Nya had been left at somewhat of a dead end after season 2. Miranda had long left her brief return to college in the professor’s classes to take a job as a human rights lawyer, so the pair only had social interactions.

Nya’s marriage broke down after she and her husband were unable to come to a decision about children, and season 2 saw the character exploring dating life while somewhat adrift from the rest of the AJLT cast.

Is Kim Cattrall Returning for ‘And Just Like That’ Season 3?

Kim Cattrall‘s cameo in the AJLT season 2 finale was a one and done. She thrilled Sex and the City fans by reprising Samantha Jones one last time in the episode that aired on August 24, 2023.

Samantha called Sarah Jessica’s Carrie Bradshaw to let her know her flight from London was running late and she was going to miss the former sex columnist’s goodbye dinner at her longtime New York City apartment. The characters had a brief but pleasant chat after having several text exchanges during season 1 of the SATC revival.

Kim shot her scene separately and was never face to face with SJP or other cast members.

The Glamorous star had gone on the record numerous times that she was done playing Samantha for good when SJP tried to get a third SATC movie off the ground in 2017. The How I Met Your Father star said she wasn’t asked back by AJLT executive producer and star Sarah to take part in the reboot, which the Hocus Pocus star confirmed.