As happens with every reboot of a beloved show, And Just Like That has left some viewers divided, confused and at times a little disappointed in the way the lives of its central characters, Carrie Bradshaw, Miranda Hobbes and Charlotte York-Goldenblatt have played out.

Whether they’re still reeling from Carrie being widowed in the explosive first episode or coming to terms with Miranda’s huge life changes, one thing fans can all agree on is how much they miss Stanford Blatch.

Throughout the original Sex And The City series, the two films and now the And Just Like That revival series, Stanford had a well-earned reputation for being a diva.

Even as we met him again in the first episode of the new series, he was throwing a tantrum (in a periwinkle suit no less) and arguing with long-suffering husband Anthony (Mario Cantone) at Charlotte’s daughter’s piano recital.

While Carrie Bradshaw’s best friend and better dresser, played by the late Willie Garson, may have been a background character in the original outings, he made a big impact with his clever quips, bold outfit choices and penchant for a martini in every situation.

And, speaking to Variety, Michael Patrick King the executive producer, writer and director confirmed that the show’s sharp-tongued style icon was finally due his own leading storyline in And Just Like That. 

Tragically, his story was cut short as he left the series after episode three to focus on his health and passed away from pancreatic cancer in September 2021, aged 57.

“Before I knew that Willie was sick and couldn’t complete it, Stanford was going to have a midlife crisis,” King shared. “Stanford’s character always had a borderline career as a manager, and we were like going to explore the fact that it wasn’t a real career. It was going to be Carrie and him, feeling the shifts. Anthony and him were probably going to have split anyway.

“Then we would keep both of them in, and everybody would be relieved that they were divorced because it was not pleasant for anybody.”

In particular, we would have watched his long-standing friendship with Carrie continue to blossom. “There was a series of really fun, flirty, hilarious confidante scenes with Carrie that I loved,” King continued. “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.”

“I knew before we started shooting that Willie was sick,” Parker  herself previously told Vulture. Referring to the filming of a particular character’s death (no spoilers here), she described it as “difficult for me and for all of us”.

“At that point, he shared with his fellow cast that he was sick. That day was excruciating, to be in a fictional world of the loss of a life, but in the real world, of somebody that you knew was sick.”

While Parker stopped short of sharing what storyline had been in store for Stanford in fear of “hurting people’s experiences of the story we are now telling,” she said: “He intended and wanted to complete the entire season. He had a very significant storyline, more so than ever, so it was my fervent hope that he would be able to do it all.”

“And for Willie to have to leave, you knew that it was serious. If Willie could be there and do one more episode or one more scene, he would have done it. But he knew what he needed to do to take care of his son and of himself, and I am so glad that he did that because when he passed away, he wanted to do so in an environment and circumstance that made him feel safe and comfortable.”

Cynthia Nixon, who portrays Miranda Hobbes, also shared that many considered Stanford “the fourth girl” in And Just Like That, after original cast member Kim Cattrall didn’t reprise her role as Samantha Jones.

But despite Garson’s real-life struggles, Stanford continued to show up, fabulously dressed, for Carrie in And Just Like That, accompanying her to the funeral and staying afterwards for comfort martinis.

However, we can’t help but wonder what could have been if Garson had lived to see out the series. Would a messy divorce from Anthony that culminated in a lavish vow renewal to match their white swan-filled first wedding be on the cards? Or the couple adopting a child and leaving the big city?

We can only begin to imagine what theatrics a Stanford-led storyline would have brought, but we know it would have been exactly the joy we need. 

And Just Like That are available to watch now on Sky and NowTV. 

Images: Getty/HBO