Why Kyle MacLachlan Refused a Role in ‘And Just Like That’

Kyle MacLachlan has specific reasons for declining the opportunity to reprise his well-known role on Sex and the City as Charlotte York’s ex-husband, Trey MacDougal.

“Honestly, I would love to return and have some fun,” MacLachlan, 66, shared exclusively with Us Weekly during a God’s Love We Deliver meal preparation event at their New York City headquarters on Wednesday, June 25.

“What they proposed to me, I responded, ‘I believe there should be more,’” he continued. “So, I thought, ‘Does the relationship between Charlotte and Trey require a deeper exploration than their initial idea?’”

Although MacLachlan, who starred alongside Kristin Davis as Charlotte’s first husband, did not delve further into what the writers of the Sex and the City spinoff And Just Like That envisioned for his character, he did provide Us with some thoughts on where he thinks Trey might be now.

“It’d be quite interesting,” he remarked. “I proposed that Trey could have moved to Napa and established a successful winery and label there — you can see where I’m going with this. But no, I actually haven’t shared much yet. Regardless, the show is thriving. They’re all wonderful people, and I adore them.”

HBO’s legendary Sex and the City premiered on June 6, 1998, chronicling the lives, romances, and connections of friends Charlotte, Carrie Bradshaw (Sarah Jessica Parker), Samantha Jones (Kim Cattrall), and Miranda Hobbs (Cynthia Nixon) as they navigated love in New York City. The series aired for six seasons, concluding on February 22, 2004.

Following two Sex and the City films, three of the four main characters returned for the spinoff And Just Like That, which premiered in December 2021. While Samantha Jones is featured through text messages and a brief onscreen cameo in season 2, Cattrall did not return, amid an ongoing feud with co-star Parker.

The show creatively incorporated Samantha — now living in Paris, explaining Cattrall’s absence — in the most recent episode of And Just Like That. In the Thursday, June 26 episode, Carrie reaches out to Samantha for insight on her new cantankerous downstairs neighbor, a fellow writer named Duncan Reeves (Jonathan Cake).

“They say he’s a lot of fun. Why?” Samantha replies. When Carrie mentions, “he’s living under me,” Samantha promptly responds, “I wish he was under me.”

While Trey MacDougal won’t be reappearing on our screens anytime soon, MacLachlan offered Us some details about his latest project.

“I have a podcast debuting in September called ‘What Are We Even Doing?’” he disclosed. “I’ll be interviewing young creatives to understand their world and their creative process, examining how they utilize social media, from the viewpoint of an older person.”

If you ask Us, Trey would be proud.

God’s Love We Deliver is a non-sectarian NYC-based non-profit providing free, medically tailored meals and nutrition counseling to New Yorkers dealing with severe and chronic illnesses like cancer, heart disease, and HIV since 1985. Recently, the organization delivered its 40 millionth meal. To donate, volunteer, or refer someone for meals, visit glwd.org.