Chris Noth was 'hesitant' to reprise his role in 'Sex and the City' sequel

Chris Noth’s return to the role of Mr. Big in the “Sex and and the City” revival almost didn’t happen. The actor tells Yahoo Finance Live that at first, he was "hesitant" about reprising his role as Carrie Bradshaw's on-again, off-again main squeeze in the Emmy-winning HBO comedy-drama that originally ran from 1998-2004.

“It was a little bit of a sort of creative negotiation because I didn't really feel I had anything to offer in that role again. It kind of felt like I had done it,” he said. “But [executive producer] Michael Patrick King is just an incredible writer and has incredible creative ideas, and once we got together and talked about the potential of what we could do with the character, I was all in.”

Production on the sequel series called "And Just Like That..." is already underway in New York City, and most of the original cast is returning for the 10-episode revival that will stream on HBO Max. Sarah Jessica Parker, Cynthia Nixon and Kristin Davis will all reprise their roles as besties Carrie Bradshaw, Miranda Hobbes and Charlotte York Goldenblatt, respectively. Notably absent will be scene stealer Kim Catrall as Samantha Jones, who declined to join the reboot.

Noth's character married Carrie in the first "Sex and the City" movie, but their marriage may be in for some challenges in the sequel, since Carrie’s ex-love, Aidan Shaw (played by John Corbett), is reportedly set to appear in multiple episodes.

'The city's back'

While riding his bike in Manhattan, Noth said he passed film trucks on Third Avenue and, "I was like, yeah, that's great ... the city's back."

"We filmed 'The Equalizer' toward the end of the pandemic and we had very strict rules and it worked out. You know, mask wearing and testing every day," Noth said. "It really probably cost the studios and networks a lot of money to do that. And I think that now things are getting back to normal. And I look forward to it."

Noth, a Yale School of Drama alumni, said "Broadway is the backbone of tourism in New York. And it's sort of how the Big Apple identifies itself in many ways. So I can't state how important that is. And I'm sure most New Yorkers will agree."

"We really are waiting with bated breath to get back in the theater and find a way to see the shows again," he said. "It's been very, very hard on people in the unions and the costume and the set directors and actors and musicians. It's been very, very difficult for them."

Alexis Christoforous is an anchor at Yahoo Finance. Follow her on Twitter @AlexisTVNews.