There's an important reason why Sex and the City almost didn’t reveal Mr Big’s name
25 years after Sex and the City's release, the iconic HBO sitcom has landed on Netflix, and as a result, Carrie, Miranda, Samantha and Charlotte are back in public conversation - with the show being all anyone can talk about.
One of the characters who got the world talking the most was Carrie's main love interest, Mr Big, played by Chris Noth - from the A-list actor who almost bagged the role, to the fact that SATC writer Candace Bushnell was in his corner.
Mr Big's name was undoubtedly the biggest reveal in SATC, with it taking us a whopping six seasons to find out his name. In fact, show producers waited until the series finale for the big reveal, where the name "John" popped up on Carrie's diamante flip phone.
But why the name, "John James Preston"? And why was it a secret for so long?
Executive producer Michael Patrick King opened up about the decision in an interview with Entertainment Weekly, explaining that they very almost didn’t reveal Mr Big’s name.
In fact, it turns out that the character didn’t even have a name until they wrote the series finale, with the idea added almost as an after thought.
"In the last episode, in the last moment, I realised I had to say Mr Big’s name and I just [wrote] John", he explained in the interview. "And then I told all the writers and they were like, 'What the hell?' And I was like, 'We have to say his name because now he’s real!'"
Marie Claire Newsletter
Celebrity news, beauty, fashion advice, and fascinating features, delivered straight to your inbox!
When asked "Was it always John?" the SATC executive producer replied, "In my mind? No. He had no name. He was Mr Big."
Explaining the name choice, he continued: "If I wanted to give him a name, I wanted to give him the most generic, American, almost pilgrim name. There’s no spin, it’s just John."
Well, that's that.
Sex and the City is available to watch on Netflix now.
Jenny Proudfoot is an award-winning journalist, specialising in lifestyle, culture, entertainment, international development and politics. She has worked at Marie Claire UK for seven years, rising from intern to Features Editor and is now the most published Marie Claire writer of all time. She was made a 30 under 30 award-winner last year and named a rising star in journalism by the Professional Publishers Association.
-
Blake Lively has accused 'It Ends With Us' director Justin Baldoni of sexual harassment
By Jenny Proudfoot
-
Why Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie won’t be spending Christmas with the royal family this year
By Jenny Proudfoot
-
Nancy Meyers’ surprising revelation about ‘The Holiday’ is going viral
By Jenny Proudfoot