Alec Baldwin’s reputation is now in the mire after the controversial Rust shooting and several court trials over the past few years. He was one of Hollywood’s biggest and most in-demand actors, and even Darren Star, the creator of S*x and the City, wanted him on the team.
Fans of the 1998 drama would remember the glory of the show and its star-studded cast, but they would surely be surprised that Baldwin almost appeared in it as he was the first choice for one major role.
Alec Baldwin Was The First Choice For Mr. Big In S*x and the City
S*x and the City ran for six seasons from 1998 to 2004 and it followed Sarah Jessica Parker’s Carrie Bradshaw and her friends as they explore Manhattan’s dating scene. Unfortunately, despite its popularity among viewers, it was canceled due to financial disputes.
One exciting trivia about the show was revealed by Darren Star in his conversation with Entertainment Weekly. He said he was “thinking of Alec Baldwin for Big initially”, a role that eventually went to Chris Noth. Fans would surely see why the creator wanted the Mission: Impossible actor for the part, but Star “thought [Noth] was perfect” for Mr. Big.
Who is Mr. Big, by the way, and why is he called as such? John James Preston, more commonly known as Mr. Big in the show, is the primary on-and-off love interest and husband of Carrie Bradshaw.
The nickname ‘Big’ refers to his social status as a “major tycoon, major dreamboat, and majorly out of [Carrie’s] league”, as per the series tagline. Interestingly, his name was never revealed to the viewers until the show’s final episode. Talk about major suspense!
It might have been a major loss for fans of Alec Baldwin, but Star noted how perfect Noth was for the part of Mr. Big. “He brought a lot of his own persona to the role,” he shared, which is something that would leave fans wondering how the character would have fared in the story had the Beetlejuice star landed the part.
It’s a shame that the famed romantic comedy-drama television series was abruptly halted. Throughout six seasons, it took home over 50 Primetime Emmy Awards nominations, winning seven. It was also listed by Time magazine as one of the “100 Best TV Shows of All-TIME”.
Will Alec Baldwin’s Rust Movie Ever Be Released?
If producers and filmmakers used to offer projects to Baldwin, it seems like that’s not the case anymore after what occurred on the set of Rust. After several hearings, the production resumed and wrapped up in May 2023. Until now, there is no schedule for the film’s release.
The controversy greatly affected the project and the entire crew, and even director Joel Souza felt the incident ruined him as a person (via Vanity Fair). It remains to be seen what the future holds for Rust, but as for Baldwin, his manslaughter case was dismissed on July 12, 2024.
S*x and the City is currently available to watch on HBO.
