The film takes up four years on from where the hit series left the sassy singletons, who were so blatantly honest in their desire to have "sex like men" but also lusted as much for a new pair of Manolo Blahnik heels as they did for the perfect beau.

Sarah Jessica Parker, who plays Carrie and is also a producer of the film, said she had been working on the project for two and a half years. But getting everyone together again was not easy.

There were reports that when talks about a film began, Kim Cattrall had demanded more money and creative control.

"It was a really hard time," said Cattrall, who at the time was in the midst of a divorce. Her father had also just been diagnosed with dementia.

"I needed to spend time with my real family and I'm really glad that I did because in the four years, you know, coming back, I think the film is where it should be," Cattrall told Reuters in New York before the film's London launch.

"I think that the money is on the screen, I think it's bigger and better. I know that I am in a much better place so I can get back into what that was like and what that portrays about women," she said.

Kristin Thomas said she was tired of hearing endless gossip that the quartet of stars did not get along on the film set.

"It's a sexist thing really," she told Reuters, complaining that magazines "don't talk about how the Sopranos all fought or whatever."

"We've got a woman running for president, we need to get with the times. Not all women are bitchy to each other," she added.

The film, being given the full red carpet glitzy treatment in London, takes off from the where the TV series ended.

Carrie is still working out of her Upper East Side apartment, but now she a contributing editor to Vogue and is working on her fourth book.

Charlotte is living out her dream on Park Avenue and Samantha has followed her actor boyfriend to Los Angeles.

Miranda is still in Brooklyn, missing Manhattan, and is grappling with the struggles of motherhood.

Chris Noth is back as Carrie's love interest Mr. Big, and actress Candice Bergen also returns as Carrie's editor Enid Frick at Vogue.

There is a new addition to the cast too, Louise, Carrie's assistant, played by Oscar winner Jennifer Hudson.

Cynthia Nixon who plays Miranda, says making the film "was bigger in every way. We're a little older now and the issues we're dealing with are less silly and squabbly and more profound I would say."

(Additional reporting by Michelle Nichols in New York)

(Writing by Paul Majendie)