The prospects for another "Sex and the City" movie have been in question ever since the diminished box-office dollars and lukewarm reviews for "Sex and the City 2" began coming in last spring. But Sarah Jessica Parker, who produced as well as starred in the two Michael Patrick King creations, said this week she's not willing to give up on the franchise just yet.

"I would go back," said Parker, speaking to 24 Frames on the New York set of her new movie, the working-woman comedy "I Don't Know How She Does It." "I think there's one more story to tell. I know there is."

The second "SATC" ended with Parker's Carrie Preston and Chris Noth's Mr. Big reconciling their marriage differences after said nuptials faced a threat from Carrie's former beau Aidan. Over six TV seasons and two movies, however, there have been no children (yet) for the former Miss Bradshaw, something that a third film could explore.

But Parker, taking on her biggest film role with "I Don't Know How She Does It" -- in which she stars in pretty much every scene -- said she may not be interesting in reprising her iconic role at this point in her career.

"I'd definitely tell that [third] story, and I know Michael would do it right. But maybe not now. Maybe in five years, you know?" she said.

Parker explained that the impulse to wait came from a desire to feel challenged in her work.

"It's not that I want to get away from [SATC]. In a million years, who could get away from it it?" she said. It's just that "if I'm not scared again that's not good for me. That's literally no good for me. If I'm not terrified and nauseous and worried the first two weeks of production, then what's going to happen? You could wither on the vine. It's like if you can't use your leg. It just atrophies."

Some reports have said that a new movie would, in the manner of so many Hollywood franchises, take the shape of a prequel, with Blake Lively taking on the role of a young Carrie Bradshaw. (Candace Bushnell is set to publish "Summer and the City," about a 19-year-old Carrie's move to New York that said movie would be based on.) Parker said she was pretty taken aback by those reports.

"I was like, Wha-a-a-a-t?' " the actress said. She said she wasn't opposed to the idea of a "Sex and the City"-type story with twentysomethings -- she just didn't feel it should feature specifically SATC characters, especially since both the TV series and the movies explained some of those characters' backstories.

"There are a lot of important and interesting stories that 21-year-olds can tell," Parker said. "I don't begrudge any 21-year-old the opportunity to tell their stories. They prove to us on an everyday basis that they're interesting. Even their narcissism is interesting. Even their inertia is interesting. Even their tonal speech patterns are interesting.

"But I don't think we can pretend to go back," she continued. "It's creating two histories. It's like, 'Oh I didn't know that about Carrie Bradshaw.' "

--Steven Zeitchik, reporting from New York

twitter.com/ZeitchikLAT

Photo: Sarah Jessica Parker in "Sex and the City 2." Credit: Craig Blankenhorn / New Line

We woke up this morning to hear one of our favorite sounds reverberating across the Internet -- the soothing opening notes of the "Sex and the City" theme song. That's right, ladies, a new trailer for "Sex and the City 2" has landed, and we have a lot to say about it.

In the sequel to the 2008 hit film, Carrie (Sarah Jessica Parker), Charlotte (Kristin Davis), Miranda (Cynthia Nixon) and Samantha (Kim Cattrall) are back to answer the question of what happens after you tie the knot. Carrie isn't finding herself in marital bliss with Mr. Big (Chris Noth), Miranda and Charlotte are trying to navigate motherhood and Samantha is, unsurprisingly, trying to slow down the aging process.

First things first: from the trailer, it seems like a majority of the sequel is going to take place in Abu Dhabi, where the girls decide to go on an exotic trip.

"We need some glamour!" Carrie coos.

"One week in Abu Dhabi, all expenses paid, just the four of us!" suggests Samantha.

This seems to be a real question mark (when did the Middle East become the go-to region for a group of sophisticated ladies in need of some R&R?). Plus, the idea that Carrie would really have her own couture turban to wear while riding a camel is a little bit ridiculous.

Sure, the first film had that jaunt to Mexico, (we're still fantasizing about that amazing villa with the infinity pool) but it was brief. Let's not forget that these films stemmed from a popular television series in which New York City played a key role. And the central parts of the first film -- like the disastrous wedding to Big -- all took place in beautiful, sweeping New York landscapes. We liked that the trailer gives us a glimpse at some of our favorite "Sex and the City" landmarks, like the diner where the girls always congregate, but we want more Big Apple.

Also: Um, Aidan (John Corbett) is back?!?!? And Carrie runs into him on the streets of Abu Dhabi? As preposterous as that plot line is, we're happy to see everyone's favorite nice guy back to compete for Carrie's affections. It doesn't hurt that he looks like he's aging well.

There are also some interesting cameos -- Penelope Cruz as a sexy Latin temptress trying to lure Mr. Big away, the campy Liza Minnelli as the star performer at Stanford's white wedding, and Miley Cyrus as...well, who knows.

Truthfully, from this early and admittedly limited glimpse, we don't think this film looks as good as the first one. And there should have been more of a gap between the first film and the second -- it doesn't seem like enough has changed in the women's lives to warrant such a quick update. Nevertheless, we're still going to be lining up to see the film come May. We can't deny the nostalgia we feel when we see the foursome start stomping down a sidewalk next to one another, decked out in fabulous fashions. Even when the clothing and the story lines get out of hand, it's the ladies' real friendship that keeps us coming back for more.

What do you think? Are you clamoring for more "Sex and the City," or are the girls past their prime? Vote in our poll.

-- Amy Kaufman

Photo: The ladies are back in "Sex and the City 2." Credit: HBO Films.