'Big Little Lies' Season 2: All the Details (So Far)
Yes, including Meryl Streep.
Once billed as a limited series, HBO is bringing Big Little Lies back for a second season.
The Reese Witherspoon and Nicole Kidman vehicle was originally developed as a movie, with both actresses (and exec producers) buying the rights to Liane Moriarty's book. Following the critical response — the seven-episode season covered all of Moriarty's source material — HBO put a second season in development with showrunner David E. Kelley set to return. After taking home an Emmy and Golden Globe for best limited series, Big Little Lies season two will now compete in the drama category when it returns in 2019.
Here are all the details — so far — about season two of Big Little Lies. THR will update this page when more details (like casting and a premiere date) become available.
WHY THERE'S A SECOND SEASON
Why would HBO bring back a show designed as a closed-ended limited series? In a scripted landscape that is expected to top 500 originals this year, it's increasingly hard for any program to cut through that sort of clutter. Big Little Lies became a critical and watercooler favorite and gave HBO a timely series with top talent attached and awards cache. So while season one covered all of Moriarty's book, the cast and creator (and author) all were good to reunite for a second season. Bringing back the Emmy- and Golden Globe-winner is also a surefire way to keep HBO's subscribers paying for the channel at a time when they have endless options (Netflix, Hulu, Amazon, CBS All Access, to name a few).
THE NEW PREMISE
Here's HBO's official logline for season two: "The subversive, darkly comedic drama Big Little Lies will explore the malignancy of lies, the durability of friendships, the fragility of marriage and, of course, the vicious ferocity of sound parenting. Relationships will fray, loyalties will erode … the potential for emotional and bodily injury shall loom."
RETURNING CAST
Sources tell THR that HBO had to ink the cast to new deals for season two as the stars' deals treated Big Little Lies as a limited series and did not have an option for a sophomore run. As such, HBO has needed to close new pacts with everyone on the show. Here's a roundup of the returning faces, though at this point, HBO has only confirmed Witherspoon and Kidman.
Reese Witherspoon as Madeline Martha Mackenzie
Nicole Kidman as Celeste Wright
Alexander Skarsgard, whose Perry Wright was (spoiler alert!) revealed to have been the one who died during the Emmy-winning first season, is expected to return in some capacity as well.
Zoe Kravitz, who played whose Bonnie Carlson, is also expected to return, having inked a sizable new deal for season two, sources say.
THE NEW CAST
Going beyond the source material will provide writers the opportunity to grow the world of Big Little Lies. "In general, I don't think anybody involved is thinking we're going to do the same thing. In any second season of a show, people want to see growth in the characters and storylines. I don't think anyone involved is trying to do the same thing. We're trying to progress everybody's lives in the storytelling," Bloys said of the new faces coming for season two. Here are the new additions who will appear on-screen in season two.
Meryl Streep. Yes, the 21-time Oscar-nominee is going to be a series regular in season two. She will take on the role of Mary Louise Wright is described as a woman who is concerned for the well-being of her grandchildren following her son Perry's death. She arrives in Monterey searching for answers. Fun fact: Kelley told THR in October that Streep — and Tom Hanks — were his dream casting goals for Big Little Lies.)
Casting is also under way to for an actress to play the mother to Kravitz's Bonnie, sources say.
THE CREATIVE TEAM
Nearly the entire creative team is poised to return for season two. The biggest behind-the-scenes difference will be the director. Jean-Marc Vallée, who helmed every season one episode, will return only as an executive producer. In his place, Andrea Arnold — who won an Oscar for writing and directing her short film, Wasp — will direct all seven episodes. Writer/showrunner David E. Kelley, who was attached to Big Little Lies when it was a film set to star Kidman and Witherspoon, will again write all seven episodes partially based on a story by Liane Moriarty. Kelley exec produces alongside Kidman and her Blossom Films topper Per Saari; Witherspoon through Hello Sunshine banner; Bruna Papandrea; Vallée; Nathan Ross; Gregg Fienberg; and Arnold.
PREMIERE DATE
HBO programming president Casey Bloys told THR that season two of Big Little Lies will not return until 2019. Production will start in the spring.
THE FUTURE
While HBO had to resign the cast for season two, Bloys would not say whether the new contracts included language for a potential third cycle. "Everybody involved is so busy that it's hard to imagine aligning everybody's schedule again," he said. "The fact that we were able to get season two together is a small miracle. Could we do it again? Who knows?! It's a great group. They love working together and they're really fun to work with. But everybody is really busy. So let's see."
Bookmark this page as THR will update it as new information becomes available.
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