'Big Little Lies' Season 2 Is Official
by EG
We've been pretty sure for quite some time that there would be a second season of Big Little Lies, but there was business to be attended to before the season was a certainty. Now that business is done, and we know for sure that HBO will produce a seven-episode second season. Stars (and producers) Reese Witherspoon and Nicole Kidman will be back, and most of the rest of the original cast probably will be, too.
Big Little Lies season two is officially a go.
HBO on Friday confirmed months of speculation that the Reese Witherspoon and Nicole Kidman miniseries would return for a second season.
The production has tapped Andrea Arnold, who won an Oscar for writing and directing her short film Wasp, to helm all seven episodes of season two. Sources told The Hollywood Reporter that the delay in the official announcement was to allow the premium cable network time to find a director to replace Emmy-winning helmer Jean-Marc Vallée.
Stars and executive producers Witherspoon and Kidman are confirmed to return for season two.
Most of the season one cast are expected to return, as negotiations are underway. Since Big Little Lies was originally envisioned as a closed-ended miniseries — season one covered the entirety of author Liane Moriarty's book — HBO did not have options with the cast for a sophomore run. Sources note that stars Witherspoon and Kidman had been seeking raises from season one, especially after the former inked a massive deal at Apple to star in and produce a morning-show drama that will pay her an estimated $1.5 million per episode. The untitled project was picked up for two seasons, covering 20 episodes.
David E. Kelley is confirmed to return and has already penned all seven the scripts for season two of Big Little Lies, which is partially based on a story by Moriarty. HBO says season two 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."
"I’m excited to announce the return of Big Little Lies," HBO programming president Casey Bloys said in a statement. “David Kelley wrote beautiful scripts and Reese and Nicole were, once again, a force to be reckoned with, reuniting the cast and recruiting the talented Andrea Arnold to direct. We look forward to working with this amazing group of artists."
Exec producers on season two include Kelley via his David E. Kelley Productions banner, Kidman and her Blossom Films shingle topper Per Saari, Witherspoon via Hello Sunshine, Bruna Papandrea, Arnold, Vallée, Nathan Ross and Gregg Fienberg. Moriarty will produce.
Read the rest of the story at The Hollywood Reporter.
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