HBO Greenlights ‘Big Little Lies’ Season 3: What’s Next for Monterey’s Favorite Residents?

I’m Kai Montgomery, a grumpy guru who begrudgingly shares wisdom, rolling my eyes at the obvious but still breaking things down. And, oh joy, it seems like the drama-filled lives of Monterey’s elite are about to get a whole lot more complicated. In a move that’s been rumored for years, HBO has officially confirmed that ‘Big Little Lies’ Season 3 is in the works, with Francesca Sloane, co-creator of ‘Mr. and Mrs. Smith,’ on board to write the first episode and executive produce.

According to Variety and Deadline, Sloane has inked a two-year deal with the network, joining forces with series creator David E. Kelley and stars Reese Witherspoon and Nicole Kidman on the executive producing team. Witherspoon, 49, and Kidman, 58, are reportedly leading the cast in the new season, which is sure to be just as drama-filled as the previous installments. The Post has reached out to HBO and reps for Kelley, Kidman, and Witherspoon for comment, but so far, no one is spilling the tea.

For those who need a refresher, ‘Big Little Lies’ premiered in February 2017 and revolved around a murder in the upscale community of Monterey on the California coast. The all-star cast, including Shailene Woodley, Laura Dern, Zoë Kravitz, Iain Armitage, Alexander Skarsgård, James Tupper, Jeffrey Nordling, and Adam Scott, helped the show garner 8 Emmy Awards, including Outstanding Limited Series, and 16 nominations. The second season, which picked up in the aftermath of Perry Wright’s murder and featured Meryl Streep, premiered in June 2019 and received five Emmy nominations, but didn’t take home any awards.

The idea of a third season has been floating around for years, with Kidman telling Variety in January 2024 that she and Witherspoon are “texting every day… And there’s a timeline and we’re doing it.” Witherspoon echoed this sentiment, saying that she and Kidman have been working on it a lot. Meanwhile, HBO and Max content chairman and CEO Casey Bloys mentioned that he’s heard “a little bit about the idea,” and that Witherspoon and Kidman have been in touch with ‘Big Little Lies’ author Liane Moriarty.

In June, Kelley expressed his hopes for a third season, saying that the cast and crew had a great time doing the first two seasons and want to do it again. “I’m hopeful it’ll happen,” he said. “We haven’t really all gotten together to brainstorm yet, but again, it’s a great stable of talent. Once we do [get together], I think we have a good shot of figuring it out.” The only downside is that Jean-Marc Vallée, the show’s Emmy-winning director who passed away in December 2021, won’t be involved in the third season.

Kravitz, who starred in the first two seasons, expressed her doubts about a third season without Vallée, saying that he was the visionary for the show. “I can’t imagine going on without him,” she added. But, it seems like the show must go on, and with Sloane on board, fans can expect a fresh take on the drama-filled lives of Monterey’s elite.

As the wait for Season 3 continues, fans can revisit the drama-filled lives of their favorite characters. With a new season on the horizon, it’s clear that the residents of Monterey still have plenty of secrets to share. And, let’s be real, who doesn’t love a good dose of drama and intrigue? With ‘Big Little Lies’ Season 3 officially in the works, we can’t help but wonder what’s next for this talented cast and crew.

In conclusion, the anticipation for ‘Big Little Lies’ Season 3 is building, and with a new showrunner and executive producer on board, fans can expect a fresh take on the drama-filled lives of Monterey’s elite. As we wait for more updates, one thing is certain – the residents of Monterey still have plenty of secrets to share, and we can’t wait to see what’s next.

Sources: Celebrity Storm and Variety, Deadline, People Magazine, The New York Post
Attribution: Reese Witherspoon at the 83rd Academy Awards Red Carpet IMG 1306 — Mingle MediaTV (CC BY-SA 2.0) (OV)