Big Little Lies season 3 has received a major progress update. The star-studded HBO drama, which adapted the novel of the same name by Liane Moriarty with a star-studded cast that included Nicole Kidman, Reese Witherspoon, Zoë Kravitz, Shailene Woodley, and Meryl Streep, debuted in 2017, followed by season 2 in 2019. Since then, updates on Big Little Lies season 3 have been sporadic, though Kidman seemingly confirmed that it was in development in a statement in November 2023.
The Hollywood Reporter recently sat down with the HBO and Max programming team for an all-encompassing interview. During the conversation, the topic turned to Big Little Lies season 3. Executive Vice President and Head of Drama, HBO Programming Francesca Orsi revealed that “we need the remainder of the book.” She says that Moriarty has finished 150 pages of the manuscript and that the adaptation will be mounted “as soon as it’s done.” Read Orsi’s full quote below:
I can’t wait to get started, but we need the remainder of the book. We have 150 pages in, and [author Liane Moriarty] is doubling down, looking to finish it. There’s a lot of eagerness from both HBO and the producing team, and as soon as it’s done, she’ll hand it over and we’ll adapt it. But until then, we just have to sit tight. So, not quite as imminent as I originally thought.
What This Means For Big Little Lies Season 3
The Show Has A Strong Chance Of Returning
Orsi’s update has several huge implications. The first is that significant progress has been made on the full-length Big Little Lies sequel novel. However, there is still most likely a lot of work left to be done, considering the fact that the original book was more than 400 pages long. It is unknown how much more time it will take to finish the novel, which Moriarty says will involve a significant time jump. It was originally announced in November 2024, though, so if she continues at this rate, it may be completed by the end of 2025.
While Big Little Lies season 2 was based on a novella by Moriarty, that work remains unpublished.
This update also seemingly reveals that firm plans are still in place to mount the new season, even though there have been significant delays. While the availability of the cast could pose a problem when the time comes to follow up on the Big Little Lies season 2 ending, Kidman’s confidence in the project and the fact that it is a co-production with Witherspoon’s company Hello Sunshine could go a long way in making sure that the core cast could be reassembled.
Our Take On The Big Little Lies Update
The Long Hiatus May Not Be An Obstacle
While this update reveals that the wait for Big Little Lies will become even more extensive, season 3 may not have too much trouble making its way to the screen once the book is finished, as the author has remained a hot television commodity since it went off the air in 2019. Multiple other Liane Moriarty TV adaptations have already made it to the air, including Nine Perfect Strangers, which was renewed for season 2 by Hulu, and Apples Never Fall, which premiered on Peacock in 2024.
Source: THR
Big Little Lies
8/10
- Release Date
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2017 – 2024
- Network
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HBO Max
- Showrunner
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David E. Kelley
- Directors
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Jean-Marc Vallee, Andrea Arnold
- Writers
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David E. Kelley