It’s official: HBO’s anthem drama Big Little Lies is coming back for a third season, and fans couldn’t be more excited. The series, which first debuted in 2017 and became a cultural phenomenon, will return with a mix of familiar faces and fresh creative energy.
When’s the Release Date?
HBO has confirmed that Big Little Lies Season 3 is officially in the works, though no official premiere date has been announced yet. Variety reported that Francesca Sloane, co-creator of Mr. & Mrs. Smith, has signed on to write the first episode and executive produce the season alongside David E. Kelley, Nicole Kidman and Reese Witherspoon.
While fans have been speculating for months — with Kidman hinting back in November 2023 that a new season might be in the cards — this marks the first official confirmation that the beloved series will return.
Who’s Returning to the Cast?
Leading the cast once again are Nicole Kidman and Reese Witherspoon, who have been integral to the show since its inception. Alongside them, Shailene Woodley, Zoë Kravitz, Laura Dern, Alexander Skarsgård, Adam Scott, James Tupper and Jeffrey Nordling are expected to return, though HBO has yet to confirm the full ensemble.
Meryl Streep, who joined the series in Season 2 as Mary Louise Wright, may also reprise her role. Shailene Woodley shared her excitement on Instagram, responding to a fan post with: “we ARE so back … big little lies 3, you ready???” She added in another post, “cause … it’s happening …”
Witherspoon also teased the reunion during an appearance on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon: “We might be working on Season 3. Yeah, I mean, they’re writing it. It’s exciting too, just to get the gang back together and have everyone start talking about it. It’s really fun.”
What Will Season 3 Be Based On?
The first season of Big Little Lies was based on Liane Moriarty’s bestselling novel of the same name. Season 2 branched out into original material created by Moriarty herself. A new sequel novel is slated for publication in 2026, giving fans hope that the upcoming season could draw inspiration from fresh literary material.
Witherspoon highlighted the passage of time since the original season aired nearly a decade ago:
“It’s been about 10 years, maybe nine years? All those little kids [who] were in second grade, they’re all teenagers today. And being a mom of a teenager, it’s a lot of big little lies.”
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