Break out the wine and your favorite child-DJ playlist: Big Little Lies Season 2 is officially happening. HBO announced Friday afternoon that a seven-episode second season is in the works, with some already-written David E. Kelley scripts based on a new story from Liane Moriarty, who wrote the original book of the same name. Per HBO, Season 2 will tackle the “malignancy of lies, the durability of friendships, the fragility of marriage and, of course, the vicious ferocity of sound parenting,” so it’s a relief to know the lies will return, no matter the scale.
Jean-Marc Vallée, who directed all seven episodes of the first season, will come back as an executive producer, while Andrea Arnold (Wasp, Wuthering Heights, American Honey, Transparent) is set to step into the director’s chair.
Stars and executive producers Nicole Kidman and Reese Witherspoon are also confirmed to return. No word yet on the series’ other cast members, though contract negotiations are reportedly underway. It’d be a minor tragedy if we weren’t treated to more glorious verbal sparring between Witherspoon’s Madeline Mackenzie and Laura Dern’s Renata Klein.
Of course, Season 2 didn’t need to happen. Big Little Lies was envisioned as a miniseries, and the presumed series finale put a neat bow on the proceedings. However, the show was a major, Emmy-winning hit — and could fare similarly well at the Golden Globes, whose nominees will be announced Monday.
At the very least, it’s the poster child for what could be the new normal in Peak TV: A-list movie stars making their way to the small screen. Clearly, since it was so much fun (and wildly successful) the first time, Kidman, Witherspoon, and company want to go at least one more round.
Disclosure: HBO is an initial investor in The Ringer.
