Big Little Lies season 3: Everything you need to know

From Digital Spy

Note: Contains MAJOR spoilers for Big Little Lies seasons one and two.

Big Little Lies season 3 is currently unconfirmed, but the second season of HBO/Sky Atlantic drama weathered a couple of challenges following its return to the small screen.

There were whispers that Andrea Arnold, who had taken over from Jean-Marc Vallée as director due to his busy work schedule, had lost "creative control" of the series.

IndieWire reported that "a number of sources close to the production" had discussed how "the show was yanked away from Arnold", who previously directed American Honey and won an Academy Award back in 2005 for live-action short Wasp.

The reins were allegedly given back to Vallée, who had remained on board as an executive producer.

But HBO refuted those claims in a statement: "There wouldn't be a season two of Big Little Lies without Andrea Arnold.

"We at HBO and the producers are extremely proud of her work. As with any television project, the executive producers work collaboratively on the series and we think the final product speaks for itself."

HBO's president of programming Casey Bloys also weighed in, dismissing the comments at the TCA summer press tour: "We're indebted to her, she did a beautiful job and she got extraordinary performances.

"As anybody who works in TV knows, the director typically does not have final creative control... the idea that creative control was taken from a director is just a false premise.

"Typically what happens in TV is the director turns in a director's cut, and the production team uses that to hone the episodes, and that's what happened here."

"He (Casey) said it beautifully," Nicole Kidman told Entertainment Weekly in reference to the rumours. "That's why we had Casey handle it. Obviously, he's the head of HBO. He really said it beautifully."

Reese Witherspoon added: "We just love the show. We had such a great time doing it. There was a lot of misinformation and no credited sources on any of the information.

"This was an incredibly collaborative process for all of us and the idea that anyone was mistreated and not communicated with is completely not true.

"I was glad that Casey spoke so clearly about that and we are thrilled with the collaboration that yielded this season. It could have never been this show had it not been with these particular artists collaborating on this particular material."

But despite Bloys' glowing praise of Arnold, as well comments made by Witherspoon and Kidman (who were numbers three and four respectively on 2019's highest-paid actresses list), there was the overwhelming consensus by both critics and viewers that season two just wasn't as good as season one.

That didn't, however, stop it pulling in series-high ratings, with the season two finale watched by 1.98 million viewers during its initial airing, and that number soaring to 3.1 million viewers across HBO's other platforms.

There are many factors that dictate the future of a show, and ratings are one of them.

But will it be back?

"I love this group of people – I would do anything with them. But the reality is, they are some of the busiest actresses working in Hollywood," Bloys told TVLine back in July this year. "We have deals with some of them — Nicole is doing her next show [The Undoing] with us. I just think it's not realistic."

But before you lose faith altogether, Bloys did say that he hadn't ruled it out: "If they all came to me and said, 'We worked out all of our schedules' – then sure. But I just don't think it's realistic."

Chatting at the the Television Critics Association press tour (via CNN), Kidman said: "We would love to, but... I don't think we'd ever get Laura back. She's working on so many different things right now.

"I think everyone's working and in good places, which is a lovely thing to have come out of that show. Hopefully we can all collide again at some point."

"David E Kelley constructed this show with Liane Moriarty," Kidman said.

"They built it from the ground up, and it's their show, and we'll see if they're ignited into building a life for these women, and which way they would go next. We'll find out."

She added: "If there is a third one, all of it will come from the writers, and that's amazing. Liane is deeply talented. David is deeply talented, and the combination of them is extraordinary. So, where they would take it, I have no idea.

"You have to bow down to the writers, because that really is where it starts. Unless you're a director/writer, and then you write it. But this show, we'll see what Liane can muster, and if she has an interest in it."

Chatting to Elle, she said: "Everyone says, 'Are you going to do a season three?' We're like, 'Just give us a sec.'"

But she added, "We'd love to [do another season] because we love being together, and it's lovely spending time with your friends, and with such good material."

HBO president Casey Bloys said season two was designed to work as a definitive conclusion. "Season two was a chance for everyone involved to end [the franchise] in a way that feels satisfying."

"I think that it's one and two, and we like where our closure is at the end of season two, so that will probably be it," creator David E. Kelley said during an onstage Q&A (via Harpers Bazaar).

But before you get too worried: "That's what you said last time!" Kidman said.

"Yeah, you sat there and said the same thing!" Reese Witherspoon added.

So, it appears that the cast are keen if the writers are, but HBO is worried that the cast will be too busy – or maybe too expensive – for a third season. Can we just please get all of these people into a room so they can work it out amongst themselves?

But to tide you over in the meantime, Kidman and Kelley have been working together on HBO's The Undoing, which premieres in May.

Here's everything else you need to know about Big Little Lies season three.

Big Little Lies season 3 cast: Who's coming back for Big Little Lies season 3?

So, Nicole Kidman is game for round three – but she has another condition.

"I think we would love to do a season three because there are certainly ideas, but we would not do it without all of the same people involved… even the kids," she told News Corp Australia.

So that would mean getting absolutely everyone back on board, which could be tricky given who is involved and their demanding schedules.

But if they do manage to pull it off, that would mean Kidman, along with the following, would all be back:

Madeline (Reese Witherspoon), Jane (Shailene Woodley), Bonnie (Zoë Kravitz), Renata (Laura Dern) – who just won the Supporting Actress award at the 2020 BAFTAs for her role in Netflix's Marriage Story, as well as scooping the Supporting Actress gong at the Golden Globes, Ed (Adam Scott), Nathan (James Tupper), Gordon (Jeffrey Nordling), Abigail (Kathryn Newton), Ziggy (Iain Armitage), Chloe (Darby Camp), Josh (Cameron Crovetti), Max (Nicholas Crovetti), Skye (Chloe Coleman) and Amabella (Ivy George).

When asked by a fan on Instagram if the show would return – "Season 3? Check Y or N" –Woodley responded: "I hope so."

Witherspoon also shared a post on Instagram, which a number of fans believed was a reference to a third season.

"Bringing a little sunshine to my day! Stopped by the office for some exciting meetings, can't wait to share more with y'all soon! #bigthingscoming," she wrote.

Not only is Hello Sunshine (Witherspoon's media brand) responsible for bringing the likes of Big Little Lies to the small screen, people also seized upon the particular wording she used in her hashtag.

In terms of who else could be back, there's a chance that Robin Weigert could feature as therapist Dr Amanda Reisman once again, and Douglas Smith could return as Corey, Jane's love interest and colleague.

As for Meryl Streep's Mary Louise, it's not clear whether her work commitments would allow another stint in Monterey, or if it would make sense for her character to return given the fact that she fought in court to have Celeste's children taken away from her.

And while Kidman's character did allow Josh and Max to hug their grandma at the end of the courtroom saga, we can't imagine Celeste will want much contact with her in the future.

Speaking in the winners' room at the Critics' Choice Awards (via The Hollywood Reporter) about the Big Little Lies' group chat, Dern said: "Reese is definitely the most organised leader. She and Zoe [Kravitz] are the most on it probably.

"Meryl Streep is literally the funniest person that ever lived. So she will spice up every conversation which is just the greatest gift that I even have existing in my phone."

Witherspoon also said that she would love Jennifer Aniston to join the fold.

The pair, who first worked together on Friends, also teamed up on Apple's first big budget production, The Morning Show, and made no secret of their love for one another.

"We wrapped The Morning Show, she went directly to another show," Aniston said of her co-star (via The Times). "There is no hanging out to be done with this hard-working woman."

Witherspoon replied: "Come on Big Little Lies."

Make. It. Happen.

Big Little Lies season 3 episodes: How many will Big Little Lies season 3 have?

Both seasons one and two have seven episodes apiece, so we'd expect the third chapter to follow the same pattern.

Big Little Lies season 3 soundtrack: Where can I listen to the Big Little Lies season 3 soundtrack?

The Big Little Lies soundtrack is an integral part of the drama, the eclectic mix encompassing everyone from Leon Bridges to Agnes Obel to Irma Thomas.

It's available to listen to in multiple places, from Apple Music to Spotify.

If we do get a third chapter, expect to find the soundtrack on these services, also.

Big Little Lies season 3 air date: When will Big Little Lies season 3 premiere?

While season one hit screens in February 2017, we didn't get the second instalment until June 2019.

And with the cast boasting some of Hollywood's most in-demand stars, even our trusty crystal ball can't predict when this series will be back.

Big Little Lies season 3 plot: What will happen in Big Little Lies season 3?

The narrative that has unfolded on our screens has long outstripped the novel of the same name, written by Liane Moriarty, so there's no new source material to inform our educated guess.

At the end of season two, the Monterey Five all entered the local police station, where we assume Bonnie will confess to intentionally pushing Perry down the stairs after watching him attack Celeste. The rest of the gang, we also assume, will support her statement and all will attest to Perry's aggressive, combative behaviour as they, too, tried to stop him from battering his wife.

Whether we'll see their confession on camera or if there will be a time jump remains to be seen.

Big Little Lies season 3 trailer: When can I watch Big Little Lies season 3?

First up, we need a season three confirmation. Then we can start thinking about the trailer.

Baby steps, people.

Big Little Lies airs on HBO in the US and on Sky Atlantic in the UK, and season one is currently available to screen on Now TV.

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