When Canadian filmmaker Jean-Marc Vallée (Dallas Buyers Club, The Young Victoria) suddenly died in December 2021, it spelt the end for Big Little Lies, despite the show's huge success over its two-season run.
"We talked about doing a season three a lot," said Zoë Kravitz, one of the show's leads, to GQ in 2022. "Unfortunately, Jean-Marc Vallée, our incredible director, passed away this last year. It's heartbreaking. I can't imagine going on without him. He really was the visionary for that show. Unfortunately, it's done."
But on Sunday night at the Golden Globes, Reese Witherspoon confirmed that a third season was under way. "We are working on it," she said on the red carpet, nodding with a big grin.
hearing that big little lies 3 is fr coming hits different omg pic.twitter.com/e2OQSNNG5p
— sarah🍓 (@MILEY0NCE) January 8, 2024
Thrilled fans shared their reactions on social media: "Big little lies season three I genuinely thought this day would never come… for three whole years i would rewatch the show and come to terms with it being over forever every time," said one fan on X.
"Crying," commented another. "About time," said another.
big little lies season three i genuinely thought this day would never come… for three whole years i would rewatch the show and come to terms with it being over forever every time pic.twitter.com/nz9vbJRvx0
— di 🐇 (@valleydoIl) January 8, 2024
big little lies nation's current state pic.twitter.com/FUhEHTRcOq
— a 🌊 (@seohyungsmoore) January 8, 2024
For those more closely following the fate of the show, the confirmation was slightly less of a surprise. Nicole Kidman, who starred in and executive produced Big Little Lies alongside Witherspoon, had announced that a third season was in the works in November 2023.
"I loved Big Little Lies because it sort of came along at a time in my life when I had my children and I was thinking I was going to retire and then this situation came along, where Reese Witherspoon and I were able to produce that show,” Kidman said, speaking on stage during a Q&A. "And then all of you watched it and made it a massive success."
"And we will be bringing you a third one, just FYI," she added. The comment was met with applause and happy whoops.
For now, further details about the next series of the eight-time Emmy award-winning show are still firmly under wraps.
Premiering in 2017, HBO's Big Little Lies told the story of five Californian women who become involved in a murder. The show, which also starred Shailene Woodley, Laura Dern, Alexander Skarsgård, Adam Scott and Meryl Streep (who joined the second series), was an instant success, picking up dozens of awards and nominations, and wowing critics as well as fans.
Reviewers heaped on the praise for both installments (though the first season remained the favourite), describing the show as "sensational", "gripping", "sharp", "cathartic" and "compelling". It was created by David E Kelley, the American lawyer and writer whose credits include Ally McBeal (1997–2002), Boston Legal (2004–2008), The Undoing (2020), and Nine Perfect Stranger (2021).
