'Big Little Lies' officially returning for Season 2; Kidman, Witherspoon to star

HBO has given us an early Christmas present:Big Little Liesis officially returning for another season, TVLine has confirmed.

The hit miniseries’ story will continue with a seven-episode Season 2, with Nicole Kidman and Reese Witherspoon returning to star and executive-produce. Shailene Woodley, who starred alongside Kidman and Witherspoon in Season 1, is not confirmed to return, but a statement from HBO says that “most of the cast is expected to return, and negotiations are underway.”

RELATED Big Little Lies Eyes Spring 2018 Production Start for Season 2

David E. Kelley will return to write all seven episodes of the new season, with director Andrea Arnold (Transparent, I Love Dick) taking over for last season’s director Jean-Marc Vallée. (We reported last month that Vallée was stepping aside due to scheduling conflicts, and would likely be replaced by a female director.)

“I’m excited to announce the return of Big Little Lies,” HBO programming president Casey Bloys said in a statement. “David Kelley wrote beautiful scripts and Reese and Nicole were, once again, a force to be reckoned with, reuniting the cast and recruiting the talented Andrea Arnold to direct. We look forward to working with this amazing group of artists.”

Season 1 of Big Little Lies starred Kidman and Witherspoon as rich Monterey moms Celeste and Madeline, whose lives take a sudden turn when someone turns up dead. It took home eight Emmys, including Limited Series and Lead Actress in a Limited Series/Movie for Kidman. No word yet on the plot of Season 2, but Kelley is basing his scripts on a story by Liane Moriarty, who wrote the original novel.

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