All the Juicy Details We Know So Far About Big Little Lies Season 3

The Monterey Five is coming back for another round of not-so-little lies. After much speculation, it appears that Season 3 of HBO’s Big Little Lies is officially a go. In a recent interview with Vanity Fair, stars Nicole Kidman and Reese Witherspoon (who play Celeste and Madeline, respectively), dished on the upcoming third season of the black comedy drama series.

“We’re moving fast and furious,” Kidman said. “We’re in good shape. The rest is–we need to shut up, because there’s this whole thing that you should never talk about something until you’ve done it.” The actress first spilled the beans about the new season at a Q&A event in 2023 when she declared, “I loved Big Little Lies. We will be bringing you a third one, just FYI.”

The series, which was created by David E. Kelley and first premiered in 2017, centers on a group of mothers in Monterey, California — Celeste, Madeline, Jane (Shailene Woodley), Bonnie (Zoë Kravitz), and Renata (Laura Dern) — whose lives are turned upside down when a murder occurs at a school fundraiser. It was initially billed as a limited series; Season 1 is based on the bestselling novel of the same name by Liane Moriarty (who’s also the author behind Nine Perfect Strangers and Apples Never Fall). The series has received widespread acclaim, having been nominated for a whopping 21 Emmys and taking home eight.

There aren’t a ton of details yet about Season 3, but fans are already buzzing about all of the twisted possibilities. What will the new mystery entail? Which cast members have already said they’re game to return? And what’s going to happen with the kids, who have all grown up so much since Season 2 aired in 2019? Here’s everything we know so far about Big Little Lies Season 3.

Where did everyone leave off at the end of Big Little Lies Season 2?

Season 2 largely revolved around a heated custody battle between Celeste and her mother-in-law Mary Louise (Meryl Streep), who arrived in town after her son Perry’s (Alexander Skarsgård) death. In the season finale, “I Want to Know,” the truth about Perry finally came out at the courthouse when Celeste shared a video, which her twins (Cameron and Nicholas Crovetti) secretly recorded, as proof of his abuse. As a result, Celeste maintained custody of the boys, and Mary Louise packed her bags and left Monterey (good riddance!).

Elsewhere, Jane began a romantic relationship with Corey (Douglas Smith) and Madeline and Ed (Adam Scott) renewed their vows, having reconciled after their rough patch. Renata also finally gave her cheating husband Gordon (Jeffrey Nordling) a piece of her mind by not only leaving him, but also gloriously destroying his stupid train set in the process.

However, Bonnie’s storyline ended on a much heavier note. Her mother Elizabeth (Crystal R. Fox) came back into her life, and their fraught relationship was obvious from the beginning. It was revealed that Bonnie was abused by Elizabeth when she was a child, but she still went to see her mother on her deathbed to tell her she loved her. Bonnie also admitted to her husband Nathan (James Tupper) that she didn’t love him. 

At the end of the episode, Bonnie texted the rest of the Monterey Five and declared that she was finally ready to confess to her role in Perry’s death. The season concluded with all of the women accompanying her to the police station in support.

What is Big Little Lies Season 3 about?

Little is known about the upcoming season so far, but according to Kidman, author Liane [Moriarty] is “delivering the book.” While details of the latest mystery are still under wraps, excitement is high among both fans and the cast themselves.

“There are so many great stories to tell, and I am open to all the different horizons,” Kidman said in a 2020 interview with TVLine. “We all love each other and want to work together. We’re deeply intertwined now. Whether that [camaraderie yields] a story that will be fascinating and complex and important, that’s a different thing. It would need to be a story that makes our jaws drop.”

Creator, writer, and executive producer David E. Kelley hasn’t officially confirmed yet if he’ll be back for round three, but his involvement seems likely. “We so love the show and the characters,” he told TVLine in 2021. “None of us have given up on the idea of bringing the band back together.” 

The absence of Season 1 director Jean-Marc Vallée, who died in 2021, will definitely be felt. “I can't imagine going on without him,” Kravitz reflected in a 2022 interview with GQ. “He really was the visionary for that show.” In a conversation with The Hollywood Reporter that same year, Witherspoon echoed Kravitz’s sentiment, but added that she was still hopeful about the show’s future. “So much of that series was born of his imagination and his creativity, so it is hard to imagine a future without him,” Witherspoon said of Vallée. “But there is certainly a deep desire for all of us to connect and create those characters again.”

Who’s returning for Big Little Lies Season 3?

There’s yet to be an official casting announcement, but it’s highly likely that main gals Nicole Kidman, Reese Witherspoon, Shailene Woodley, Zoë Kravitz, and Laura Dern will be on the call sheet. “I’ve got Laura [Dern] calling me, and Zoe [Kravitz] and Shailene [Woodley]. They’re all like, ‘Nic said that we’re making Big Little Lies season three?’” Witherspoon told Vanity Fair.

While there were initially concerns about Dern and Kravitz’s busy schedules, Kidman later confirmed in a 2020 interview with Entertainment Tonight that both actresses are “in” for another season; Dern also told the outlet that she “could never say no to Renata.” 

Other possible returning cast members include Adam Scott (Ed), James Tupper (Nathan), Jeffrey Nordling (Gordon), Douglas Smith (Corey), and Alexander Skarsgård as Perry in flashback form. So far, there’s been no mention of Meryl Streep reprising her role of the dreadful Mary Louise (granted, she’s also a bit preoccupied with Only Murders in the Building right now). However, Kathryn Newton (Abigail) seems totally on board. When asked by IndieWire if she would return for a third season, she replied playfully, “Am I breathing?” (duh!).

As for the younger actors, unless there’s a major time jump, they’ve all grown up way too much since Season 2 to reprise their roles. Plus, they’re pretty busy these days. Iain Armitage’s (Ziggy) career has really taken off — after Big Little Lies, he starred as young Sheldon Cooper in the CBS hit sitcom Young Sheldon for seven seasons. And Cameron Crovetti’s role in Prime Video’s The Boys continues to expand with each installment; Season 4 is set to premiere on June 13.

When does Big Little Lies Season 3 premiere?

HBO has not given any official release date for Season 3 yet. In January, HBO and Max content chairman/CEO Casey Bloys told Variety that the season was still in “very early stages,” emphasizing the cast’s busy schedules presenting a challenge. However, given that Kidman said they’re “moving fast and furious” on the season, fans may not have to wait too long for production to begin once the scripts are penned. 

“There’s a lot that needs to be done,” Bloys said of the upcoming third season. “But it’s a very special group. They love working together. And when they land on an idea, I believe they will make it happen. We’re excited when they’re ready, and we will take those steps when they’re ready.”

Big Little Lies Seasons 1 and 2 are streaming on Max. Join the discussion about the show in our forums.

Kelly Martinez is a TV Reporter based in Los Angeles. Her previous work can be found at BuzzFeed and People Magazine, among other outlets. She enjoys reading, spending time with her cat, and explaining the plot of Riverdale to people.