CULTURE

Big Little Lies Season 2 Is Officially Happening With Andrea Arnold as the Director

Reese Witherspoon and Nicole Kidman just signed their contracts.


big little lies
HBO

After months of speculation and finger crossing, the second season of Big Little Lies is finally official. Today, HBO announced that the beloved, Emmy-winning limited series will be extended into a second run as Reese Witherspoon and Nicole Kidman have already signed their contracts, The Hollywood Reporter notes. One person who will not be coming back, however, is director Jean-Marc Vallée, responsible for the show’s dreamy take on Big Sur, Pebble Beach and Monterey. He already has another HBO miniseries in the works with Amy Adams, after all. Instead, he’ll be replaced by a female director: Andrea Arnold, who is best known for her 2016 film American Honey and has helmed a few episodes of Transparent.

“I’m thrilled to be bringing back this talented team of artists,” said Witherspoon, as The Hollywood Reporter points out. “It gives us the opportunity to delve deeper into the lives of these intriguing and intricate Monterey families and bring more of their stories back to the audience who embraced and championed them. I’m beyond excited to be working with talented and acclaimed director Andrea Arnold who will be at the helm. Andrea’s unique storytelling style will be a welcome addition to the filmmaking team.”

Her castmate Nicole Kidman, who won an Emmy for her performance in Big Little Lies and subsequently penned a letter on domestic violence, was also thrilled about the addition of Arnold. “This is inspired by the overwhelming response by audiences around the world, conceived once again by Liane Moriarty, realized by David Kelley and now in the hands of visionary filmmaker Andrea Arnold,” said the actress, who this year announced her pledge to work with a female director at least once every 18 months. “What a journey this has been. I’m so grateful to have this opportunity to keep exploring these female characters and make this series with my friends.”

While the first season of Big Little Lies stuck close to the original scope of the book the series was based on by Liane Moriarty, it’s unknown how season two will unfurl. What is known is that screenwriter David E. Kelley will be returning. Moriarty will likely be weighing in as well, as she revealed back in April that she has already started brainstorming how the show could pick back up. “I have started to think about ways this could continue,” she said. “I wouldn’t write a new book but perhaps a new story and then we’ll see what happens…. My original reaction was what have they done? How have they left that out? … I think I might have preferred to have had it in there, but I wouldn’t argue against it either.” There is not yet a release date for season two but stay tuned.

Related: Reese Witherspoon and Jennifer Aniston Will Co-Star in Apple’s First Big TV Show

An Exploration of Nicole Kidman’s Always Elegant Hairstyles, from Natural Curls to Glamorous Updos

A young Nicole Kidman hit the streets of Los Angeles with Tom Cruise in 1990. The actress wore a plain white button down and jeans, and left her hair in bouncy, windswept curls.

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At the 1991 63rd Annual Academy Awards, Kidman wore her tight curls in a loose up do with tousled curls framing her face with a red lip.

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Kidman attended the California premiere of A Few Good Men in 1992 wearing her blonde locks in relaxed curls with a bold, mauve lip.

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At the 69th Annual Academy Awards in 1997, Kidman wore her hair in an elegant up do with a hint of cream blush on the cheeks paired with a burgundy red lip.

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The actress wore her hair in a high pony with a taupe smoky and a nude lip at the Mission Impossible 2 film premiere in 2000.

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The Australian beauty wore her newly chopped strawberry blonde locks in a tight curls with a nude, glossy lip at the Los Angeles premiere of The Hours in 2002.

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Kidman was glowing as she celebrated her Oscar win for her role in The Hours in 2003.

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Creamy, porcelain skin with a sleek, low pony with loose curls was Kidman’s look at the 2004 Venice Film Festival.

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Kidman kept her look clean and simple at the 78th Annual Academy Awards in 2006 wearing her blonde locks straight and side-parted with a hint of blush on the cheeks and a rose pink lip.

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At the London premiere of Australia in 2008, Kidman wore her hair in a low, sleek bun with a luminous skin and a berry pink lip.

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The actress wore her auburn locks in big loose curls with a subtle cat eye at the 2010 HFPA Installation Luncheon.

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At the 83rd Annual Academy Awards, Kidman wore her hair in a sleek pony with side swept bangs and a pink nude lip.

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Kidman arrived at the 69th Annual Golden Globe Awards in 2012 wearing her strawberry blonde locks in relaxed curls with a glossy, nude lip.

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Kidman wore her platinum bob in soft curls with dewy skin and a nude lip at the 70th Annual Golden Globe Awards in 2013.

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Kidman wore her strawberry blonde locks side-parted in relaxed curls with a hint of blush on the cheeks at the 87th Annual Academy Awards in 2015.

Photo by Getty.

At the 67th Annual Cannes Film Festival, Kidman wears an elegant, twisted low pony with a nude, pink lip.

Photo by Getty.

At the 8th Annual Governors Awards in 2016, Kidman wore her shoulder-length platinum locks middle-parted with a light contour on the cheekbones with a glossy pink lip.

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Stunning at the 89th Annual Academy Awards in 2017, Kidman wore her hair in an elegant up do with loose curls framing her face, with a hint of blush on the cheeks and a satin, red lip.

Photo by Getty.

Kidman went for a minimalist look, with wavy hair and subtle makeup, at a photocall for “The Killing Of A Sacred Deer” during the 70th annual Cannes Film Festival at Palais des Festivals on May 22, 2017.

Tony Barson

The actress looked classic at the Cannes Film Festival, with her long, straight hair, stud earrings, and matte red lip.

George Pimentel

Nicole Kidman attended the “Top Of The Lake: China Girl” photocall during the 70th annual Cannes Film Festival at Palais des Festivals on May 23, 2017, wearing her hair in a teased, messy braid.

Tony Barson

Nicole Kidman wore her blonde hair in beachy waves with a soft pink lip and a rosy hue on her cheeks at the 70th annual Cannes Film Festival at Palais des Festivals on May 23, 2017 in Cannes, France.

Tony Barson

Nicole Kidman wore her hair in a sleek topknot with a few loose, face-framing pieces at the amfAR Gala Cannes 2017 at Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc on May 25, 2017 in Cap d’Antibes, France.

Tony Barson

Nicole Kidman looked casual–for her–at the Glamour Women of The Year awards 2017 at Berkeley Square Gardens on June 6, 2017 in London, England, with a berry-colored lip and loosely curled hair.

Stuart C. Wilson
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