Fans of HBO’s acclaimed drama Big Little Lies have reason to celebrate: after years of speculation, the premium network has officially confirmed that a third season is in development, with a major creative shakeup at the helm. On September 11, 2025, HBO announced that Francesca Sloane, best known for co-creating the Emmy-nominated Mr. & Mrs. Smith with Donald Glover, has been tapped to write the first episode of Season 3. Sloane, who has just signed an exclusive two-year overall deal with HBO, will also serve as executive producer alongside series creator David E. Kelley and stars Reese Witherspoon and Nicole Kidman.
The news marks a significant turning point for the beloved Monterey-set series, which last aired a new episode more than six years ago. According to Deadline, Sloane’s appointment follows an extensive summer 2025 search by HBO, which included a competitive bake-off among several prominent writers and writing teams. Interestingly, Sloane was not initially part of that process, but her recent move from Amazon MGM Studios—where she had been under an overall deal since 2020—opened the door for HBO to secure her talents. Her previous project, Mr. & Mrs. Smith, had its second season put on indefinite hold due to cast issues, prompting Sloane to explore new opportunities.
Sloane’s arrival at HBO is not just a win for Big Little Lies fans, but also a strategic victory for the network. The writer’s track record is impressive: Mr. & Mrs. Smith earned 16 Emmy nominations, winning two, and Sloane herself shared in two Emmy nods and three Writers Guild of America Award nominations for the series’ acclaimed first season. Her earlier credits include stints on Atlanta, Fargo, and The First, reflecting a knack for character-driven, genre-bending drama.
Season 3 of Big Little Lies has been a long time coming. The show first premiered in 2017 as a limited series based on Liane Moriarty’s bestselling novel, with a second season—built on original material—following in 2019. The ensemble cast, led by Witherspoon, Kidman, Zoë Kravitz, Laura Dern, and Shailene Woodley, quickly became synonymous with the show’s blend of dark secrets, coastal glamour, and sharp social satire. The first season was a critical and ratings juggernaut, scooping up eight Emmy Awards out of sixteen nominations, including Outstanding Limited Series and acting trophies for Kidman, Dern, and Alexander Skarsgård.
Yet the path to a third season was anything but straightforward. As reported by Deadline, the sudden death of executive producer and Season 1 director Jean-Marc Vallée in 2021 was a devastating blow to the creative team. Bruna Papandrea, another executive producer, described Vallée’s passing as leaving “a big hole” and causing everyone involved to pause and reconsider the show’s future. Despite this, the core cast and creators remained vocal about their desire to continue the story, with Kidman, Witherspoon, and Kelley all expressing public enthusiasm for a return to the windswept cliffs of Monterey.
Momentum for Season 3 began building again in late 2023, when Kidman let slip that a new installment was in the works. In a June 2025 interview with Vanity Fair, Kidman reflected on her earlier announcement, saying, “I got excited. But we are now! We’re moving fast and furious, and Liane is delivering the book. Yeah, and we’re in good shape.” Witherspoon echoed her co-star’s optimism in an October conversation with E! News, revealing that the team was collaborating closely with Moriarty on plot details. “She’s going to be turning in something very soon,” Witherspoon said. “We’re back to the original author and we’re going to go back to the original characters. It's exciting, too, because I think the kids are probably a little bit older now. So that might add another element. I don’t know yet, I haven’t read it yet.”
The show’s return is closely tied to Moriarty’s upcoming sequel novel, which HBO’s Casey Bloys, Chairman and CEO of HBO and HBO Max Content, cited as a key factor in moving forward with Season 3. According to Deadline, Moriarty’s follow-up book is now believed to be finished and is set for publication in 2026. The new story reportedly features a time jump, with the central women now navigating life as mothers of teenagers—a development that promises fresh drama and new complexities for the Monterey Five.
As for casting, Witherspoon and Kidman are confirmed to reprise their iconic roles as Madeline Mackenzie and Celeste Wright, respectively. However, it remains unclear whether Laura Dern, Zoë Kravitz, and Shailene Woodley will return to stir up more intrigue in Monterey. The show’s extended ensemble, including Alexander Skarsgård, Adam Scott, James Tupper, Jeffrey Nordling, and Meryl Streep (who joined in Season 2), has contributed to its reputation as a showcase for powerhouse performances and nuanced character work.
The decision to bring in Sloane as both writer and executive producer signals HBO’s commitment to revitalizing the series with fresh creative energy. Her experience with complex female characters and intricate plotting, honed on shows like Atlanta and Fargo, is expected to mesh well with Moriarty’s world of secrets, lies, and shifting alliances. Sloane’s exclusive two-year overall deal also suggests that HBO sees her as a key player in shaping the network’s drama slate for the foreseeable future.
For viewers, the prospect of a new season raises tantalizing questions. How will the passage of time—and the aging of the characters’ children—reshape the dynamics among Monterey’s most infamous mothers? Will old wounds resurface, or will new secrets threaten to unravel the community once more? While plot details remain tightly under wraps, the involvement of the original author, returning stars, and a bold new creative voice behind the scenes has set expectations sky-high.
In the ever-competitive landscape of prestige television, Big Little Lies stands out as a rare blend of critical acclaim, commercial success, and cultural impact. Its return, now shepherded by Francesca Sloane and anchored by the talents of Witherspoon and Kidman, promises a fresh chapter for a show that has always thrived on reinvention. As fans await further announcements—and the eventual premiere date—one thing is certain: the secrets of Monterey are far from exhausted.
With the creative team energized, the cast eager, and Moriarty’s new novel on the horizon, Big Little Lies Season 3 is poised to reclaim its place at the center of the television conversation. For now, viewers can only speculate—and wait for the next wave to break on those iconic California shores.
