The comeback of Big Little Lies seems closer than ever, yet something doesn’t quite add up. As reported by Variety, the production of the third season officially kicked off, only to halt after a single day. There would, however, be no backstage drama and, above all, no premature cancellation in sight. Behind this exceptionally brief filming session lies a very specific reason connected to the tax incentives granted to California productions. Here is what’s happening and how long fans will have to wait to see Big Little Lies back on television.
Big Little Lies 3, why did the shoot last only one day?
Variety revealed that the production for season three of Big Little Lies filmed for just one day at the Warner Bros. Studios in Burbank, California. It was a genuine filming session, but it was organized primarily to satisfy the conditions needed to preserve the state tax credit already approved for the project. Under the rules of the California incentive program, productions must launch principal photography within a certain window from the grant of the incentive. That’s why the crew decided to hold this first take without waiting for the actual start of full-scale production for the new season.
Among those on set was Merrin Dungey, who portrays detective Adrienne Quinlan, a character who has appeared in the first two seasons and, according to leaks, is expected to return in the upcoming episodes. But when will the real shooting begin? For a full-scale production, the timeline points to 2027, though a precise date has not yet been announced.
Big Little Lies 3 will it really happen? What we know about the HBO series’ return
Despite the updates from the set, HBO has not officially announced a renewal for a third season. The project, however, appears to be moving forward in a tangible way. Reese Witherspoon had sparked fan enthusiasm by posting photographs on social media dating back to 2016 taken on the series’ set. The actress later confirmed that something was indeed progressing during an appearance on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon. When asked about the show’s future, Witherspoon replied, “Something is definitely moving,” assuring that the project was in the works. She went on to reveal a crucial plot detail, explaining that the third season would be inspired by a new novel from Liane Moriarty, the author of the book that gave birth to the series.
Plot of the third season
The source material for the new episodes will be Big Little Truths, Moriarty’s novel published in August 2026, which returns readers to the universe of Monterey’s five women. The story jumps forward roughly a decade, bringing Madeline, Celeste, Renata, Jane, and Bonnie into a dramatically different phase of their lives: their children are now teenagers, and, as Casey Bloys, president of HBO and HBO Max, has stressed, raising kids can prove far more challenging than it appears. Yet it won’t be only family difficulties to disturb the protagonists’ balance. In the novel, a new character named Melody enters—a charismatic new history teacher who quickly forges a close bond with the women, becoming part of their circle. Just as she begins to win their trust, a new mystery begins to unfold. It remains to be seen how the series will weave this fresh arc into the events of season two, which ended with the women seemingly ready to reveal the truth about Perry Wright’s death, portrayed by Alexander Skarsgård.
The cast of Big Little Lies 3: who will return in the new season?
As for the cast, no official confirmations have been announced yet, but several returns appear highly likely. Reese Witherspoon and Nicole Kidman are expected to reprise their roles as Madeline Martha Mackenzie and Celeste Wright. Both are also credited as executive producers on the project. It is also possible that the other members of the group will return: Laura Dern in the role of Renata Klein, Zoë Kravitz as Bonnie Carlson, and Shailene Woodley as Jane Chapman. It remains to be seen whether Meryl Streep will resume her portrayal of Mary Louise Wright, Perry’s mother who, in season two, gave rise to one of the series’ most memorable confrontations with Celeste. As noted, Merrin Dungey is expected to be involved again, returning as detective Adrienne Quinlan.
In short, the first camera move has been made, albeit for only 24 hours. For the official start of production and further updates, fans will have to wait until 2027. But fans of Monterey’s girls can begin counting down right away.
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