Big Little LiesauthorLiane Moriarty confirms that she is writing a sequel to her bestselling original novel. Despite season 2 already extending beyond the source material and ending in 2019, the series' executive producer and star Nicole Kidman revealed in late 2023 thatBig Little Liesseason 3was in development. Fellow executive producer and star Reese Witherspoon shared that she is also working on it, although it is still in the early stages of development.
While speaking withRadioTimes.com,Moriarty explained that she is writing a book sequel toBig Little Liesfeaturing a time jump, as the young characters from the original story will now be teenagers. She emphasized how the sequel is influenced by her own life, just as the original book was. Moriarty also clarified that the sequel will"not [be] honing in on anyone in particular"and confirmed that she will be"putting in new characters"alongside familiar ones. Check out the rest of her comments below:
With Big Little Lies, all I can tell you is I’m writing a sequel to my own book, following on from my own story. Because I wrote Big Little Lies when my children were little and the children in the story are just starting kindergarten and now, of course, my children are all teenagers, so they’re providing a wealth of teen material. So, I’m writing a sequel with all the children as teenagers, so now the women are the parents of teens.
It’s still early stages, so I can’t really tell you anything much except that they’re parenting teens. I’ve got them [all the main women], they’re all there for sure.
What This Means For Big Little Lies Season 3
The HBO Series Cannot Directly Adapt The Book Sequel
Moriarty only shared information about her written sequel and not aboutBig Little Liesseason 3, although both the book and the next installment of the HBO series are confirmed to still be in the early stages.It will be a while before either continuation of the Monterey Five’s story is released, with the book likely debuting before the show’s next season. Since Moriarty confirmed that she is writing a sequel to her own book, which was fully adapted in season 1, the upcoming sequel will not be able to work as adirect Moriarty adaptationfor season 3.
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The book sequel is a version of the story where season 2 characters and events, including Perry’s mother, Mary Louise Wright (Meryl Streep), have not already been introduced, nor have the Monterey Five turned themselves in duringBig Little Liesseason 2’s ending. Even though the book and season 3 are sequels focused on many of the same characters, this will make their stories different in fundamental ways andmay prove challenging for the development of season 3’s story. Moriarty’s sequel could still influence the show’s story, though, especially with the younger characters being aged up.
Our Take On The Big Little Lies Sequel
The Book Has UpstagedBig Little LiesSeason 3
Moriarty’s announcement makes me more excited about her book sequel than aboutBig Little Liesseason 3. Following up on season 1’s story with a time jump instead of season 2’s more immediate continuation may help the sequel avoid some of season 2’s missteps. The series is now in a difficult position where it cannot faithfully adapt the sequel because of season 2.I am now more intrigued by what Moriarty has in store for the characters she createdthan I am forBig Little Liesseason 3.
Big Little Lies
Cast
Big Little Lies is a television drama from 2017 based on Liane Moriarty’s novel. It features three mothers of first-graders in Monterey, California, whose seemingly idyllic lives begin to deteriorate amid secrets, lies, and a mysterious murder investigation intertwining their personal narratives.
