Meryl Streep to Star in ‘Big Little Lies’ Season 2 for HBO
HBO’s Big Little Lies is upping its star power for season two.
Oscar- and Emmy-winning actress Meryl Streep has boarded the premium cable network’s second season of the drama starring Reese Witherspoon and Nicole Kidman.
Streep will play Mary Louise Wright, the mother to the abusive Perry Wright (Alexander Skarsgard), who (spoiler alert!) was revealed to have been the one who died during the Emmy-winning first season of the David E. Kelley drama based on the Liane Moriarty novel. (Skarsgard is said to be returning in some capacity for season two.)
Streep’s Mary Louise Wright is described as a woman who is concerned for the well-being of her grandchildren following her son Perry’s death. She arrives in Monterey searching for answers. (Fun fact: Kelley told THR in October that Streep — and Tom Hanks — were his dream casting goals for Big Little Lies.)
Big Little Lies took home eight Emmys and four Golden Globes and prompted the cabler to stretch beyond Moriarty’s book. Sources say season two, officially greenlit for seven episodes, will also feature the parents for Zoe Kravitz’s character, Bonnie. (Thus far, only Streep, Witherspoon and Kidman are confirmed to return as deals with the remainder of the cast are still being worked out. Sources note that the stars earned major salary bumps after Witherspoon’s sizable payday to star in and exec produce a morning show drama for Apple.)
Kelley is confirmed to return and has already penned all seven the scripts for season two, which is partially based on a story by Moriarty. HBO says season two will explore the “malignancy of lies, the durability of friendships, the fragility of marriage and, of course, the vicious ferocity of sound parenting. Relationships will fray, loyalties will erode … the potential for emotional and bodily injury shall loom.” Exec producers on season two include Kelley via his David E. Kelley Productions banner; Kidman and her Blossom Films shingle topper Per Saari, Witherspoon via Hello Sunshine, Bruna Papandrea, Andrea Arnold, Jean-Marc Vallée, Nathan Ross and Gregg Fienberg. Moriarty will produce. Arnold will direct all seven episodes and replaces Vallée behind the camera.
Streep, meanwhile, is a three-time Oscar winner (The Iron Lady, Sophie’s Choice and Kramer vs. Kramer). She earned her 21st Oscar nomination this week for her role in Steven Spielberg’s journalism film The Post. She previously earned an Emmy win for her leading role in HBO’s miniseries adaptation of Angels in America. Big Little Lies will be her largest TV role to date after Angels. She is also attached to star in J.J. Abrams TV series The Nix, which has been in the works since September 2016 and is rumored to have been set up at Amazon. Streep is repped by CAA and Gendler and Kelly.
Season two of Big Little Lies is expected to premiere in 2019 on HBO.
Reese attended the Producers Guild Awards in Beverly Hills last night, where she and her Big Little Lies producing partners were nominated for Outstanding Producer of Episodic Television, Drama. Unfortunately they lost out to The Handmaids Tale team, but it’s still fantastic to see Reese being honoured as a producer in her own right from such an important guild. Reese also presented her A Wrinkle In Time director Ava DuVernay with the Visionary Award during the event:
Each year, the Visionary Award recognizes film, TV or new media producers for their unique or uplifting contributions to our culture through inspiring storytelling or performance. DuVernay is being recognized for her work in creating topical films and TV shows focusing on important social issues. They include the Oscar-nominated and Emmy-winning doc 13th about race and the prison system in America, and the critically acclaimed OWN drama series Queen Sugar.
Her upcoming Disney film A Wrinkle in Time makes her the first black woman to direct a film budgeted over $100 million. (Deadline)
Reese wore a sparkly brown beaded dress by Dolce & Gabbana with shoes by Chloe Gosselin for the event, and looked super chic on the red carpet. We have the first photos for you in our Gallery:
The Norman Felton Award for Outstanding Producer of Episodic Television, Drama:
“Big Little Lies” (Season 1) (Producers: David E. Kelley, Jean-Marc Vallée, Reese Witherspoon, Bruna Papandrea, Nicole Kidman, Per Saari, Gregg Fienberg, Nathan Ross, and Barbara A. Hall)
“The Crown” (Season 2) (Producers: Peter Morgan, Stephen Daldry, Andy Harries, Philip Martin, Suzanne Mackie, Matthew Byam Shaw, Robert Fox, Andy Stebbing, and Martin Harrison)
“Game of Thrones” (Season 7) (Producers: David Benioff, D.B. Weiss, Carolyn Strauss, Frank Doelger, Bernadette Caulfield, Bryan Cogman, Chris Newman, Lisa McAtackney, and Greg Spence)
“The Handmaid’s Tale” (Season 1) (Producers: Bruce Miller, Warren Littlefield, Daniel Wilson, Fran Sears, Ilene Chaiken, Sheila Hockin, Eric Tuchman, Frank Siracusa, John Weber, Joseph Boccia, Elisabeth Moss, Kira Snyder, and Leila Gerstein)
“Stranger Things” (Season 2) (Producers: Iain Paterson, Shawn Levy, Dan Cohen, The Duffer Brothers, Rand Geiger, and Justin Doble)
Kristen Wiig to Star in Reese Witherspoon-Produced Comedy Series for Apple
Kristen Wiig is set to star in a comedy ordered to series at Apple that boasts Reese Witherspoon among its executive producers, Variety has confirmed.
The 10-episode, half-hour comedy is inspired by Curtis Sittenfeld’s upcoming short story collection “You Think It, I’ll Say It.” It marks Wiig’s first regular television role since she left “Saturday Night Live” in 2012. She will also serve as an executive producer on the show.
Colleen McGuinness created the series and will serve as showrunner and executive producer. Witherspoon will executive produce via her Hello Sunshine banner along with Lauren Neustadter and Wiig. Sittenfeld will serve as a consulting producer. This also marks Apple’s first half-hour scripted comedy order.
Wiig has embarked on a successful film career since leaving “SNL,” including starring in, co-producing, and co-writing the box office hit comedy “Bridesmaids,” for which she earned an Oscar nomination for best original screenplay. Her other recent film credits include “The Martian,” “Downsizing,” and “Ghostbusters.”
This marks the third project Witherspoon and Hello Sunshine have set up at Apple. She and Jennifer Aniston will also star in a currently untitled morning show drama for the streamer, and she will executive produce “Are You Sleeping,” co-produced by Chernin Entertainment with Octavia Spencer attached to star. She will also appear in a second season of the critically-acclaimed HBO series “Big Little Lies,” which she also executive produces.
In addition to the three Witherspoon projects, Apple is also prepping a reboot of “Amazing Stories” from executive producer Steven Spielberg, Ron Moore’s untitled space race drama, the drama “See” from Steven Knight and Francis Lawrence, and the docuseries “Home” from Matt Tyrnauer and Matthew Weaver.
Wiig is repped by UTA and Jackoway Tyerman. Witherspoon is repped by CAA, LBI Entertainment, and Hansen Jacobson. McGuinness is repped by WME and Hansen Jacobson.
Reese attended the Critics Choice Awards in Santa Monica last night, where Big Little Lies was nominated for several awards – and won most of them! Congratulations once again to Reese and her cast and crew for their well deserved wins. Reese posed on the red carpet with Laura Dern and Game Of Thrones star Emilia Clarke; inside the ceremony she was snapped with Octavia Spencer and her husband. Reese was cheering on Nicole Kidman, and the producers posed with their co-star Laura Dern and other cast & crew from the show during the ceremony and backstage – lots more fabulous Big Little Lies cast shots for us! Reese wore a black beaded dress by Prada, with Roger Vivier shoes, and Nikos Koulis jewellery.
We have the first HQ photos in our Gallery for you today, thanks to our friends Alexa and Sara:
Best Limited Series
American Vandal (Netflix) Big Little Lies (HBO)
Fargo (FX)
Feud: Bette and Joan (FX)
Godless (Netflix)
The Long Road Home (National Geographic)
Best Actress in a Movie Made for TV or Limited Series
Jessica Biel, The Sinner (USA)
Alana Boden, I Am Elizabeth Smart (Lifetime)
Carrie Coon, Fargo (FX) Nicole Kidman, Big Little Lies (HBO)
Jessica Lange, Feud: Bette and Joan (FX)
Reese Witherspoon, Big Little Lies (HBO)
Best Supporting Actor in a Movie Made for TV or Limited Series
Johnny Flynn, Genius (National Geographic)
Benito Martinez, American Crime (ABC)
Alfred Molina, Feud: Bette and Joan (FX) Alexander Skarsgård, Big Little Lies (HBO)
David Thewlis, Fargo (FX)
Stanley Tucci, Feud: Bette and Joan (FX)
Best Supporting Actress in a Movie Made for TV or Limited Series
Judy Davis, Feud: Bette and Joan (FX) Laura Dern, Big Little Lies (HBO)
Jackie Hoffman, Feud: Bette and Joan (FX)
Regina King, American Crime (ABC)
Michelle Pfeiffer, The Wizard of Lies (HBO)
Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Fargo (FX)
As expected, Reese Witherspoon attended the Golden Globe Awards last night, and was quite the star of the show not to mention an inspiration to all! Big Little Lies was nominated for 6 awards and won one award in every category it was nominated in, including Best Television Limited Series or Motion Picture Made for Television – this of course meant Reese was honoured for her work as a producer on the show. Glamour Reese sends a massive congratulations to Reese and the entire cast and crew for their well deserved wins last night and for the on-going success and love the show is receiving – we’re so proud of Reese! Reese used her speech to highlight the bravery of the women who have come forward in the last year with stories of abuse and harassment, and Reese vowed to continue telling their stories and raising awareness of the issue. Backstage, the cast talked about the reasons for wearing black tonight, the bond between the cast, and of course season 2 of the show! You can watch the acceptance speech and backstage interviews below.
In addition, Reese also presented her friend and A Wrinkle In Time co-star Oprah Winfrey with the Cecil B. de Mille Award.
Reese walked the red carpet with friend Eva Longoria, to show support for the Times Up movement. Reese also posed with Halle Berry, Ashley Judd, Salma Hayek, Emma Stone, Billie Jean King, Geena Davis and Sharon Stone. Most of the attendees – male and female – wore black, again to show their solidarity for those who have come forward with stories of abuse and harrassment. Reese wore a custom Zac Posen gown, with Jimmy Choo shoes and Bulgari jewellery.
The first 150+ HQ photos have been added to our Gallery, with thanks to friend of the site Sara. We’ll have more coverage for you in the coming days…
Best Television Limited Series or Motion Picture Made for Television “Big Little Lies”
“Fargo”
“Feud: Bette and Joan”
“The Sinner”
“Top of the Lake: China Girl”
Best Performance by an Actress in a Miniseries or Television Film
Jessica Biel, “The Sinner” Nicole Kidman, “Big Little Lies”
Jessica Lange, “Feud: Bette and Joan”
Susan Sarandon, “Feud: Bette and Joan”
Reese Witherspoon, “Big Little Lies”
Best Supporting Performance by an Actress in a Series, Miniseries or Television Film Laura Dern, “Big Little Lies”
Ann Dowd, “The Handmaid’s Tale”
Chrissy Mentz, “This Is Us”
Michelle Pfeiffer, “The Wizard of Lies”
Shailene Woodley, “Big Little Lies”
Best Supporting Performance by an Actor in a Series, Miniseries or Television Film
David Harbour, “Stranger Things”
Alfred Molina, “Feud: Bette and Joan” Alexander Skarsgard, “Big Little Lies”
Christian Slater, “Mr. Robot
David Thewlis, “Fargo”
Apple Developing ‘Are You Sleeping’ Starring Octavia Spencer
Apple is developing a new original drama series entitled “Are You Sleeping,” starring Octavia Spencer.
Created and written by Nichelle Tramble Spellman, the series will be produced by Reese Witherspoon’s Hello Sunshine and Chernin Ent/Endeavor Content.
The series is based on Kathleen Barber’s novel of the same name, which gives a glimpse into the obsession with true crime podcasts and “challenges its viewers to consider the consequences when the pursuit of justice is placed on a public stage.” Sarah Koenig, the creator and producer behind true crime podcast “Serial,” will consult on the series.
“Are You Sleeping” is the second project Apple has teamed with Witherspoon and Hello Sunshine on so far. In November 2017 the streamer ordered a drama set behind-the-scenes of a network morning talk show from Hello Sunshine. (Witherspoon is also set to star alongside Jennifer Aniston in it.)
“Are You Sleeping” is executive produced by Witherspoon and Lauren Neustadter for Hello Sunshine, and Peter Chernin, Jenno Topping and Kristen Campo for Chernin Ent., alongside Spencer and Tramble.
Congratulations to Reese and her Big Little Lies co-stars and crew for their 4 nominations at the Screen Actors Guild Awards! Extremely well deserved!
The ceremony will be held on January 21st, and will air live on TNT and TBS at 8pm ET.
Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Television Movie or Miniseries:
Benedict Cumberbatch, “Sherlock”
Jeff Daniels, “Godless”
Robert De Niro, “The Wizard of Lies”
Geoffrey Rush, “Genius”
Alexander Skarsgard, “Big Little Lies”
Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Television Movie or Miniseries:
Laura Dern, “Big Little Lies”
Nicole Kidman, “Big Little Lies”
Jessica Lange, “Feud: Bette & Joan”
Susan Sarandon, “Feud: Bette & Joan”
Reese Witherspoon, “Big Little Lies”
Big congratulations to Reese and her Big Little Lies cast and crew for their Golden Globe Award nominations today! The nominations were announced earlier on today, and Big Little Lies scored 6 nominations, which was the most for any TV show this year. Reese was recognised in the Best actress in a limited series or motion picture made for television category – this is the 5th Glden Globe nomination of her career, and she previously won for Walk The Line in 2006.
The ceremony will be held in Beverly Hills on January 7th 2018, and will air live on NBC.
Best television limited series or motion picture made for television:
Big Little Lies
Fargo
Feud: Bette and Joan
The Sinner
Top of the Lake: China Girl
Best actress in a limited series or motion picture made for television:
Jessica Biel, The Sinner
Nicole Kidman, Big Little Lies
Jessica Lange, Feud: Bette and Joan
Susan Sarandon, Feud: Bette and Joan
Reese Witherspoon, Big Little Lies
Best supporting actor in a series, limited series or motion picture made for television:
David Harbour, Stranger Things
Alfred Molina, Feud
Christian Slater, Mr. Robot
Alexander Skarsgard, Big Little Lies
David Thewlis, Fargo
Best supporting actress in a series, limited series or motion picture made for television:
Laura Dern, Big Little Lies
Ann Dowd, The Handmaid’s Tale
Chrissy Metz, This is Us
Michelle Pfeiffer, The Wizard of Lies
Shailene Woodley, Big Little Lies
The Morning Show (2019) Seasons 1 & 2 available now on AppleTV+
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The Morning Show (2019)
