HBO is officially moving ahead on Big Little Lies season 3. On September 11, 2025, reports confirmed the series is in development at the network, and that Francesca Sloane—the Mr. & Mrs. Smith showrunner—has been tapped to write the first episode. The new installment is actively taking shape at HBO.

Sloane will pen the pilot and collaborate with returning executive producers David E. Kelley, Nicole Kidman, and Reese Witherspoon. The development is still early, but the creative team is aligning behind the next chapter.

As part of the move, Sloane has inked a new two‑year overall TV deal with HBO. Her hire arrives as Prime Video’s Mr. & Mrs. Smith season 2 has been put on indefinite hold, underscoring her pivot to Monterey. Both updates were reported the same day.

The third season remains in development with no casting officially announced. However, it’s expected that Kidman and Witherspoon will return as stars and executive producers, in line with the show’s previous seasons. That context, along with a recap of the show’s award‑winning run, was outlined on September 11, 2025.

 
 
 
 
 
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What’s Next for Big Little Lies Season 3

The writers’ room has not been announced yet, and HBO has not set a filming start or release window. Sloane’s pilot will guide the tone of the new chapter, while the producing team works to coordinate schedules for the A‑list ensemble. A follow‑up book from Liane Moriarty—the author of the original novel—is reportedly finished and slated for a 2026 publication, with a time jump that finds the women as mothers of teenagers. Until HBO confirms the cast and timeline, consider those details “in development.”

Bottom line: Big Little Lies season 3 is finally moving. With Francesca Sloane writing the pilot and joining David E. Kelley, Nicole Kidman, and Reese Witherspoon behind the scenes, the Monterey Five look closer than ever to a return.

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