Big Little Lies may have a life beyond its second season. Following last week's confirmation that the HBO drama—originally envisaged as a limited series—is returning, writer David E. Kelley did not rule out the possibility of even more future seasons.
"I guess you have to say a little open-minded, because we were convinced the first one was a one-off," Kelley told The Hollywood Reporter. "But we're equally convinced that Season 2 will be it, too... Maybe not equally, but in my mind it's only one more year."
Kelley also addressed the industry backlash resulting from Big Little Lies' Emmy and Golden Globe consideration as a limited series. The show has already picked up several Emmy wins and Globe nominations in Limited Series categories, despite no longer qualifying for that designation, and the timing of the Season 2 announcement—after Globes voting had closed—led to some accusations that HBO was gaming the system.
"We conceived a limited series and that's what we produced," Kelley said. "It feels more right to me to reclassify going into the future than to go back and redefine what we were. I know what we were, and that's a limited series. Not only was the idea of a second season not contemplated when we began this journey, the idea was pretty prohibitive—one that we didn't consider, quite frankly."
Season 2, which will see Andrea Arnold replace Jean-Marc Vallée as director, 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," according to HBO.
