As the potential for a 3rd season of “Large Little Lies” picks up steam, HBO and Max content material chairman/CEO Casey Bloys is prepared for it. Bloys confirmed to Selection that he has heard “slightly bit concerning the thought. I feel it might be nice.”
“Large Little Lies” stars and government producers Reese Witherspoon and Nicole Kidman have teased the prospect of a brand new season of the collection — which final aired in 2019 — whereas talking to reporters in current weeks. On the 81st Golden Globes this month, Witherspoon instructed Selection’s Marc Malkin that “We’re engaged on it. Nic and I’ve been engaged on it loads.”
Bloys mentioned that he believes that Witherspoon and Kidman have been in contact with “Large Little Lies” writer Liane Moriarty about methods to broaden the storyline and characters. Bloys additionally mentioned he expects that David E. Kelley, who tailored Moriarty’s 2014 novel into the 2017 collection and 2019 sequel season, can be concerned as nicely.
“Large Little Lies” follows a bunch of ladies in Monterey, Calif. — performed by Witherspoon, Kidman, Shailene Woodley, Laura Dern and Zoë Kravitz — who’re caught up in a murder investigation. Season 2, which premiered in February 2019, launched Meryl Streep to the principle forged as Kidman’s mother-in-law.
“The place you’ve got all these stars, you’ve bought to get their schedules in line, now we have to get it written,” Bloys mentioned. “So, there’s loads that must be carried out. It’s very early phases proper now. All the forged is doing reveals and films, and everyone’s very busy. Nevertheless it’s a really particular group. They love working collectively. And once they land on an thought, I consider they are going to make it occur. We’re excited once they’re prepared, and we are going to take these steps once they’re prepared.”
The momentum comes just a few years after the demise of “Large Little Lies” director Jean-Marc Vallée, whose passing led actors like Kravitz to counsel within the press that future seasons have been unlikely now. Bloys had additionally up to now mentioned it was unlikely that there can be extra “Large Little Lies,” telling reporters in 2019 that “to me, there’s no apparent place to go, no apparent story.” However even again then, he mentioned he’d be prepared to alter his thoughts — and now that likelihood appears much more actual.
Bloys spoke to Selection following HBO/Max’s network-leading haul on the seventy fifth Emmys. The cabler and streamer gained 31 whole Emmys between the Primetime and Inventive Arts reveals, together with six main wins for “Succession.”
“Succession,” honored with yet one more win for excellent drama collection, has ended its run after 4 seasons. However each Bloys and creator Jesse Armstrong know they’ll be requested a couple of revival for years to come back.
“The probabilities of which might be fairly unlikely,” Bloys mentioned. “Until Jesse abruptly mentioned, ‘Oh my God, I’ve the best thought. That is what I wish to do.’ I’d take that very critically. However I feel that he instructed the story he wished to inform. It doesn’t appear to be one thing that he desires to go to once more, and I completely get that. I’m excited with what he’s going to do subsequent.”
So, what’s Armstrong, who has a deal at HBO, going to do subsequent? “He doesn’t have an thought,” Bloys mentioned. “I feel it’s going to take a while. Somewhat little bit of downtime, perhaps, take a break, learn. Not take into consideration TV for a short time, which is simply wonderful with me. After doing this present for 4 seasons and doing it on the degree he’s carried out, I’d encourage him to take slightly break and take into consideration issues. I don’t assume it’s a good suggestion to hurry proper into one thing. What I wish to do with him is the following factor that he can’t shake.”
With “Home of the Dragon,” “Euphoria,” “The White Lotus” and “The Final of Us” not returning for brand new seasons till after the present Emmy eligibility calendar, Bloys admits that the drama cabinet will probably be slim for the 2024 awards cycle. As a substitute, “I’ve loads of nice restricted collection,” he mentioned, pointing to “True Detective: Night time Nation” with Jodie Foster, “The Regime” with Kate Winslet and “The Sympathizer” with Robert Downey Jr. Bloys says he has talked to “True Detective” filmmaker Issa Lopez about extra concepts and a possible Season 5 that doesn’t take one other 5 years between editions — however he has nothing to report but.
On the drama entrance, “Home of the Dragon” gained’t be again for Season 2 till summer season 2024 — though Bloys confirms that work has already began on drafting Season 3. “They’re speaking about it,” he mentioned. “One of many issues is as a result of it’s all primarily based on George R.R. Martin’s historical past, they should map it out fairly fastidiously season by season. So, they’re beginning to discuss concerning the tales they wish to inform in Season 3.”
“The Final of Us” additionally goes again into manufacturing quickly for Season 2 — and after everybody noticed star Pedro Pascal’s arm within the sling in current weeks, there’s been some query about whether or not that may impression taking pictures. Bloys mentioned to not concern: “I feel they found out a method,” he mentioned. “I can’t inform you precisely what the manufacturing plan is. However I do know that they’ve taken that into consideration. I don’t even know the precise nature of the damage, however I do know that manufacturing has found out a method to work round it.”
Then there’s “The White Lotus,” set to start out manufacturing quickly in Thailand now that the brand new forged has been set. With Season 1’s Natasha Rothwell returning, simply as Jennifer Coolidge did in Season 2, Bloys (who plans to journey abroad and go to the set quickly) mentioned he likes creator Mike White’s formulation of bridging every season with one returning forged member. And he hints that extra “Lotus” is to come back: “I’m already enthusiastic about who’s going to come back again for Season 4. It truly is a enjoyable mannequin that Mike has arrange.”
As for “Euphoria,” Bloys isn’t able to reveal whether or not the upcoming Season 3 would be the present’s final, selecting to attend till creator/EP Sam Levinson makes that call. “Clearly the forged have all turn out to be stars, which you like to see — and Zendaya is clearly a giant film star,” he mentioned. “So, there’s a sensible actuality to that. Nevertheless it additionally is determined by the tales Sam desires to inform. He’s within the thick of writing Season 3 proper now and we’ll depart it as much as him and have these conversations about what he desires to do.”
Somebody who has at all times dictated whether or not or to not return is “Curb Your Enthusiasm” star and government producer Larry David, so it was shocking that he determined to border the comedy’s upcoming Season 12 because the present’s final. Even Bloys isn’t so certain it’s actually over.
“For so long as I’ve been at HBO, we’ve had ‘Curb,’” Bloys mentioned. “And it’s at all times been an open door. And look, despite the fact that he’s saying it’s the final season — and I feel he has instructed the story he desires to inform — if in a pair years, he mentioned I bought yet another thought, we’d after all be open to that.”
Since we’re speaking Emmys, and the published wheel deal expiration is arising in 2026, may Bloys see the kudocast shifting to streaming or different retailers? HBO as soon as made a giant play to steal away the Emmy telecast rights within the early 2000s, however Bloys is doubtful the community would strive that once more.
“Dwell occasions, award reveals, they’ve been challenged on broadcast networks,” Bloys mentioned. “I don’t know that it could be any higher on streaming, the place generally getting individuals to day-and-date occasions could be troublesome. After which it finally turns into a query of economics. How a lot? I don’t know that it’s one thing we’d leap in on. However I feel all the award reveals try to determine that out. I don’t actually have the reply.”