The Monterey Five Return: 7 Shocking, Confirmed Updates On Big Little Lies Season 3

The wait is finally over. After years of speculation, whispers, and hopeful interviews from the A-list cast, *Big Little Lies* Season 3 is officially in the works at HBO as of late 2025. This highly anticipated return to the wealthy, dramatic world of Monterey, California, promises to be the freshest and most unique chapter yet, thanks to a new creative vision and a major narrative twist straight from the original author.

For fans who have been desperate for a reunion of the *Monterey Five* since the Season 2 finale in 2019, the news is a massive relief. The latest updates confirm that the new season will not only bring back your favorite stars but will also be based on a brand-new, unreleased sequel novel, guaranteeing a story that no one has seen before. Here is everything we know about the confirmed cast, the new creative team, the projected timeline, and the biggest plot twist coming to *Big Little Lies* Season 3.

The Monterey Five: Confirmed Cast Returns and Key Creative Team

The core of *Big Little Lies* has always been the electric chemistry between its leading ladies. While the show's return has been a complex puzzle due to the stars' busy schedules, the most recent news confirms that the major players are now aligned for Season 3.

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The Confirmed and Anticipated Cast

The return of the *Monterey Five* is the driving force behind the new season. While official contracts for the entire ensemble may still be pending, the key players have all confirmed their excitement and involvement in recent updates. The returning cast is expected to include:

• Nicole Kidman as Celeste Wright: Kidman, who is also an executive producer, has been a driving force behind the revival, confirming in late 2023 that a third season was happening.
• Reese Witherspoon as Madeline Martha Mackenzie: Witherspoon, another executive producer, is also strongly anticipated to reprise her role as the outspoken and often chaotic heart of the group.
• Shailene Woodley as Jane Chapman: Woodley was one of the first to celebrate the official confirmation, publicly expressing her excitement for the return of the series.
• Laura Dern as Renata Klein: Dern has actively teased her involvement, stating in interviews that "They Are Writing," strongly implying her return as the perpetually furious and wealthy Renata.
• Zoë Kravitz as Bonnie Carlson: Kravitz has also shared her eagerness, joking that she is "waiting for someone to tell me where to show up," signaling her intention to return as the fifth member of the group.
• Kathryn Newton as Abigail Carlson: Newton, who played Madeline’s rebellious daughter, has also confirmed her return, which is a key piece of information when considering the new plot direction.

The New Creative Vision: Francesca Sloane Takes the Helm

One of the most significant and exciting updates for Season 3 is the change in the creative team. The new season will be written by Francesca Sloane, the co-creator and showrunner of the acclaimed series *Mr. and Mrs. Smith*. This move signals a fresh, unique direction for the series.

Sloane is taking over from David E. Kelley, who wrote the first two seasons. Her involvement, which follows a two-year overall deal with HBO, is seen as a way to inject new energy and perspective into the established world of Monterey, ensuring the series feels fresh and not a mere retread of old ground.

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The Biggest Plot Twist: A Major Time Jump Confirmed

The new season is set to move beyond the original source material and the story created for Season 2. The foundation of *Big Little Lies* Season 3 will be a brand-new sequel novel currently being written by author Liane Moriarty. This is the most crucial piece of information for fans desperate for plot details.

Liane Moriarty’s Sequel Novel and the Children of Monterey

Liane Moriarty, whose original novel was adapted for Season 1, has confirmed a major plot detail for her upcoming sequel book, which will serve as the basis for Season 3: a time jump.

The new narrative will reportedly jump forward in time to focus on the children of the *Monterey Five* as they enter young adulthood. This shift is a brilliant way to explore the long-term, devastating consequences of the events in Seasons 1 and 2, particularly the death of Perry Wright (Alexander Skarsgård) and the collective secret the women share.

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• The Core Conflict: The new season will likely explore how the secret of the "Deadly Night" continues to haunt the families, especially as the children, such as Celeste’s twin sons, Jane’s son Ziggy, and Madeline’s daughter Abigail, navigate their own complex lives under the shadow of their mothers' lies.
• New Threats: A time jump allows for new, high-stakes drama that doesn't rely solely on the original murder. The young adults themselves may become the source of the new conflict or the victims of a fresh mystery.

When Will Big Little Lies Season 3 Premiere? The Projected Timeline

While the news of the official greenlight is exciting, fans will still have to exercise patience. The timeline for the new season is directly tied to the completion and publication of Liane Moriarty's sequel novel.

The Book Release vs. The HBO Premiere

Moriarty’s new book, which the season will be based on, is currently scheduled to hit store shelves in 2026.

Given the typical production timeline for a high-profile series like *Big Little Lies*—which involves scripting, pre-production, the main cast's availability, filming, and extensive post-production—a premiere date in 2026 is highly unlikely. The most realistic projected release window is:

• Late 2027 or Early 2028: This timeline allows for the book to be published, the scripts to be fully adapted by Francesca Sloane, and the main cast (Nicole Kidman, Reese Witherspoon, Laura Dern, Zoë Kravitz, and Shailene Woodley) to coordinate their schedules for filming.

The confirmed return of the *Monterey Five* for a third season, driven by a new narrative from Liane Moriarty and a fresh creative voice in Francesca Sloane, is easily one of the biggest television announcements of the last few years. The confirmed time jump ensures that *Big Little Lies* will avoid creative stagnation, promising a unique, high-stakes exploration of motherhood, privilege, and the secrets that bind—and break—a community. The new chapter will test the bonds of the women like never before, proving that in Monterey, a new lie is always just around the corner.