HBO’s Acclaimed Crime Thriller Officially Resumes Filming After 7 Years

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Abigail in her bedroom looking at something off-camera in Big Little Lies

Published Nov 1, 2026, 10:45 AM EST

Rohan Naahar is a News Writer for Collider. From Francois Ozon to David Fincher, he'll watch anything once.

He has covered everything from Marvel to the Oscars, and Marvel at the Oscars. He also writes obsessively about the box office, charting the many hits and misses that are released weekly, and how their commercial performance shapes public perception. In his time at Collider, he has also helped drive diversity by writing stories about the multiple Indian film industries, with a goal of introducing audiences to a whole new world of cinema.

Originally announced as a limited series, one of HBO's most successful titles of the decade was subsequently brought back for a second season. Now, news has emerged that the show's third season entered production recently, but not quite for the reasons you'd imagine. For starters, filming lasted exactly one day. The one-day shoot took place on the Warner Bros. lot in Los Angeles, so the show could retain its California tax credit. There's a set window for shows to enter production after having applied for the tax break, and HBO's mystery series was apparently nearing the end of this period. A supporting cast member who appeared in both previous seasons was reportedly present on set.

The new report didn't identify who served as director, but it's someone who has been involved with the show in the past and has been approved by the DGA. The landmark first season of the series was directed by the late Jean-Marc Vallée. The controversial second season, which reportedly had a troubled production, was directed by the acclaimed Andrea Arnold. HBO hasn't yet confirmed who will helm the third season, which was announced a year ago. The show debuted in 2017 and aired its second season in 2019.

Here's When the Hit HBO Series Is Expected to Enter Production

By now you've probably guessed that we're talking about Big Little Lies, starring Reese Witherspoon, Nicole Kidman, Shailene Woodley, Zoë Kravitz, Adam Scott, and Alexander Skarsgård. HBO pulled off a major casting coup for the second season, roping in the great Meryl Streep to play a colorful supporting role. While the first season was critically acclaimed — it holds a "Certified Fresh" 93% score on the aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes — the second season drew slightly underwhelming reception. The third season will reportedly be based on a new novel in Liane Moriarty's source series, with Francesca Sloane having been brought in to work alongside creator David E. Kelley. The show is expected to enter production next year. Stay tuned to Collider for more updates.