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Filming on the long-awaited Season 3 of HBO’s “Big Little Lies” got underway this week — sort of. The series shot for one day at Warner Bros. Studios Burbank’s The Ranch Lot on Thursday; among those in front of the camera
was recurring star Merrin Dungey, who has played Detective Adrienne Quinlan on the series since its launch and appeared in the show’s first two seasons.
Full production on “Big Little Lies” Season 3 isn’t expected to begin until next year, but a date has not yet been locked. Insiders said that this week’s one day of principal photography took place in order for the show to maintain its California state tax credit, which has already been approved. (According to the California tax incentive rules, principal photography must begin within 180 calendar days of the Conditional Allocation Letter date — or 240 calendar days for projects with a qualified expenditure budget of $100 million or more. It’s unclear when “Big Little Lies” Season 3 received its CAL.)
A director has not yet been confirmed for Season 3, but insiders said the director on set this week was someone already involved with “Big Little Lies” who has been approved by the DGA. HBO, which has not yet officially announced the return of production, declined comment.
Executive producer David E. Kelley has been a big proponent of keeping production in California, and the first two seasons of “Big Little Lies” were also filmed in the state, even without previous tax incentives for the show. Season 1 of “Big Little Lies” aired in 2017, and the show returned for Season 2 in 2019.
“Big Little Lies” stars Nicole Kidman (Celeste), Reese Witherspoon (Madeline) and Laura Dern (Renata) as friends in Monterey, California, whose kids also attend the same school. They befriend Shailene Woodley’s character, Jane, whose kid is new at the school. Soon they learn a dark secret, which ultimately leads to a homicide investigation. Zoë Kravitz, Alexander Skarsgård, Adam Scott, James Tupper and Jeffrey Nordling also star in supporting roles, while Meryl Streep joined the cast in Season 2.
Dungey’s character, Det. Quinlan, is seen investigating the murder at the heart of the show, and maintains deep suspicions about the “Monterey 5” (Celeste, Madeline, Renata, Jane and Kravitz’s character, Bonnie).
Speculation that “Big Little Lies” might return for Season 3 after a lengthy hiatus picked up steam after Kidman revealed in November 2023 that it could be happening. Then, in September 2025, Francesca Sloane (“Mr. and Mrs. Smith”) joined the project to write the first episode and executive produce the third season with Kelley, Kidman and Witherspoon.
In August, “Big Little Lies” author Liane Moriarty released her new novel in that universe, “Big Little Truths,” which continued the story of Madeline, Celeste, Jane, Renata and Bonnie. The new book moves the action forward by a decade and is expected to serve as the backbone for the Season 3 storyline.
As for Dungey, her extensive list of credits is a reminder that she’s truly been seen #everywhere; her most recent credits include “Malcolm in the Middle: Life’s Still Unfair,” “Chicago Med,” “The Lincoln Lawyer,” “S.W.A.T.” and “Shining Vale.” She’s also known for “Alias,” “The King of Queens,” “Once Upon a Time” and much, much more.
