Meryl in Monterey
Wednesday, January 24, 2018 at 6:00PM 
Chris here. HBO sees your Big Little Lies season two skepticism and raises you a legend. There's no sense in holding out the news: Meryl Streep has joined Big Little Lies! A 21st Oscar nomination and major casting coup in the span of two days?! How's your week going?
The Andrea Arnold-directed season will feature Meryl donning her birth name as Mary Louise Wright, the mother of Alexander Skarsgård departed abusive husband Perry. Mary Louise comes to Monterey looking for answers after Perry's demise, so expect some fireworks between her and Nicole Kidman. Call it a The Hours reunion...
But not really because they shared no screen time in that masterpiece. We're already fantasy casting ways that the rest of The Hours actresses can show up naturally, as the show has big plans for casting its new characters.
This is obviously a huge get for the series and one that hints that its behemoth awards run is far from over as it will now compete in Drama categories. While the added generation provides an exciting layer of possibility for the show to examine its themes on female relationships and parental instincts, let's hope the actress (the center of a new TFE column by Matthew and John) doesn't pull too much from the central women that made Big Little Lies the television event of the past year.
But who are we kidding, our awards wheels are already spinning at the idea of HBO nabbing Meryl her fourth Emmy. There have been times we were skeptical of a BLL season two... but not today! Does Meryl help convince you on a second season?
Reader Comments (37)
Can we get Goldie Hawn for Reese's mother.
Perfect. So many possibilities.
Yes, and I hope they include Alex in flashbacks with his mother and Nicole, with some special gratuitous Alex nudity thrown in for viewers of course. He is too adorable to not return, even if it's only in flashback form. I already anticipate the fight and revelation scenes between Meryl and Nicole, with Reese throwing in her occasional shade or indecision flare ups when she does not know what to do (her work was some of her best on season one). One of the trades also said that The Nix, the Streep project with JJ Abrams, may have landed at Amazon. I think this is a smart move for Meryl to take a movie break until the 2020's, besides her already completed film projects (which are minor roles that will not garner her any nominations).
Arnold is going to be the most interesting director Meryl has worked with in YEARS. This is going to be fabulous.
YAS BITCH OMG I JUST CANT EVEN THIS SHOW 👏👏👏👏👏 I MIGHT COMBUST OVER THIS YAS
Meryl will be vying for her third (not second) Emmy as she previously won for both Angels in America and Holocaust.
To Writer(penned all seven scripts for season two)-Exec producer David E. KELLY. Please cast your wife Michelle Pfeiffer in this too.
@becausewhynot Meryl will actually be going for her FOURTH Emmy after deservedly winning for narrating Five Came Back this past year.
@kevin - yeah you’re right. Forgot about that :)
All these actresses directed by Arnold is a Dream.
What a week for Streep fans! ...... but now I have to watch the first season.
Meryl on Little Big Lies is $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
Why not Michelle Pfeiffer though?
This should pretty much clinch Streep’s presence on the 2018/19 awards circuit.
When was the last time Meryl shared the screen with a genius? I have big hopes for this!
Luiserghio: She's in a movie with Tracy Letts right now.
It was decided at CAA that Meryl would do TV and Michelle would do movies, at least for a bit.
I'm so excited!
It's crazy how with each announcement this goes from being a "nooooo, why bother?" to a mother fucking EVENT that the gays are crying over. I'm in the same boat.
First Andrea Arnold.
Now MERYL STREEP. Andrea Arnold directing Nicole Kidman, Reese Witherspoon, Laura Dern and MERYL STREEP.
Like, what's next? Julianne Moore as Nicole's sister? Michelle Pfeiffer thrown in here somehow??? I'm shook.
Very exciting...but where is Emma Thompson? I want more of her too.
WHAT. THE. FUCK.
That is awesome. I can't wait!
So Supporting Actress is wrapped up for next year...
Just keep the quality, ladies. And don't forget your Hot Husbands and Kids!
Add Emma Thompson and I will be. 0:)
Mamma Mia + Mary Poppins + Big Little Lie + Presidency?
Yeah!! Because of Meryl, i have to watch the fist season now. (From A fan in Taiwan)
Andrea Arnold -I can't think of anyone more different than Vallée- and now Meryl Supernova are totally going to change the tone of this show. It might disappoint hardcore fans.
This sounds amazing.
Can they somehow fit in an August: Osage County-esque dinner scene (with better acting) featuring all the actresses? Meryl, Nicole, Zoe, Reese, Laura. Lawd.
This is a good piece of stunt casting.
I think everyone involved feels the pressure since the first season was so unassuming to begin with.
I like the idea of gathering The Hours cast together on BLL. Can you imagine Toni Collette in Monterrey? I can! Good God!
@Bee - that would be amazing! If they could actually get all the actresses together in one (explosive) scene, it would be unforgettable.
Peggy Sue - Andrea Arnold actually utilizes a lot of the same methods that Vallee used i.e. natural lighting, no "blocking" of the camera, her use of music...even their editing styles exist within the same universe.
She's a great successor and if anything her view of this world will be a little more exhilarating and raw. And she gets to direct these women. Can't wait.
Love this. I would love it if they explored Zoe Kravitz's character and backstory a bit more this season as her character was the least well served by the script first time around. Let's get Lisa Bonet signed up as her mom!
Lisa Bonet would be fun stunt casting but she's....not a very good actress.
Viola Davis! Or Halle Berry!
Omg, this was the best news ever when I heard lol. Meryl on BLL omgggg
Rami -- I agree. I felt Zoe was given the least to do and it made me sad because eveyrone else had such fun stuff to work with, and I wanted to see what Zoe could do too!
Maison -- Omg, Halle Berry, yes. She would fit into that world very well.
Isabelle Huppert started to follow Kidman on Instagram.
That is a sign!!!!!😱😱😱😱😱😱
About casting choices: I hope season two is good like on and we have at least four seasons to have
Kate Winslet
Cate Blanchett
Marion Cotillard
Vanessa Redgrave
Emma Thompson
Julie Andrews
Angela Basset
Gong Li
Penelope Cruz
Cecilia Roth
Monica Beluchi
Sigourney Weaver
Michelle Pfeiffer
Cast!!!!
Nicole Kidman vs. Meryl Streep (Wright v. Wright) directed by Andrea Arnold.
SHOOKETH.