The “Big Little Lies” finale was less than two weeks ago and fans are clamoring for more time with Madeline, Celeste, Jane, Bonnie, and Renata. There have been rumors of a possible second season for the HBO series — although it was originally conceived as just seven episodes — but there are no concrete plans at the moment. Luckily, Liane Moriarty, the author of the novel the series is based upon, has plenty of other screen projects in the works. According to Entertainment Weekly, four of her novels have been optioned.
The adaptation of Moriarty’s “Truly Madly Guilty” will reunite “BLL” actresses and exec producers Nicole Kidman and Reese Witherspoon. Witherspoon and Bruna Papandrea’s Pacific Standard and Kidman and Per Saari’s Blossom Films will produce the story about a barbecue that ends in tragedy. As EW writes, the novel is “stacked with [Moriarty’s] signature themes: female friendship, duplicity, the darkness lurking beneath lucky, ordinary suburban lives.”
Although EW mentions that “Truly Madley Guilty” will be adapted for the big screen, The Sydney Morning Herald reports that Papandrea is pushing for a four-episode series instead.
Jennifer Aniston is in talks to star in the film version of Moriarty’s “What Alice Forgot.” The book centers on a 39-year-old woman who sustains a head injury and forgets the previous decade of her life. “She comes to at the hospital thinking she’s still 29, newly married, and pregnant with her first child,” EW summarizes. “In reality, she has three kids and is in the midst of a bitter divorce from the former love of her life.”
In 2013 CBS Films acquired the rights to “The Husband’s Secret.” The book’s action kicks off when a woman finds a note from her alive-and-well husband. It begins, “To be opened only in the event of my death.” The Herald notes that the “Husband’s Secret” script has been finalized and the search for the leading lady has begun.
Moriarty’s “Three Wishes,” which examines the relationship between 33-year-old triplets, was optioned a few years back. No other details have been disclosed.
And, of course, there is the possibility that Moriarty will bring us more “Big Littles Lies.” Both the book and show center on a group of mothers involved in a murder that takes place during a trivia night hosted by their children’s elementary school. Directed by Jean-Marc Vallée (“Wild”) and written by David E. Kelley (“The Crazy Ones”), the television adaptation stars Witherspoon, Kidman, Shailene Woodley, Laura Dern, and Zoë Kravitz. The critically acclaimed project was a ratings hit, and is expected to rack up a number of Emmy nominations.
In an interview with the Herald, the author mentioned she’s open to writing more TV adventures for the women of Monterey, but isn’t planning to write a follow-up book.
“I’m absolutely open to it because, once I started thinking, it was too much fun to see what I could do and to see these characters again,” Moriarty explained.
Specifically, she’s excited to pick up Bonnie and Celeste’s stories. “The obvious thing is, first of all, I think we could bring in more of Bonnie’s story from the book,” Moriarty said. Bonnie, played by Kravitz (“Mad Max: Fury Road”), was probably the least developed character in the HBO series. The Bonnie of the book is a domestic abuse survivor, but that backstory was omitted from the series.
As for Celeste, Kidman’s character, Moriarty is interested in exploring her life after surviving an abusive marriage. “When you’ve been through a relationship like that, how do you feel now? How would she feel? She’s grieving. She’s still grieving for the end of a terrible relationship and I think that would be a really interesting thing to explore.”
