An HBO executive has apologized for saying the network was “raped” by the contract renegotiations for the cast of “Big Little Lies” heading into Season 2.
Speaking at the INTV conference in Israel on Tuesday, Francesca Orsi, HBO’s senior vice president of drama, said renegotiating the contracts for the A-list “Big Little Lies” cast — none of whom had options in place to return to the planned one-off series before it became an award-winning hit — resulted in the network being “sort of raped” financially.
“Obviously, I am embarrassed by my poor choice of words,” Orsi said in a follow-up statement to her original comments. “We are extremely proud of ‘Big Little Lies’ and excited for the second season.”
Based on the best-selling novel by Liane Moriarty, “Big Little Lies” was initially conceived as a limited series, boasting an all-star cast lead by Reese Witherspoon and Nicole Kidman. But once the first season proved to be a smash, including eight wins at the Emmys last fall, speculation about another season ran rampant.
HBO ultimately announced in December that the show had been picked up for a second season.
However, The Hollywood Reporter first reported in January that landing deals for the cast to return came at a steep price for the network. Witherspoon alone, whose producing slate has exploded in recent months with high-profile projects at Apple and now Hulu, is earning “in the $1 million-an-episode ballpark” for the second season, along with fees for serving as an executive producer and points off the backend. Kidman, also an executive producer, is said to have a similar deal.
'Big Little Lies': 7 Reasons the Golden Globes Darling Is So Worth Watching (Photos)
"Big Little Lies" became the darling of this year's Golden Globes when it cleaned up during Monday's nominations with six to its name. If you haven't already binged this deliciously thrilling series we suggest you get to it before the award show airs on Jan. 7. After all, you're gonna want to be in the know when your soon-to-be favorite series sweeps every category. Here are seven reasons you need to view the HBO hit ASAP.
Okay, this "limited series" business was clearly more than a little lie after fans and critics alike ate the drama up and demanded the story continue. You have even more of a reason to enjoy the show now that you know it was recently renewed for a second season.
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2. The cast alone will knock your socks off
Before the show even aired we were ready for this series to be a smash-hit just based on the epic list of stars who signed on. When you have Reese Witherspoon, Nicole Kidman, Shailene Woodley, Laura Dern, Zoe Kravitz, Alexander Skarsgard and Adam Scott front and center, you're surely in for a fun ride.
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3. Drama, drama, drama
Oh. My. God. If you thought "Game of Thrones" was the most intense thing on TV, wait until you get through the first episode of "BLL." You will never regret the time you spent getting entangled in the lives of the women of Monterey, California. (Well, you might. But only if you don't want to obsess over their secrets forever.)
By the end of the first season of "Big Little Lies" you will fully believe these women would die for each other. They may start out as "friends," but by the time the closing moments of the finale roll around, they seem more like sisters. We can't tell you what makes their bond that crazy tight, but believe us, it's worth the wait to find out on your own.
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5. The kids
The moms may be the leads in this series, but their children are the catalysts for the conflict that drives the plot. Plus, they are pretty damn good actors themselves. And also totally adorable.
"Big Little Lies" is based on a 2014 novel of the same name by Liane Moriarty -- which we highly recommend as supplemental reading. Moriarty had a producing and writing credit on the show and fans of the book could definitely feel her touch on screen.
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7. The twist
It's impossible to try and tell someone that they need to watch "Big Little Lies" without teasing the fact there is a HUGE, jaw-dropping twist. While we refuse to reveal what the big shocker is (though we're itching to talk about it with pretty much everyone in the world), it is one of the best selling-points for the series. Seriously, it may sound cliché, but you will be on the edge of your seat throughout all seven episodes waiting for all the shoes to drop.
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HBO series sets pace in TV categories with highest number of nominations
"Big Little Lies" became the darling of this year's Golden Globes when it cleaned up during Monday's nominations with six to its name. If you haven't already binged this deliciously thrilling series we suggest you get to it before the award show airs on Jan. 7. After all, you're gonna want to be in the know when your soon-to-be favorite series sweeps every category. Here are seven reasons you need to view the HBO hit ASAP.
HBO
HBO
