“The Night Manager” filmmaker Susanne Bier has been set as the director for “The Undoing,” HBO’s next limited series from Nicole Kidman and “Big Little Lies” boss David E. Kelley, an individual with knowledge of production tells TheWrap.
Based on the book “You Should Have Known” by Jean Hanff Korelitz, the six-episode series stars Kidman as Grace Sachs, a loving wife, devoted mother and successful therapist whose life unravels when she makes discoveries about her husband’s past.
Here’s the official logline for the series: Grace Sachs (Kidman) is living the only life she ever wanted for herself. She’s a successful therapist, has a devoted husband and young son who attends an elite private school in New York City. Overnight a chasm opens in her life: a violent death, a missing husband, and, in the place of a man Grace thought she knew, only a chain of terrible revelations. Left behind in the wake of a spreading and very public disaster, and horrified by the ways in which she has failed to heed her own advice, Grace must dismantle one life and create another for her child and herself.
Bier will direct all episodes of the series and executive produce, with Kelley writing and showrunning the series. Kelley executive produces through his David E. Kelley Productions banner, with Kidman (who is re-teaming with Kelley after Seasons 1 and 2 of “Big Little Lies”) and Per Saari executive producing under Blossom Films, and Bruna Papandrea for Made Up Stories.
She won an Emmy Award for Outstanding Directing for a Limited Series, Movie or a Dramatic Special for “The Night Manager.” Her other film credits include “A Second Chance,” “Love Is All You Need,” “In A Better World,” “Things We Lost In The Fire,” “After The Wedding,” “Brothers,” “Once in A Lifetime,” and the upcoming “Bird Box.”
Bier is repped by CAA, Brillstein Entertainment Partners and Jackoway, Tyerman, Wertheimer, Austen, Mandelbaum, Morris & Klein.
'Big Little Lies' Loose Ends: 6 Questions Left Unanswered in the Finale (Photos)
HBO's limited series "Big Little Lies" ended with the climactic murder resolved in Sunday night's finale, but that didn't mean it all tied up in a neat bow. Click through to explore the storylines that didn't get resolved:
HBO
Madeline never told Ed she cheated on him.
In the second-to-last episode, Reese Witherspoon's character came close to 'fessing up about her affair with community play director Joseph Bachman (Santiago Cabrera). But, alas, Ed's (Adam Scott's) big reaction scene may never come to pass. Plus, in the finale, there's a scene with Joseph and Madeline fighting. Does Joesph still love Madeline? Tori (Joseph's wife, played by Sarah Sokolovic) obviously knows it's her who he had the affair with, but the two never face off again.
HBO
We didn't get to see enough of Jane and Tom.
Jane (Shailene Woodley) and coffee guy Tom (Joseph Cross -- who, surprise, isn't gay) have a twisted first date at the big costume gala, and we see Jane crying into his arms after the murder. But will the duo get together for real? Can Jane trust a man again? We might have to use our imaginations.
HBO
Amabella and Max are suddenly BFFS at the beach.
One of the biggest questions on the show--who was hurting Amabella?--was answered in the finale. It was Max, one of Celeste's (Nicole Kidman's) twin boys. The two kids are seen playing on the beach with all of the others as if nothing ever happened. Also, how did the teacher really never notice?
HBO
Madeline convinced Abigail to quit her "project," but the parenting squad is still at odds.
Nathan still can't shake his need to be better than Ed (Adam Scott) at Elvis impersonations, and Bonnie (Zoë Kravitz) and Ed can't shake their awkward run-ins. (Ed accidentally spilled a drink on her dress.) But Bonnie and Madeline (Reese Witherspoon) seem to be friends now that they witnessed a murder together. Is Abby (Kathryn Newton) happy still living with her dad Nathan (James Tupper) and Bonnie, or does she miss living with her ma Madeline and hubby Ed?
HBO
The detective kept clicking her Zippo.
The dark fairytale ending played out on a sunny Monterey beach with all the leading ladies and their children playing in idyllic fashion. But one thing is left unanswered as Detective Adrienne Quinlan (Merrin Dungey) looks on, clicking that lighter, suspecting a coverup. If there is indeed a Season 2, the murder case is still, most definitely, wide open.
Fans may never get closure from these subplots (spoilers!)
HBO's limited series "Big Little Lies" ended with the climactic murder resolved in Sunday night's finale, but that didn't mean it all tied up in a neat bow. Click through to explore the storylines that didn't get resolved: