Nicole and Reese talk about their dark dramedy

Based on Liane Moriarty’s bestselling novel, Big Little Lies is set to be a seven-episode series about three mothers of first-graders, whose seemingly perfect lives unravel to the point of murder. Starring Reese Witherspoon, Nicole Kidman, and Shailene Woodley, the dark dra-medy was set in motion in 2014 when a friend slipped Reese an early copy of Liane’s Big Little Lies.

The Australian author has a knack for spinning a compelling tale — her previous book, The Husband’s Secret, had hit number one on the New York Times best seller in 2013.
“Liane’s writing is so enthralling, I was hanging on every word. I read it in one night,” says Witherspoon, to Entertainment Weekly of the book.

Her producing partner, Bruna Papandrea, called Nicole Kidman and said, “I’ve found the thing for us all to do together.” Kidman (who also read the book in a single sitting) happened to be leaving the next day for Australia, and while there she met Liane for coffee. “I said to her, ‘If you give us the rights to the book, we can get it made’,” says Nicole.

Within 18 months, several A-listers were heading into production. Shailene Woodley joined Witherspoon and Kidman in the lead roles. David E. Kelley (writer of the comedy series Ally McBeal) signed on as an executive producer and wrote all seven episodes. Big Little Lies premieres on February 21, on Star World Premiere HD.