'Big Little Lies' season 2 update: Merry Streep to join cast

Promotional photo for the HBO miniseries "Big Little Lies" HBO

Meryl Streep, whose list of awards is enough to fill an entire article page, will be joining HBO's "Big Little Lies" season 2.

HBO has announced that Streep will be taking on the character of Mary Louise Wright, mother of Perry Wright (Alexander Skarsgård) and mother-in-law to Celeste (Nicole Kidman).

In the first season of the hit series, one may recall that Celeste suffered domestic violence under the hands of her abusive husband. In the seventh and final episode, Bonnie Carlson (Zoë Kravitz) pushed Perry down the stairs in an attempt to save Celeste from further beatings. The women, Celeste, Bonnie, Madeleine Martha Mackenzie (Reese Witherspoon), Jane Chapman (Shailene Woodley) and Laura Dern (Renata Klein) covered up what really happened, telling dubious investigators that a fight had ensued, and Perry fell down the stairs accidentally.

Streep's character, Mary Louise, will appear in season 2 worried about her grandchildren's well-being while at the same time searching for answers about Perry's death. According to HBO, "Big Little Lies" season 2 will "explore the malignancy of lies, the durability of friendships, the fragility of marriage and, of course, the vicious ferocity of sound parenting. Relationships will fray, loyalties will erode... the potential for emotional and bodily injury shall loom."

It is unclear how Streep's character will play on the lives of the Monterey dwellers, but one can probably look forward to award-winning showdowns with her daughter-in-law, Celeste.

"Big Little Lies" is based on the novel of the same title by Liane Moriarty. In an interview with Australian newspaper The Daily Telegraph, Moriarty revealed that she wrote Mary Louise's character with Streep in mind. Moriarty also shared that Streep's name Meryl is a contraction for Streep's character in "Big Little Lies," Mary Louise. She then asked the aid of Kidman, who is a great friend of Streep. Kidman replied in an email, saying, "ask and you shall receive."

Kidman and Witherspoon both took to Instagram to express the happiness they felt when Streep's new role in "Big Little Lies" was officially announced.

The release date of "Big Little Lies" season 2 has yet to be announced.

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