Lucy in the Sky (2019)

[Poya]

Big Little Lies’: Reese Witherspoon Backs Out Of ‘Pale Blue Dot’ As HBO Miniseries Nears Second Installment

Reese Witherspoon is stepping back from Pale Blue Dot, the Fox Searchlight sci-fi pic from Noah Hawley that she had intended to produce and star in. The project, which came together in February, is based on a spec by Brian C Brown and Elliott DiGuiseppi and tells the story of a female astronaut who, upon returning to Earth from a mission in space, begins to slowly unravel and lose touch with reality.

Witherspoon’s exit, confirmed today, only fuels the rumors the the long-gestating potential Season 2 of HBO’s Emmy-winning limited series Big Little Lies is getting closer to reality. Earlier today, our sister publication TVLine reported sources saying that the network is eyeing a spring 2018 production start.

Sources say that the cast has not been locked yet to return but talks are underway. There also is a search for a new director.

Yesterday, Deadline reported that Apple landed the hot morning show drama series project executive produced by and starring Witherspoon and Jennifer Aniston with a two-season order. Production on that — two 10-episode seasons — would most likely start after a Big Little Lies shoot.

The drumbeat for a second season of Big Little Lies has grown since the first installment of the adaptation of Liane Moriarty’s novel cleaned up a the Emmys, winning eight in all including Best Limited Series (Witherspoon earned a statuette as an executive producer) and Lead Actress in a Limited Series or Movie for star/exec producer Nicole Kidman. Shailene Woodley and Alexander Skarsgard also starred and Jean-Marc Vallée directed.

Moriarty, Witherspoon, Kidman and Vallée all hinted backstage at the Emmys that a Season 2 was a strong possibility. The main obstacle had been the lack of source material as the novel was a one-off. But sources says Moriarty — who had acknowledged she had been approached by HBO and the producers about a second season — has written a short novella that picks up the story and envisions what happens next with the main characters.

As Deadline reported after the Emmys, David E. Kelley, who adapted Big Little Lies, was looking at the material, mulling a possible take, and that everyone was encouraged.

Once again, Reese makes a staggeringly stupid decision. Dropping out of Downsizing and this but making time for Hot Pursuit and Home Again. With Big Little Lies and Wild, you’d think she’d make better choices but nope.