Costar Who Persuaded Shailene Woodley to Join ‘Big Little Lies’

Shailene Woodley Required Persuasion from a Co-Star to Join Big Little Lies

It’s unusual to think of Big Little Lies without Shailene Woodley portraying Jane Chapman, a devoted single mother relocating to Monterey with her son, Ziggy. However, this almost became a reality. In a recent interview with Vanity Fair, published on October 31, Woodley revealed that she initially declined the role in the acclaimed HBO series.

The actress received the opportunity late in 2015 during a time when she felt “exhausted by the act of Hollywood.” Woodley 32, shared that Jean-Marc Vallée, the series’ visionary creator and director who has sadly passed, wanted her for the part. Despite her desire to collaborate with him, she chose to step back and take time for personal growth.

Before embarking on a three-week backpacking trip to India, Woodley received an unexpected call from Laura Dern, her future co-star. Reflecting on that moment, Woodley said, “I got a call from Laura the day before I left for India — or maybe I was already in India — and she said, ‘Listen, I know where you’re at in your life. I’ve been there before too. It’s a lot. This world is an illusion, but what isn’t an illusion is what you love to do.’”

Laura could see something in Woodley that she couldn’t see in herself. She encouraged Woodley to embrace her passion for storytelling rather than shying away from it. Ultimately, the heartfelt conversation led Woodley to cut her trip short.

In her own words, Woodley expressed profound gratitude for Dern’s supportive intervention, calling it “a massive moment of courageous friendship.”

Big Little Lies premiered its second season in 2019 with speculation around a third season still swirling. HBO President Casey Bloys had previously pointed out the logistical challenges of aligning schedules with such a dazzling cast, which includes the talents of Reese Witherspoon, Nicole Kidman, Alexander Skarsgård, and Meryl Streep, among others. However, optimism grew when Kidman mentioned in 2020 that Liane Moriarty, the author of the original novel, was working on new material for a potential third season.

In her recent interview, Woodley provided a glimmer of hope for fans, stating, “We have a text chain going, and it’s constantly a check-in, every few weeks, ‘Hey, what’s the update?’ ‘It’s still happening.’” She went on to add, “I keep being told that there’s going to be a season 3, but I haven’t read anything yet.”

This inside glimpse into the show’s future leaves fans eager for more developments from this beloved series.