While fans of the hit series Big Little Lies are rejoicing after the news of a second season, it seems it will be coming at a much higher cost to HBO.
Originally designed to be a limited seven-episode arc, the decision to go ahead with a second season means all new contracts for the stars of the show and in turn, the opportunity to negotiate. Off the huge success of the show, its little surprise they’re asking for more.
The ladies are here to negotiate and they mean business.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, both Nicole Kidman and Reese Witherspoon are set to be paid around a cool US $1 million per episode. That’s a fairly impressive pay rise from their reported $250,000 – $350,000 per episode salary in season one.
It’s speculated the pay rise comes off of the back of Apple’s move further into streaming with its own original series. The yet-to-be-named series from Apple will star Reese Witherspoon and Jennifer Aniston and see them paid upward of $1.25 million an episode.
On top of their hefty increases, the stars are also said to be receiving points of the show’s back end as well as executive producing fees. They’re not alone with co-stars Zoe Kravitz reportedly receiving an increase from $380,000 for the entire season to $3 million, while Shailene Woodley who received a total of $1.7 million for season is said to be expecting a pay rise also.
HBO’s programming president spoke to The Hollywod Reporter about the increases and their relation to Apple’s ventures. “It’s not a shock to anybody that having a second season of an ongoing series is easier to have with those deals in place.”
“If HBO pays Witherspoon her quote that Apple is paying, it inflates the whole ecosystem of TV actor salaries.”
“Every outlet has to make their own decisions about economics that make sense for them. I’m not going to shake my fist and say, ‘Darn it, Apple!’ If that’s what made sense for them for that show, God bless.”
Season two is set to start filming soon with a release expected in 2019. And after a multi-award winning first season, it’s sure to be worth the LONG wait.
