Hollywood icon Meryl Streep is slated to join the star-studded cast of Big Little Lies for the second season of the hit show.

HBO is upping the ante in the critically acclaimed series by adding the legendary actress to the cast. For Big Little Lies 2, Streep will be playing Mary Louise Wright, the mother-in-law of Nicole Kidman's troubled character Celeste.

While appearances in a television show are rare for the three-time Academy Award winner, it's not the first time she's opted to grace the small screen. The acting legend appeared in Showtime's Web Therapy for three episodes in 2010. Back in 2003, Streep had a major role in the Angels in America mini-series.

Big Little Lies already has a number of A-list actresses on its roster including Academy Award winners Kidman and Reese Witherspoon, Laura Dern, Shailene Woodley, and Zoë Kravitz. Kidman, Dern, and Alexander Skarsgård took home Emmys for their individual work in Big Little Lies.

Big Little Lies is based on Liane Moriarty's book and was not expected to be more than a limited series. All seven of the episodes of the first season covered the entirety of the existing novel. With the critical success of the show, HBO and the producers opted to bring the story back for a new season.

"I'm thrilled to be bringing back this talented team of artists," Witherspoon says in an HBO release upon the announcement of season two. "It gives us the opportunity to delve deeper into the lives of these intriguing and intricate Monterey families and bring more of their stories back to the audience who embraced and championed them."

The second season will feature seven episodes, all directed by Andrea Arnold. David E. Kelley is confirmed to return as the showrunner.

In the upcoming episodes of Big Little Lies, Kidman's Celeste will be dealing with the loss of her husband as she tries to keep her family together. In the wake of the shocking revelations in the past season, Madeline, played by Witherspoon, will find her traditional understanding of families and relationships rocked. The parents of Kravitz's character Bonnie will also be appearing, while Skarsgård's Perry might even return in some capacity.

HBO describes the second season as an exploration of 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."

While Streep, Kidman and Witherspoon are all officially signed on for Big Little Lies season two, the rest of the cast are still reportedly working out their contracts. Sources have revealed that the stars of Big Little Lies are getting a considerable salary bump for the new season.

Big Little Lies season two is slated to air on HBO in 2019.

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