Big Little Lies season 2 will star Nicole Kidman and Reese Witherspoon

A-listers Kidman and Witherspoon confirmed to return for second series of the hit Emmy-winning HBO show.

HBO says the dark drama Big Little Lies is coming back for a second season.

The channel said Friday that Nicole Kidman and Reese Witherspoon will again star and serve as executive producers of the Emmy-winning series.

The new episodes are based in part on a story by Liane Moriarty, author of the novel Big Little Lies.

The drama's first-season writer, David E. Kelly, is returning to write the seven new episodes. Andrea Arnold, whose credits include Transparent, will direct.

HBO said the series will explore friendships, the fragility of marriage and include the potential for "emotional and bodily injury".

The first season of Big Little Lies included domestic abuse and a violent death.

An air date for season two was not announced.

Big Little Lies was a critical and commercial success during its first season. IBTimes UK had special words for the innovative and powerful soul-infused original soundtrack in particular.