Everything we know so far about HBO's 'Big Little Lies' season 2, including details about Meryl Streep's pivotal role

Yes. That Meryl Streep. The one with 21 Oscar nominations, and three wins.

Streep will play Mary Louise Wright, Celeste's mother-in-law and Perry's mother. AKA: the mother of Alexander Skarsgård's character from season one, who was killed in the season finale. This tie-in pretty much guarantees that her role will be huge.

Streep will be the third Oscar winner on the show, joining former winners Reese Witherspoon and Nicole Kidman.

This isn't Streep's first time doing TV for HBO. She starred in the 2003 miniseries "Angels in America," and won an Emmy and a Golden Globe for her performance.

According to Vulture, in addition to Streep's role, there will be a few more new characters. Judging from Streep's casting, these roles will likely go to some big names:

• Michael Perkins, a new second-grade teacher at Otter Bay Elementary School. He will not get along with Renata (Laura Dern).
• A new employee at the school administration office who befriends Jane (Shailene Woodley).
• Bonnie’s (Zoë Kravitz) parents, Elizabeth and Martin Howard, who have a complex relationship with their daughter.

Arnold directed a 2011 adaptation of "Wuthering Heights," the 2016 film "American Honey," as well as several episodes of Amazon shows "Transparent" and "I Love Dick."

In 2005, Arnold won an Oscar for her short film, "Wasp."

Reese Witherspoon, Nicole Kidman, Shailene Woodley, Laura Dern, and Zoë Kravitz will return.

“I’m thrilled to be bringing back this talented team of artists,” star and executive producer Reese Witherspoon said in a statement. “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."

Moriarty was asked by HBO to come up with a potential storyline for season two that will help continue the stories of Madeline, Celeste, Jane, Renata, and Bonnie.

When asked why the limited series will go on, star and executive producer Nicole Kidman said, "I believe their stories warrant it and I don't want to abandon them. We don't want to sell them short, either. But I'm hoping we can find it if we take the leap."

You'll have to wait a year or more for the second season. But that's a good thing, since it's not being rushed.

So you can expect more casting announcements and plot details as we get closer to spring.