HBO's Big Little Lies filmed for one day this week to maintain its California state tax credit, then shut down production until 2027, according to Variety. The single-day shoot allowed the series to satisfy state requirements that productions begin within 180 or 240 calendar days of receiving a Conditional Allocation Letter.
Merrin Dungey, who plays Detective Quinlan on the series, was called to one of Warner Bros.' studio lots for the day's work before production halted again.
The maneuver reflects how tax credits shape production logistics. California doubled its tax credit allocation to $750 million last year as Governor Gavin Newsom pushes studios to keep work in the state.
Big Little Lies had faced long delays returning to television. HBO head Casey Bloys previously said a third season was "not realistic" due to the scheduling conflicts of stars including Reese Witherspoon, Nicole Kidman, Laura Dern, and Meryl Streep. The network confirmed the series revival last September, when author Liane Moriarty began working on a third novel for the franchise.