HBO Responds to Judd Apatow’s Mention of a Season 3 ‘Girls’ Pickup

ON THE SET: "Girls"

Did Judd Apatow just let the Girls cat out of the bag? The network is hinting yes.

Buried toward the end of an interview with Movie City News, the writer-director of This Is 40 casually mentions that production on season three of Lena Dunham's HBO comedy series -- which Apatow executive produces -- has already begun. (The moment comes at 34:34.)

STORY: The Women Behind 'Girls': Lena Dunham and Jenni Konner Talk About Life on Their 'Happy' Set 

It's rare for a network to renew a series before even a single episode of its current season has aired (save for Starz and the series premiere of Boss). HBO tends to give early season renewals after the seasons launch (see Game of Thrones, The Newsroom, etc.). Season two of Girls won't begin until Jan. 13, Dunham revealed recently on Twitter.

Yet with Girls' out-of-the-gate status as one of the buzziest shows on TV and five Emmy nominations -- including ones for writing, lead actress in a comedy and outstanding comedy series, plus a win for its casting -- it's safe to say the network is fully backing the endeavor.

A rep for HBO tells The Hollywood Reporter: “We’re looking forward to the launch of season two and hope to have good news shortly thereafter.”

E-mail: seth.abramovitch@thr.com

Twitter: @SethAbramovitch

Seth Abramovitch