Hulu's surprise hit murder mystery comedy Only Murders in the Building (also aired on Disney Plus for international viewers) defied the odds of its relative obscurity and wobbly staircase of a title to become an intriguing, cozy series with a dedicated fanbase. After the long-projected cliffhanger at the conclusion of season 1, many viewers have been anxiously awaiting news about the continuation. Well, at least one thing has been confirmed, and it's probably enough to get those speculative juices flowing.
Nathan Lane, who played Teddy Dimas in the first season of Hulu's Only Murders in the Building, is officially returning for season 2, as confirmed by the man himself. "I come back. I can't tell you how, but I do come back," Lane said to Deadline before teasing a little insight. "He did not commit the murder, but they were grave robbing. He comes back in an interesting way and there's a big surprise." Given the involvement of Lane's character last season, it can be almost guaranteed that there will be some spicy and comedic drama brewing between him and the main cast.
That's not all, however. Series co-lead Martin Short, who plays struggling playwright Oliver Putnam, recently teased the inclusion of some big new names joining Only Murders in the Building next season, introducing tons of possibilities. "Before Christmas, [I shot scenes with] Shirley MacLaine and Amy Schumer," Short said during a break in the show's production. "The quality of actor that this show is attracting makes it endlessly fun to go to work." As if that wasn't enough, Deadline also confirmed a week ago that comedian Michael Rapaport will also join as series regular Detective Kreps. These new faces join Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets star Cara Delevingne, who was also recently announced for season 2.
Only Murders in the Building features the trio of Steve Martin, Short, and singer-turned-actress Selena Gomez as unlikely friends who bonded over their love of a true-crime podcast only to start one of their own when a tenant in their shared apartment building is mysteriously killed. Martin stars as washed-up actor Charles-Haden Savage with Gomez as the quiet yet sarcastic artist Mabel Mora. During their independent investigation, they accuse Lane's Teddy Dimas and his son Theo (James Caverly) of the murder, leading to an arrest before the two are ultimately deemed innocent. Again, there's bound to be plenty of drama there going forward.
For the uninitiated, the newcomers to the cast aren't the only big names in the show. Martin and Short (who are likely fully aware of how confusing their last names get when placed side by side) are both legendary comedic actors, famous for both their stand-up and a huge number of classic comedies like The Three Amigos and Planes, Trains & Automobiles (albeit the latter only stars Martin). Lane can also count himself in that enviable company, given his own long career on stage and screen. Incomparable roles in films like The Birdcage and The Lion King demonstrate the entertainment veteran's range and comedic timing, contrasting well with his more subdued role in Only Murders in the Building. That's not to mention the absolute icon MacLaine joining the cast, known for countless films spanning all the way back to Alfred Hitchcock's classic film The Trouble With Harry in 1955.
After season 1 ended with Gomez's Mabel hovering over a corpse covered in blood, resulting in her arrest along with her 2 fellow podcasting costars, it's anyone's guess where things go from here. Given the apparent star-studded nature of season 2, it looks like the show is ready to crank up the volume and yank off the knob right from the get-go.
Only Murders in the Building season 2 is currently in production. No premiere date has been announced yet.