Is ‘Only Murders in the Building’ returning for season 2?
Who would’ve thought a show featuring a bassoon cleaner at the center of its plot would’ve managed to capture so many hearts? Only Murders in the Building surprised and delighted fans thanks to the unexpected chemistry of its A-list cast, including Selena Gomez, Martin Short, and Steve Martin, along with its satirical plot about culture’s obsession with true crime.
The ten-episode first season came to a close in mid-October, revealing who killed Tim Kono among several other secrets, but there’s still plenty of murder happening in the building. With all of that said, fans of the lovable trio are chomping at the bit to find out when they can see their favorite sleuthy podcasters again. Is Only Murders in the Building returning for season 2?
Only Murders in the Building
Only Murders in the Building is an American mystery-comedy series created by Steve Martin & John Hoffman. The first season premiered on Hulu on August 31st, 2021. It received critical acclaim, with particular praise for its comedic approach to crime fiction and the lead actors’ performances.
The three strangers played by Martin, Short, and Gomez share an obsession with a true-crime podcast. After a murder in their affluent Upper West Side apartment building, they decide to start their own program covering their investigation of the murder.
The season 1 finale gave us just as many questions as it did answers. We did finally learn who killed Tim Kono, and it was not the Dimases as suspected initially. Instead, it was Jan (Amy Ryan), Charles’s girlfriend and Arconia residents’ bassoon player, scorned after her relationship with Tim didn’t pan out.
The episode’s final moments introduce a whole new crime for us to investigate: the murder of building manager Bunny. We see Oliver (Short), Mabel (Gomez), and Charles (Martin) get arrested for the crime; she was found in Mabel’s arms, stabbed with her knitting needles.
Only Murders in the Building season 2
Since season 1 ended on such a massive cliffhanger, it would’ve been brutal if Hulu failed to deliver another chapter of the hit show. As an added motivator, it was the most-watched comedy on Hulu ever, “by a good measure,” the streamer confirmed. Thankfully, Hulu announced on Twitter a month before the season 1 finale that the series would be returning for a season 2.
We can only assume that season 2 will seek to exonerate our iconic trio of sleuths and discover Bunny’s true killer. Will Cinda Canning (Tina Fey) lead the investigation or just podcast their misfortunes? Have they gained enough favor with Detective Williams (Da’Vine Joy Randolph) that the charges won’t hold? And like Cinda’s podcast, will season 2 be called Only Murderers in the Building?
When speaking to Deadline, Hoffman also teased that fans would learn more about the history of the Arconia in the second season. “It’s got some secrets for sure, and that’s another area we’re interested in exploring,” he said.
“Also, what does it mean for the real-world purposes of what’s happening with our built-in real estate terms as far as the value and who wants to live here and who doesn’t anymore? It all gets very complicated at the Arconia. You’ll learn more about its history in Season 2.”
Who is returning for season 2?
Fans will be thrilled to know that Selena Gomez, Steve Martin, and Martin Short are returning for season 2. It’s also likely guest star Tina Fey will have a more significant part since it was teased in the season 1 finale that her character, Cinda Canning, is creating a true-crime podcast about the true-crime podcasters.
Hoffman all but confirmed Bunny (Jane Houdyshell) would also be a part of season 2 (seemingly in flashback scenes) “I told her, being a victim on this show, just ask the other brilliant victim in season 1, Julian Cihi who played Tim Kono, it doesn’t mean you are not going to be in the show. You’re likely going to be in the show even as a victim.”
Most importantly, Arconia (The Belnord in real life) will remain a significant player in season 2. “It’s got to remain squared & centered around that,” Hoffman said to EW. He also teased that season 2 may not be the last of Only Murders in the Building, but future seasons could move beyond the beautiful Manhattan apartment complex.
“That gets very exciting when you think of all how this thing can move and grow, and not always be potentially within those walls,” he added.
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With no premiere date set or teased, fans will have a bit of a wait to see what happens next in the forthcoming season 2. Are you excited to see the podcasters & sleuths return to their “life of crime?”
