Here we go again. Only Murders in the Building is back for a third run of episodes, and no doubt they'll be more murders, more mysteries, and more witty back-and-forths between the show's leads. The second season of Hulu’s hit crime comedy left off with each of the main characters finding peace in their lives and moving on. Charles (Steve Martin) was given a leading role in the reboot of his show Brazzos. Oliver (Martin Short) had a chance to direct a play with a big-name star (more on that later). And Mabel (Selena Gomez) began to heal from the trauma in her life with the help of Alice (Cara Delevingne).
Update August 4, 2023: Only Murders in the Building season 3 is only days away, and this article has been updated with even more information about the upcoming season of the popular series.
But this isn't Only Peace and Happiness in the Building, and no doubt it's only a matter of time before some poor soul (or not so poor, as the case may be) gets bumped off, and our favorite trio of amateur podcasting sleuths jumps right back into the action. The season two finale nicely up some potential paths for season three to go down, and the recent trailer certainly seems to indicate that things might be heading in a new direction. So what is that new direction? Here's everything we know so far about season three of Only Murders in the Building.
Only Murders Outside the Building?
The tagline in the season three trailer reads, "The stage is set for the wildest season yet", and it certainly seems like the show's action will be moving away from the comfort of The Arconia - the fancy Upper West Side apartment building, that was the main setting of the first two seasons - and towards the glitz and glamour of theater land. Season two ended with the opening night of Oliver's Broadway play and the sudden death of the lead actor, Ben Glenroy (Paul Rudd). Now, season three will revolve around the trio trying to solve Glenroy's murder, which will see them delve into the weird and wonderful world of theater.
Generally, expanding to a new location later in a television series works well. It helps to introduce new environments and can get the characters out of their comfort zones. New settings can also bring new characters and storylines. If this were any other series, the change in scenery would be a welcome new avenue for the story. Even the trailer acknowledges this, with someone commenting about how they are at least investigating a murder off-site.
However, the title limits where the action can take place, Only Murders in the Building (i.e., The Arconia). The “only” even demands that no murders anywhere else be investigated by the central trio. So, does this mean that the series has abandoned the rule set by the very title, and the team is expanding outside the Arconia?
In all likelihood, no. Since Glenroy has some connection to the title trio, he may also have a connection to the Arconia. The famed apartment complex has no shortage of high-profile residents. Charles and Oliver had extensive experience in show business, and celebrities like Sting and Amy Schumer lived in the building during the series’ run. It would not be out of the realm of possibility for Broadway star Ben Glenroy to have lived in the Arconia at some point. Even if he didn’t live there, maybe he has some connection to someone who did.
Remember Charles's enigmatic line of “I know what you did.” Since the trio solely investigates crime in the Arconia, they could have uncovered something that Glenroy did in the building. Maybe he murdered someone there; who knows? Even though Glenroy’s death did not happen in the Arconia, we can say with near certainty that we have not seen the last of the titular building. Side note, maybe people should stop living there with so many murders going on.
Whatever the case, it will be fun to see Oliver well and truly in his element in the theater, and equally enjoyable to see Mabel so far outside of her comfort zone. Additionally, a new setting means some new faces. Speaking of which...
Paul Rudd Returns
As mentioned above, this time around, the plot seemingly revolves around the death of famed Broadway actor Ben Glenroy, who we briefly met in the season two finale and where he was played by none other than Paul Rudd. The seemingly ageless Ant-Man actor is back again to see things through and just because he met his maker the last time we saw him, doesn't mean he won't have plenty to do this time around. The nature of the show means that it relies heavily on flashbacks. So, no doubt we'll learn all about Glenroy, who he was, and how he came to be killed on stage. Like Tim Kono in season one and Bunny in season two, being dead doesn't stop a character from having a significant role. That's even less likely to be the case when said character is played by a major Hollywood star.
Though we don't know a lot about Rudd's character at the moment, we're not going into the season totally blind. As well as knowing that Glenroy A) was an actor and B) died on stage, it's also hinted that he and Charles share some sort of history. Moments before his death, Charles approaches Glenroy mid-performance and mentions, “I know what you did.” Crucially, the last scene of season two is set one year after the events of the rest of the season. That begs a few questions. Was Glenroy involved with the team in some way during the twelve-month time jump from solving Bunny’s murder to the play’s opening night? If so, how so? And what does that have to do with him being killed? All of these are questions should (hopefully) be answered in the new season. Again, despite Glenroy’s death, his storyline is far from over, and how he connects to the central trio remains to be seen.
Meryl Streep Joins the Cast
Paul Rudd isn't the only big name joining the cast for the third season. Three-time Academy Award winner and Hollywood royalty Meryl Streep, is also coming along for the ride. She is set to play a character called Loretta Durkin, a stage thespian who becomes a prime suspect in the murder investigation. Playing a fellow actress certainly shouldn't be too much of a stretch for Streep, who was revealed to be joining the show when Selena Gomez posted a video of herself with the main cast of season three, including Streep, online.
That being said, the trailer does reveal that Loretta isn't a particularly good actress, at least not in Glenroy's eyes. Could his dismissal of her acting abilities be a motive for her killing him? Or is that just a red herring to throw us off? Whatever the case, Streep is guaranteed to be a fun addition to the cast. It also speaks to how well-regarded Only Murders in the Building is that they are able to land a Hollywood titan like Meryl Streep for a television series, something the actress rarely does. In fact, outside of documentaries and voicework, this is only the third series she has done since 2000, with the other two acting credits being the miniseries Angels in America in 2003 and Big Little Lies in 2019.
The Trio Moving Forward
By the end of the second season, each trio member found peace in their lives. Charles returned to TV, Oliver directed a new play, and Mabel healed with Alice. Seeing these characters find some closure brought a welcome sigh of relief. At the beginning of the series, they were three strangers who all faced some personal struggle. Their love of murder podcasts united them and allowed them to move forward as a group. We see the payoff from this dynamic at the season’s end when each one seems genuinely happy about something other than murder for the first time in the series.
Nevertheless, the chemistry between the three leads is a big part of why the show works. As such, fans will be relieved to see that season three gets the old gang back together again for some more murder-oriented podcasting hijinks. It's just a shame that people have to keep dying for these three to hang out. However, just because they're back together again doesn't mean their own journeys of personal development have to come to a halt. While each has grown in their own way, their friendship has helped them with that growth. For season three to work, it needs the core trio to move forward and continue to help one another be better people.
Only Murders in the Buiding has been a television sensation since it premiered on August 31, 2021, and audiences are certainly anticipating the series' return. It is only a matter of time before the season premieres and the central mystery falls into place.