‘Only Murders in the Building’ Is Destroying Its Original Formula With Season 6’s Massive Change

Stunt casting has long been a television tradition. It’s no surprise that shows make an effort to get extra eyes on their projects, resulting in cameos by high-profile celebrities. Whether it’s Will Ferrell in The Office, Brad Pitt in Friends, or the recent rumblings that Meghan Markle might pop up in the third season of Netflix’s The Gentlemen, this kind of casting news isn’t going anywhere any time soon. One series in particular is adding more and more guest stars to its ranks, but it actually might be to the show’s detriment.

‘Only Murders in the Building’ Season 6 Has Announced a Shocking Number of Guest Stars

Hulu’s Only Murders in the Building has spent five seasons showcasing a fantastic blend of murder mystery and comedy. With a hilarious main trio consisting of Steve Martin, Martin Short, and Selena Gomez, the series has never failed to land its comedy. After its first successful season, Only Murders in the Building started to branch out from its core cast, with guest stars like Paul Rudd, Jesse Williams, Shirley MacLaine, and Amy Schumer stopping by the Arconia. By the time Meryl Streep was brought on board in Season 3 as a struggling actress, it seemed like the series had already reached the pinnacle of guest stars — because who could top Meryl? Well, it seems like Only Murders in the Building is determined to outdo itself.

Season 4 included such names as Zach Galifianakis, Eugene Levy, Eva Longoria, and Melissa McCarthy, while Season 5, which aired last fall, continued the trend with Bobby Cannavale, Christoph Waltz, and Renée Zellweger. Now, with a brand-new season in production, even more names are slated to take part. So far, 22 (!) guest stars have been confirmed to appear in Season 6. Olivia Colman is the latest star to sign on, alongside Nicola Coughlan, David Tennant, Sharon Horgan, Martin Freeman and Spice Girl herself, Geri Halliwell. Of course, it’s exciting to see any of these actors on screen, but there is a concern surrounding the casting of so many names.

Straying Too Far From the Core Cast Could Hurt ‘Only Murders in the Building’

At its foundation, Only Murders in the Building has always been about the friendship between the trio of Charles (Martin), Oliver (Short), and Mabel (Gomez). As unlikely as their bond might be, they’ve built a solid dynamic while helping to solve certain murder mysteries. The characters’ connection is heartwarming on its own, but it’s even more fun to watch these stellar actors play off of each other. The chemistry that’s developed between them is worth tuning in for alone, and it’s no surprise that the show has won seven Emmys (out of a total of 61 nominations). However, with Season 6’s slate of casting announcements, it’s starting to feel like Only Murders in the Building is straying too far from its original premise and characters. Showcasing this many stars might be helpful for getting eyes on the show, but it could risk minimizing the series’ lead trio.

It is intriguing to consider how these new cast members will play a role in Season 6. Will any of them turn out to be suspects, the murderers themselves, or even potential love interests for our gang? When you’re working with dozens of extra characters, their appearances could run the risk of being too brief or diluted. Each season only has a mere 10 episodes, and given the average runtime of 26-40 minutes apiece, that definitely isn’t enough time to showcase these stars’ true talents. If Only Murders in the Building continues to overload the show with guest stars, fans might have even less time with the show’s original beloved characters.

It seems like Hulu is trying to ensure that a series this far into its run isn’t losing any momentum, and it makes sense that there’s a certain level of buzz that needs to be created to keep viewers tuning in six seasons later. However, at this point, we’d much rather spend time with the characters we fell in love with back in Season 1 than watch a litany of big names steal the spotlight.

Seasons 1–5 of Only Murders in the Building are available to stream on Hulu in the U.S. Stay tuned for details about a Season 6 release date.

Only Murders in the Building

Release Date

August 31, 2021

Network

Hulu

Showrunner

John Hoffman

Directors

Jamie Babbit, John Hoffman, Cherien Dabis, Chris Koch, Robert Pulcini, Shari Springer Berman, Adam Shankman, Don Scardino, Jesse Peretz, Jessica Yu, Jude Weng, Chris Teague