Ever since the shocking season 1 finale, which saw washed-up actor Charles-Haden Savage (Steve Martin), eccentric theatre director Oliver Putnam (Martin Short) and enigmatic Mabel Mora (Selena Gomez) in hot water, fans have been clamouring for an Only Murders in the Building season 2.

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There’s some excellent news on this front: season 2 now has an official release date, with the new episodes set to land on Disney Plus this summer, under the Star banner.

Following the death of Arconia Board President Bunny Folger (Jayne Houdyshell) at the end of season 1, the next instalment of episodes will see Charles, Oliver (Short) and Mabel (Gomez) race to unmask Folger’s killer.

What's more, the first teaser trailer for Only Murders in the Building season 2 has given a first look at the new cast additions played by Cara Delevigne and Amy Schumer. Read more on trailers below.

Any fans desperate for clues on what happens next should perhaps consider rewatching the first season on Star on Disney Plus, as co-creator John Hoffman has teased that the writers will be circling back to certain unaddressed moments.

“There are some loose ends, beyond the return to the opening moment of the season,” he told The Wrap. "If you go back through the season, there are moments that we have not declared were Jan’s (Amy Ryan) doing.”

As we eagerly await the next chapter, read on for everything we know so far about Only Murders in the Building season two, including release date rumours, returning cast and more. (Warning: season 1 spoilers follow!)

Only Murders in the Building season 2 release date rumours

Only Murders in the Building stars Steve Martin, Martin Short and Selena Gomez
Steve Martin, Martin Short and Selena Gomez in Only Murders in the Building Hulu/YouTube

Only Murders in the Building will return with season 2 on Star on Disney Plus on 28th June 2022.

US streaming service Hulu renewed the show midway through its run in September 2021, allowing the writing team to get a head start on coming up with storylines for the next batch of episodes.

The early renewal was no big surprise as it followed the news that Only Murders in the Building was the most-watched comedy premiere to date for US streaming service Hulu (via The Wrap).

They didn't waste any of that time, with Only Murders in the Building co-creator John Hoffman telling The Wrap that filming on season 2 will get started sometime in November 2021, teasing "big, fantastic things" in the next episodes.

Only Murders in the Building season 2 cast: Who will be back?

Only Murders in the Building couldn't exist without its core trio of comedy stars, and luckily all three are returning for a second season.

So, we’ll see more from Steve Martin as washed-up actor Charles-Haden Savage, best known for his '80s detective drama Brazzos, a character he channelled several times during the first season.

Martin Short will also return as eccentric theatre director Oliver Putnam, who established a genuine friendship with Charles during the rollercoaster events of the first 10 episodes.

Steve Martin and Martin Short have worked together numerous times prior to Only Murders in the Building, with previous projects including classic comedies Three Amigos and Father of the Bride.

Meanwhile, Selena Gomez will reprise her role as Mabel Mora, who finally seemed to be moving on from her troubled past when she is embroiled in another terrible crime in the final moments of season 1.

Only Murders in the Building
Selena Gomez, Steve Martin and Martin Short in Only Murders in the Building Hulu/YouTube

It's quite possible we could see more from Aaron Dominguez as Mabel's longtime friend – and more recently, boyfriend – Oscar, who looked on in disbelief as she was taken away by police in the finale.

The trio's only hope of clearing their name might be the NYPD's Detective Williams (played by Dolemite is My Name star Da'Vine Joy Randolph), who wisely instructs them not to say a word until their legal counsel is present.

Additionally, 30 Rock star Tina Fey had a memorable guest role in the first season as successful true crime podcaster Cinda Canning, who is also present for the shock twist scene and could potentially return in season 2.

It's less likely that Amy Ryan will be back in the follow-up now that the crimes of toxic bassoonist Jan have been exposed to the world, leading to her arrest and likely conviction.

Amy Ryan plays Jan in Only Murders in the Building
Amy Ryan plays Jan in Only Murders in the Building Disney Plus

In an interview with The Wrap, co-creator Hoffman revealed that a lot of work went into landing Jan in custody, as the crew had to work tirelessly to prevent major spoilers being leaked by unwanted guests near the set.

"There was a one-shot of Jan getting arrested, and there were paparazzi around for that," he recalled. "And so, we had to have other people arrested and other people carried out in handcuffs to be captured as well that night, so as to hide Jan."

After that final scene, you might think it's the end of the line for Jayne Houdyshell's Bunny, lead board member for the Arconia building, who was stabbed with Mabel's own knitting needles – but don't be so sure.

"As with Tim Kono, just because you’re dead doesn’t mean you’re not in our show," Hoffman told AV Club in an interview released after the season 1 finale.

As for who we can expect to see in Only Murders in the Building, Hoffman previously teased that even dead characters could reappear in some capacity in season 2 (via AV Club).

He said: "I think it’s looking very happily like we’re going to have many of them back again, but in fresh new ways. I don’t mean new characters. I’m saying their positions have altered clearly from the end of season o1ne.

"We will be inviting back a lot of them, in ways that are hopefully surprising. Also new people that will of course be freshening up the atmosphere around the new murder that they’re investigating."

Only Murders in the Building season 2 trailer

Hulu has unveiled the first trailer for Only Murders in the Building season 2, which gives fans a look at the new cast members Cara Delevigne and Amy Schumer.

“New York City. Who doesn’t want to become the talk of the town here?”asks Martin’s Charles-Haden Savage.

“We’ve been warned not to speak out,” says Short’s Oliver Putnam at a press conference —presumably following the death of Folger at the end of season 1.

“But we here at Only Murders in the Building, we will not be going quietly,” adds Gomez’s Mabel Mora. Watch below:

Only Murders in the Building season 2 cast: Who’s joining the cast?

Some exciting new cast members will be appearing in the Arconia building in season 2, including Cara Delevigne (Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets).

Delevigne will play Alice, a "sophisticated art world insider who becomes enmeshed in the mystery”, according to Deadline.

Michael Rapaport (Deep Blue Sea) has also joined the cast and is set to play Detective Kreps, a police detective involved in Bunny’s murder case, while Amy Schumer (Trainwreck) has joined the cast in an as-yet-undisclosed role.

Only Murders in the Building season 2 plot theories

Martin Short, Steve Martin and Selena Gomez in Only Murders in the Building finale
Martin Short, Steve Martin and Selena Gomez in Only Murders in the Building finale Star on Disney Plus

For a moment, it seemed as though Only Murders in the Building would end on a positive note for our quirky protagonists, but alas, there was one last terrible twist in store for them.

Over some celebratory drinks on the balcony, Mabel expressed concern that there are still "a couple of loose ends" in their mystery, but her doubts were quickly dismissed by Charles and Oliver.

Unfortunately, her worst fears were realised soon after, when she returned to her apartment to fetch more champagne and discovered another body there – this time, set up to frame her.

The Arconia's head board member Bunny, who Mabel had publicly clashed with in the past, was found stabbed to death with Mabel's own knitting needles and wearing an Only Murders in the Building licensed tie-dye hoody to boot.

"I just opened the door and she stumbled in on me," said Mabel to her panicked podcast co-hosts, as she knelt over Bunny's body, covered in blood.

It would be fair to say it's a suspicious scene, so it's no surprise that the three of them are promptly arrested by police and taken away in front of the Arconia's disapproving residents, as well as Mabel's beau Oscar and rival podcast host Cinda.

It appears that season two of Only Murders in the Building will focus on the trio as they desperately attempt to clear their name and find the true culprit of Bunny's murder.

We may already have our first clue, as Charles was texted a warning from an anonymous number to get out of the building moments before the police arrived, with the possibility it could be from the murderer themselves or a witness to the crime.

In an interview with The Wrap, Only Murders in the Building co-creator John Hoffman hinted that Mabel herself is not Bunny's killer, so Selena Gomez stans don't need to worry about their favourite character taking a villainous turn.

"I will give a little bit of a – not a spoiler actually – an aide, a peek at season two to understand what happened," he said. "Bunny was in Mabel’s apartment when she walked in.”

If you want more of a breakdown as to how the last season ended, here's our Only Murders in the Building ending explainer.

Only Murders in the Building is streaming now via Star on Disney Plus. You can sign up to Disney Plus for £7.99 a month or £79.90 a year now.

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Looking for something else to watch? Check out more of our Comedy coverage or visit our TV Guide to see what's on tonight.

Authors

David Craig
David CraigSenior Drama Writer

David Craig is the Senior Drama Writer for Radio Times, covering the latest and greatest scripted drama and comedy across television and streaming. Previously, he worked at Starburst Magazine, presented The Winter King Podcast for ITVX and studied Journalism at the University of Sheffield.

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