Everything We Know So Far About Hulu's Mystery Series Only Murders in the Building

Photo credit:  Craig Blankenhorn
Photo credit: Craig Blankenhorn


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If you've ever wondered if you might be a little too into true crime, you'll probably relate to the very meta premise of Hulu's upcoming murder mystery series Only Murders In The Building. The show, which launches next month, stars Selena Gomez as one of a group of true crime fans who end up wrapped up in a real murder. It's co-created and written by Steve Martin (who also stars), and John Hoffman (Grace & Frankie). This Is Us creator Dan Fogelman is an executive producer, as are Short and Gomez.

Here's everything we know about the series so far.

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Only Murders in the Building marks Selena Gomez's return to TV.

As fans of Gomez will know, she's been involved in various TV projects in a behind-the-scenes capacity—most notably, she was an executive producer on Netflix's 13 Reasons Why. But Only Murders in the Building marks her first recurring scripted TV role in many years, ever since she played Alex Russo on the Disney Channel's Wizards of Waverly Place.

Martin enthused about Gomez's performance in an April interview with Vogue. "You get a list of names, you know, you’re thinking, ‘Sure, they’d be good, they’d be good,’ and then they say, ‘What about Selena Gomez?’ and it’s just—yes, of course. There was no question except ‘Can we get her?’" he told the magazine. "We knew she would enhance the show in so many ways, the number one being talent. Her performance is rich and adult. She’s learned to underplay when necessary."

The show is a murder mystery set in New York City.

Gomez, Martin, and Short play Mabel, Charles, and Oliver, three strangers who happen to live in the same Upper West Side apartment building, and also happen to share an obsession with true crime. One day, the trio ride the elevator with another stranger, Tim Kono, who is murdered 12 minutes later. Obsessed with this grisly crime, they join forces to uncover the truth about what really happened—and, naturally, they start a true crime podcast to document their amateur investigation. Per Hulu's synopsis, "the three unravel the complex secrets of the building which stretch back years. Perhaps even more explosive are the lies they tell one another. Soon, the endangered trio comes to realize a killer might be living amongst them as they race to decipher the mounting clues before it’s too late."

The supporting cast is also packed with stars.

Jane Lynch, Nathan Lane, Amy Ryan, and Sting (!) are just a few of the stars who'll be making appearances in Only Murders Left In The Building, but details of their roles have mostly been kept under wraps. Lane will play a recurring role as “a building resident and owner of a popular New York City grocery chain,” per Deadline. And one tidbit about Lynch's role—Martin shared a snapshot of himself and Lynch on set, wearing identical outfits.

Aaron Dominguez will also appear on the show as a love interest for Gomez. The couple sparked dating rumors when they were spotted filming a romantic scene earlier this year, which forced Gomez to confirm to the Los Angeles Times that she and Dominguez weren't, in fact, together in real life. “We had just started working together,” Gomez told the Times. "I honestly thought, ‘No wonder guys don’t want to date me!’ I think people only care because I’m young, and the older I get the less they’ll care. For now it’s a part of the job that I don’t really like. I’m actually grateful that I’m not involved with anyone right now.”

Steve Martin, Martin Short and Selena Gomez had a ball on set.

Part of the show's appeal is its unlikely trio of protagonists, and whatever tension may exist between these characters, it's clear that the three actors had a great time working together. Gomez, who's been tight-lipped about the show, raved to Variety about her co-stars. "I think [the series is] going to bring a lot of joy to people," she said. "I was on a Zoom with Steve and Marty, and I'm like, 'I'm not going to get any work done because they are just so quick in their back-and-forth.'"

Meanwhile, Martin told Vogue that Gomez provided a much-needed counterbalance to his and Short's comedic approach. "Marty and I are pretty manic," he said, "and she’s this solid, solid rock foundation. She’s nicely, intensely low-key.”

The show will be released on Hulu on August 31, 2021.

So mark your binge calendars accordingly.

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