‘Only Murders in the Building’ Season 4 Update: Filming to Start March 1!

With a season finale that left everyone hanging, the good news is Only Murders in the Building is returning for a fourth season. The critically acclaimed series just keeps getting better, with fans wanting more of Charles, Oliver, and Mabel!

While the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes did slow down development on the upcoming season, as of early October, following the resolution of the WGA strike, the series did resume active development. And, showrunner John Hoffman confirmed that the writers’ room reopened on Monday, October 9. Filming on the upcoming season is set to kick off on March 1st and continue through June 10th.

So what do you need to know Only Murders in the Building Season 4. Spoilers ahead for Season 3.

Only Murders in the Building Season 4 Is Happening

Hulu announced its renewal of Only Murders in the Building on October 3, 2023, the same day the Season 3 finale aired. Josh Hoffman and Steve Martin created the show. Jess Rosenthal, Dan Fogelman, Martin, Martin Shot, and Selena Gomez serve as executive producers.

Ben Philippe is the show’s executive story editor and writer, who will likely be back. Jamie Babbit and Cherien Dabis are also likely to return to direct episodes for the show.

For newcomers to the series, Only Murders in the Building follows three true-crime fans who become amateur sleuths in their Upper West Side apartment building. The series premiered in 2021 and became an instant hit, critically acclaimed for its comedic leanings toward crime fiction.

Only Murders in the Building has also received Golden Globe and Emmy nominations. Season 3 was the show’s biggest mystery yet when the mystery behind Ben Glenroy’s murder was solved.

Who Is in the Only Murders in the Building Cast?

For Only Murders in the Building Season 4, the show’s core trio will return. Martin Short, Steve Martin, and Selena Gomez will be back as Oliver Putnam, Charles Haden-Savage, and Mabel Mora, respectively. Jane Lynch, who plays the next murder victim, Sazz Pataki, will be back but most likely in flashbacks.

Other members of the cast likely to return for Season 4 include Michael Cyril Creighton as Howard Morris, Ryan Broussard as Will Putnam, and Jackie Hoffman as Uma Heller. Da’Vine Joy Randolph as Detective Dee Williams, Jason Veasey as Jonathan Bridgecroft, and James Caverley’s Theo are also expected to be back. Nathan Lane, who plays Teddy Dumas, wasn’t able to appear in Season 3 because of scheduling conflicts. Lane said he was open to returning if he was able to.

Cinda Canning, played by Tina Fey, is also expected to be back for Season 4. However, Fey’s role in the previous season was already limited as she only appeared in one episode.

Meryl Streep and Jesse Williams joined the cast in Season 3 along with other new cast members. But it remains to be seen if they can return for Only Murders in the Building Season 4.

“There is no greater hope for me,” Hoffman told The Hollywood Reporter. “I love them both, Jesse and Meryl, everyone. I mean, for God’s sake, I would bring Paul back if we can. Listen, I would bring everyone back. And that might happen. Victims, killers, they’re all able to play in the landscape within this sort of certain narrative ways we can tell our stories.”

What Happened in Season 3?

In Only Murders in the Building Season 3, it was revealed that the producers of Death Rattle Dazzle, Cliff, and Donna killed Ben Glenroy. Cliff and Donna killed Ben as they felt he was ruining their show.

By the end of Season 3, Sazz Pataki, Charles’ longtime stunt double was killed. Sazz was last seen in Charles’ apartment, drinking wine to celebrate the successful opening night of the Broadway show. A bullet shot through the window and hit her in the chest. As Sazz is dying, she starts writing something on the kitchen floor, seemingly with her blood.

Executive producer Jess Rosenthal suggested that Sazz would be the next victim and Hoffman agreed to the idea. Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter, Hoffman said the idea was both “awful” and “perfect.”

“I immediately, it’s the thing of like, if we get a chance to go more. It’ll be the thing that it just started exploding ideas in my head,” said Hoffman. “So, that was thrilling. And then the second part of that was actually talking to Jane Lynch about it and saying, ‘This is what we’re thinking.’ We had to do that pretty early too, and that was very sweet. She was like, ‘I love it.’”

What to Expect in Season 4?

Only Murders in the Building Season 4 will continue where the Season 3 finale left off. Mabel, Charles, and Oliver will look for answers on who might have killed Sazz. Especially if the killer was actually targeting Charles and why anyone would want to kill either of them.

Hoffman previously told The Hollywood Reporter that the coming season will likely explore the aftermath.

“I think the idea of what you create a thing you put out to the world, and sometimes you can’t be prepared for the repercussions of what potentially the world does with your thing, and how they feel about it,” said Hoffman. “That’s a challenging line to walk and sometimes you have to face it in that way. So, the podcast and everything else that’s happened, and what it all means, and what it could have been meaning all along. That’s a really interesting world to look at for these three who stepped in that way.”

Hoffman also revealed that they had discussions about how long to hold the shot of Sazz seemingly writing a message in her own blood. He added that they decided to keep that part abstract to keep their options open for Season 4.

“It feels very in her character to send a message. She’s been trying to do it to Charles throughout the season. She’s hinting to him in Episode 5 that she’s picking up some ham radio chatter, certainly, right when she arrives in the finale, she’s saying, ‘Can I grab you for a few minutes? It’s a little sensitive.’ So there’s something on her mind and something she may know but to be found out.”

As for who might want to target Charles, Hoffman did not say. But, he shared that there is still some exploring to do.

Only Murders in the Building Season 4 Release Date News & Speculation

Hulu renewed Only Murders in the Building in early October, so it’s still hard to say when Season 4 will premiere. Filming is set to begin on March 1st and will continue through June 10th under the working title “The Raven.”

With the current production schedule, it’s possible that we could see Season 4 arrive by late 2024. Until then, fans can rewatch the first three seasons on Hulu.