Hulu's hit comedy Only Murders in the Building returns for its highly anticipated second season, which will premiere its first two episodes on June 28th. The true crime satire reunited Steve Martin and Martin Short, while rounding out the main cast with singer/actress Selena Gomez. In the first season, the three lead characters - all of whom are true crime obsessives - create their own podcast as they solve a murder in their apartment complex, the Arconia.
In addition to the the show's entertaining storyline, the first season was also acclaimed for its star-studded casting in recurring and guest actors from Jane Lynch to Sting. For fans anxiously awaiting season 2, there's a similar star-studded lineup awaiting in season 2.
Amy Ryan
Academy Award nominee Amy Ryan, better known to television viewers as Holly in The Office, returns to season 2 of Only Murders in what appears to be a guest role. Last season, Ryan portrayed Steve Martin's love interest turned suspect in a shocking twist in which she was revealed to be Tim Kono's killer.
In the trailer for season 2, Amy Ryan appears for a brief second answering a telephone behind a sheet of plexiglass. One can assume that Ryan makes an appearance as the professional bassoon player/murderer from prison. In addition to the new murder case, the trailer suggests that there are some loose ends from season 1 that will be resolved as well.
Nathan Lane
Also returning to season 2 will be Nathan Lane, who played Teddy Dimas. Dimas is initially the Only Murders podcast's main sponsor, though the Nathan Lane character becomes an unlikely suspect as the series progresses. For his role in season 1, Lane has become a strong contender for the Guest Actor in a Comedy Emmy award this year.
Teddy is also the father of a deaf son, Theo Dimas. The season 1 episode "The Boy From 6H" received particular attention and praise for its lack of audible dialogue, as the entire half-hour episode was constructed from Theo's perspective. In addition to Nathan Lane's confirmed return to the series, James Caverly will also be back as Theo.
Andrea Martin
Comedy actress Andrea Martin, known for her equally impressive film/television and theater career, will join the guest cast of Only Murders season 2 in a role that has yet to be specified by the show's co-creators, Steve Martin and John Hoffman.
Andrea Martin's appearance was confirmed by a tweet from Steve Martin, in which he posted a picture of her alongside Short, Gomez, and Zoe Colletti. This is not Andrea Martin's first collaboration with the show's main cast members. In fact, one of her breakthrough performances was her role on Second City Television (SCTV) with Martin Short.
Jackie Hoffman
Jackie Hoffman will return in her recurring role as Uma Heller, a resident in the Arconia building. Hoffman was mostly seen in season 1 alongside Jayne Houdyshell's Bunny. It is no secret that Bunny's murder has become the central premise of the new season, which suggests Hoffman's character will have plenty to say.
Hoffman confirmed her appearance in season 2 on the red carpet at the SAG Awards in an on-camera interview with The Hollywood Reporter. She also teased the second season by hinting at the addition of a "legendary actress." Hoffman's dry delivery brought plenty of laughs in season 1, and it would be exciting to see her role expanded further in season 2.
Michael Rapaport
Another new cast member in season 2 is Michael Rapaport, whose appearance was noted in early reviews of the new season. Rapaport will play a detective assigned to investigate Bunny's murder. Though the amount of screen time Rapaport will have is unconfirmed, there is plenty of reason to believe this will be a significant role.
Season 1 ended with the cliffhanger suggesting that the three lead characters have been framed and set up. Therefore, chances are Rapaport's character will be at odds with Charles, Oliver, and Mabel, if they are the main suspects. Rapaport was recently seen as Amy Schumer's father in her series Life & Beth.
Da'Vine Joy Randolph
Tony nominee Da'Vine Joy Randolph will return as Detective Williams, who was assigned to investigate the murder of Tim Kono in season 1. Randolph brought an engaging presence and strong comedic timing to her character, who could have easily come across as a stock caricature of the detective character.
Based on the trailer for season 2, it appears that Randolph's role will be expanded further as she seems to become an ally of Charles, Oliver, and Mabel and one of their only main points of access to Bunny's murder investigation. If this is the case, it will be an exciting opportunity for the actress, who has delivered excellent work in projects like High Fidelity and Dolemite is My Name.
Tina Fey
Emmy darling and comedy icon Tina Fey will also return to Only Murders as the successful and funny Cinda Canning. Canning is a prolific and highly popular true crime host. She serves as another antagonist in the series as she is the main three characters' greatest competition.
By the end of season 1, Canning was seen recording a podcast of her own about the murder in the Arconia building. This will likely prove to be great material for more conflict between her and the Only Murders trio. This was not Fey's first collaboration with Martin, as he appeared in a memorable guest role as Gavin Volure in Fey's sitcom 30 Rock.
Shirley MacLaine
Oscar winner and screen legend Shirley MacLaine will join the guest cast as Bunny's mother. This promises to be a juicy role for MacLaine as she appears to be one of the suspects in the trailer for season 2. That is, before Mabel remarks that she appears to be too old to have done it herself.
MacLaine is likely to fit in well with the unique tone of Only Murders in the Building. She is adept at navigating the tightrope between comedy and drama. She has done this successfully throughout her film career in memorable roles like Fran Kubelik in The Apartment and Aurora Greenway in Terms of Endearment.
Amy Schumer
One of the most surprising casting announcements regarding season 2 was the reveal that Amy Schumer will make an appearance. As the show did with Sting in its first season, Schumer will actually play a heightened version of herself in season 2.
As evidenced by her stand-up work and introspective Hulu series Life & Beth, Amy Schumer is acutely aware of the persona she has in the media and is not afraid to make light of herself for the sake of comedy. That self-awareness will likely take her far in this performance. She has previously collaborated with Selena Gomez, who appeared on an episode of Inside Amy Schumer.
Cara Delevingne
Cara Delevingne rounds out the list of high profile actors joining the cast Only Murders in the Building this season. The model-turned-actress will play Alice, a potential love interest for Selena Gomez's character. Delevingne made a brief appearance in the trailer for season 2 but many of the details surrounding her character have been kept under wraps.
This will not be Delevingne's first television role; in fact, she starred in the Amazon series Carnival Row opposite Orlando Bloom. If the rumors are true that Delevingne and Gomez's characters will be romantically involved, then Delevingne's casting is sure to garner attention as fans have been hoping for a greater look into Mabel's personal life since season 1 of Only Murders.