Only Murders in the Building‘s co-creator hints that the show might move away from its signature setting in future seasons. A blend of murder mystery and comedy, the series focuses on three strangers (played by Steve Martin, Martin Short, and Selena Gomez) that live in the fictional Arconia building and share a love for true crime. Shortly after crossing paths and sharing their theories regarding a popular podcast, the trio unexpectedly finds themselves investigating the murder of Tim Kono (Julian Cihi) and making a podcast of their own that slowly begins to build an audience over the course of the first season.
Now that the Only Murders in the Building finale has aired, fans know that it was Jan (Amy Ryan) that killed Tim. The two had a relationship and, once it ended badly, Jan orchestrated his death and revealed that she had a dark history beneath the veneer of a soft-spoken bassoon player. The episode had more surprises yet, ending with the arrest of the show’s three main characters for their possible involvement in the murder of Bunny (Jayne Houdyshell), the lead board member of the Arconia. The twist opens up many possibilities for Only Murders in the Building season 2, which has already been renewed. Still, in a new interview, series co-creator John Hoffman acknowledges that the murder mystery could run into problems during future seasons.
Hoffman, who c0-created Only Murders in the Building with Steve Martin, spoke with ELLE after the finale. Asked about where the Hulu hit might go in its sophomore installment, Hoffman offered a bit of a preview for what viewers might expect. He also acknowledged that, for the premise to continue, the setting might naturally have to evolve away from the Arconia. Read Hoffman’s quote below.
“I think what’s going to be interesting in season 2—not to tip off too much—but there’s a bit of an expansion to all their stories. In New York, it doesn’t take long for an interesting story to take headlines. So there is an expansion happening around everything in their lives and in the podcast. I think there’s something in there that might help us expand the show, maybe beyond the building, in future seasons.”
It would make sense that, after so many unsettling murders in the Arconia, residents would likely choose to move elsewhere for their own safety. In the same token, however, the building has become a character in the show in its own right and it’s easy to see how the series would be fundamentally changed by a new setting. Although the scenes inside the Arconia are filmed on a studio set, which was designed to look like an expensive apartment complex, there is an authentic feeling to it that has also allowed Martin, Short, and Gomez to consistently interact with the memorable supporting cast of Only Murders in the Building.
But, by the sounds of it, Hoffman has a solid plan for what he hopes to achieve in Only Murders in the Building season 2. And it could well be the case that, as the murder mystery evolves, the shift away from the Arconia will be gradual. Or perhaps the building will become less deadly, as the trio of podcasters find themselves solving strange cases outside the walls of their apartment complex. With filming on season 2 set to begin shortly, fans won’t have to wait too long to find out more.
Source: ELLE