Only Murders in the Building season 5: everything we know so far about the show’s return to Hulu and Disney+

In the Arconia, the murder-solving, podcast-making trio of Only Murders in the Building can’t seem to catch a break. While it appeared there was finally some resolve in the season 4 finale, the show, once again, got quickly turned on its head. And so, the iconic trio of Selena Gomez, Steve Martin, and Martin Short must return to solve yet another mystery in one of the best Hulu shows.

In Only Murders in the Building season 4, the trio’s famed podcast was catapulted into a movie production, then overshadowed by a flurry of murders, including the death of Charles’ beloved stunt double, Sazz Pataki. Unfortunately, as has been the case for the past four seasons, murder seems to follow wherever they go – and it did so all the way into the finale. So, with Only Murders in the Building season 5 almost on screens, here’s everything you need to know, including cast, plot, and when it could be released on Hulu (US) and Disney+ (internationally).

Full spoilers follow for Only Murders in the Building seasons 1 to 4.

Only Murders in the Building season 5 release date

It’s official! Only Murders in the Building season 5 is returning to screens on September 9, 2025. We’ll get the first three episodes on its debut date, with the rest of the series released on a weekly basis. This only falls short of our original prediction of an August drop by a few weeks, but hey, what’s a bit of extra time when you know brilliance is on the way?

We’ve also got a first-look image at the new season, with our main trio re-enacting the ‘hear no evil, see no evil, speak no evil’ saying on the floor of what looks like wine cellar. Why are they there? With these three, that’s anybody’s guess.

Filming for season 5 started in March and was confirmed to have wrapped in early July. Given there’s only a few weeks between filming and new episodes being released, we really can’t complain… that’s a darn quick turnaround.

Only Murders in the Building season 5 trailer: is there one?

Only Murders in the Building season 5 only wrapped filming a few weeks ago as of writing, so there’s no trailer to share yet. We’ll update this section once the trailer drops, which historically has come out mere weeks before the show’s return. So, hold tight until we get a little closer to September.

Only Murders in the Building season 5 confirmed cast

It wouldn’t be Only Murders in the Building without the charismatic and endearing trio of Selena Gomez, Martin Short, and Steve Martin, who will all be returning. We also have a confirmed guest star for season 5 – Téa Leoni – who appeared in the season 4 finale, which we’ll discuss more in the plot speculation below. Plus, an abundance of guest stars are also joining the show.

Here’s the confirmed Only Murders in the Building season 5 cast so far:

• Steve Martin as Charles-Haden Savage
• Selena Gomez as Mabel Mora
• Martin Short as Oliver Putnam
• Meryl Streep as Loretta Durkin-Putnam
• Téa Leoni as Sofia Caccimelio
• Da’Vine Joy Randolph as Detective Donna Williams
• Jackie Hoffman as Uma Heller
• Ryan Boussard as Will Putnam
• Michael Cyril Creighton as Howard Morris
• Keegan Michael-Key as TBC
• Renée Zellweger as TBC
• Christoph Waltz as TBC
• Logan Lerman as TBC
• Jermaine Fowler as TBC
• Beanie Feldstein as TBC

Despite already having a star-studded main cast to lead the show, Only Murders in the Building has proven that it will always bring in an incredible list of guest stars – from Tina Fey in season 1 to Meryl Streep in season 3. Although Streep has since become a recurring cast member. Not forgetting, there’s the Charles, Mabel, and Oliver of the season 4 movie adaptation, played by Eugene Levy, Eva Longoria, and Zach Galifinakis.

And season 5 is no different. In a flurry of cast announcements, Deadline exclusively revealed that Keegan Michael-Key, Renée Zellweger, Logan Lerman, Jermaine Fowler and Beanie Feldstein are all joining the Only Murders in the Building season 5 cast.

Variety also revealed the addition of Christoph Waltz in a “recurring role”. Though details of their characters are being kept firmly under wraps, which is no surprise in a show as mysterious as this one.

Only Murders in the Building season 5 synopsis and story rumors

Major spoilers follow for Only Murders in the Building season 4.

Here’s the official season 5 synopsis: “After their beloved doorman, Lester, dies under suspicious circumstances, Charles, Oliver, and Mabel refuse to believe it was an accident. Their investigation plunges them into the shadowy corners of New York and beyond – where the trio uncovers a dangerous web of secrets connecting powerful billionaires, old-school mobsters, and the mysterious residents of the Arconia. The trio discovers a deeper divide between their storied city they thought they knew and the new New York evolving around them – one where the old mob fights to hold on as newer, even more dangerous players emerge.”

While the trio successfully solved yet another murder by the end of season 4 – this time of Charles’ stunt double, Sazz Pataki – it felt once again like they’d finally be free to relax. But, it wouldn’t be a show without another murder.

As the trio enjoyed the fact that Oliver’s wedding day to Loretta (Meryl Streep) had gone unspoiled, they’re quickly brought back to reality as they find Lester, The Arconia’s doorman and beloved recurring star of the show, dead in the fountain. As has been the case with previous seasons, this cliffhanger ending sets up the tale for the next investigation – and season 5.

But, that’s not the only investigation hinted at as season 4 wrapped up. A mysterious woman, who introduces herself as Sofia (Téa Leoni), asks Charles and Mabel to find her husband, Nicky ‘The Neck’ Caccimelio. Now, we heard this name on a news report in episode nine saying Nicky, the dry-cleaning King of Brooklyn with links to the Caputo crime family, had disappeared. A report that Mabel reacts to. Sofia says she’ll pay them well to help her, to which they explain they only investigate murders in the building. Her reply, his disappearance has everything to do with the building. Though they turn her away, she leaves her card and the hint that her story will very much be intertwined in season 5.

A hint that has since been confirmed by co-creator John Hoffman to Deadline: “I think she’s the great tease at the end of the finale and a little bit of an intriguing bump forward.” Adding: “But beyond that, it’s a world opened up potentially that we haven’t talked about too much yet in New York, so she holds a lot of intrigue.”

There’s even more to discuss though – murders aside. The finale saw Oliver and Loretta wed, though Loretta’s TV show has relocated to New Zealand, and so did she. Leaving Oliver behind at The Arconia with his friends, they agree that they’ll make their unconventional relationship work, even with distance. Given this, we’d assume this won’t be the last we see of the newlywed, Loretta Durkin-Putnam.

Then, there’s the shocking return of Jan Bellows (Amy Ryan), who despite being imprisoned in season 1, saves the trio by shooting and killing Marshall P. Pope, aka Rex Bailey, aka Sazz’s killer. Though she appeared earlier in the season, Charles was also hallucinating Sazz, so it wasn’t clear whether he had imagined Jan, too. Fortunately, she wasn’t a pigment of his imagination and consequently killed to avenge Sazz, her friend after a visit in prison in season 2, and save Charles (and Mabel and Oliver). But, as the police took her away in handcuffs, Jan said: “It’s not goodbye, Charles. It never is with us. We’re endgame.” To this, we’d predict, that we haven’t said farewell to Jan after all.

Only Murders in the Building season 4 also concluded with the movie still filming. So, a return of Eva Longoria, Zach Galifinakis, and Eugene Levy could well be on the cards for season 5. Plus, with another murder in the building, we’d expect the return of the usual stalwart Arconia residents (who haven’t been murdered, yet) returning to aid in whatever way they can, especially now it involves a man who has helped them all before.

While we also met some of the unusual residents of the West Tower in season 4, it’s not clear whether they’ll be returning to help with Lester’s death, or return to their lesser-known side of The Arconia.

And when it comes to the recurring role of Paul Rudd – first as actor Ben Glenroy in seasons 2 and 3, and then as Ben’s stunt double, Glen Stubbins in season 4, co-creator John Hoffman told TVLine: “ The fact that he likes the show as much as he does, and keeps at it with us, moves me to the point of making terrible choices. Dramatically, I can’t take anything off the table for him or for Jane Lynch. Or anyone else, frankly.”

Only Murders in the Building: future seasons?

Back in season 3, showrunner John Hoffman told Screen Rant he was very eager to return for many seasons: “This is one of those shows where everyone involved in it is so happy doing it – and I know I speak for the trio and everyone else.”

Continuing: “I hope it gives it a good long life.” While three seasons have now turned into five, we can only hope for more.

Hoffman certainly has ambition for more, if Hulu wants it. During an interview with Variety, he said: “Once you get over the hump of how many murders can happen in one building, you’re really stepping back and looking ultimately at the true original concept, which is three lonely people in New York City brought together by a common interest in true crime.

“Hopefully, we’ve tethered out our stories and hit reflections of things that we all recognize about life and death — and being that close to it and examining and investigating and following that, and then reflecting back. All of that feels very fertile always, so I’ll go as long as they’ll have us.”

There’s no official news past season 5 though. With a swift renewal in the midst of season 4, if we’re going to hear more, we imagine it’ll be after season 5 has got underway.

For more Hulu and Disney+ TV-based coverage, read our guides on Shōgun season 2, Daredevil: Born Again season 2, and X-Men 97 season 2.