It's Disney+'s standout crime dramedy, with its brilliant fourth series being described as "the sharpest yet" - and now Only Murders in the Building is back with what might just be an even sharper fifth series. That's right, a star-studded new series is soon to arrive on our screens and with the likes of Renée Zellweger having joined the cast, it's set to be unbelievably good.
If you're not familiar, the series features Steve Martin, Selena Gomez and Martin Short as New York neighbours (Charles-Haden, Mabel and Oliver) who set up a podcast and go on to solve murder cases that have baffled the authorities. It's a brilliantly addictive watch that's picked up four People’s Choice awards and many other award nominations in the process.
Created by Steve Martin and John Hoffman, it also has a reputation for pulling in some stellar names as cameos, and the past four series have seen stars including Meryl Streep, Eva Longoria, Paul Rudd and Melissa McCarthy join in the fun. While we wait for the next instalment, here’s everything you need to know about Only Murders in the Building series 5, including the plot, the cast and release date.
What is Only Murders in the Building about?
The series focuses on a trio of strangers: Charles-Haden Savage (Steve Martin), a misanthropic semi-retired actor who was the star of the popular 1990s crime drama Brazzos; Oliver Putnam (Martin Short), an ambitious but financially struggling Broadway director, and Mabel Mora (Selena Gomez), a young artist and apartment renovator living alone in her aunt's unit, who pretended to solve murders in her childhood, and who’s best friend’s death, Tim Kono, was the first series’ murder victim.
The neighbours, who all share an interest in true-crime podcasts, decide start up their own podcast – suggested first by Oliver – called Only Murders in the Building following a succession of suspicious murders in the Arconia, the upscale apartment block on Manhattan's Upper West Side, where they all live. Their sleuthing then moves from the podcast to real-life, when the trio start to solve all sorts of crimes in and around the neighbourhood, all the time while navigating their own relationships, complicated personal lives and their own secrets.
What will happen in Only Murders in the Building series 5?
The fifth series was announced in September 2024, and finished filming in June 2025. An emotional Selena posted a video of the celebrations on her Instagram account, captioning it: "Words can’t describe how much I love what we’ve all created and we wouldn’t be here without you all! Love you guys. Thank you for another great season."
The official Instagram account for the show also teased that the series was coming “soon”:
The plotline is being kept as a mystery for now – but will likely pick up on the cliffhanger of another body being found at the Arconia at the end of series 4. Co-showrunner John Hoffman also gave fans an additional hint of what to expect in this next outing. He told The Wrap that series 5 will reflect on some current events in New York that the production didn’t realise would actually be so true to life.
“Season 5 will hit on some very current things going on within New York, specifically very relevant things that are happening in the city right now, in ways that honestly we couldn’t have even predicted," he said.
"We built our story and then certain things revealed themselves, and vice versa. We found out certain things, we were hearing whispers about certain things and it’s a little bit more reflective, deeply New York, both historically and the modern New York right now too.
“The show has always been classic meets modern. So that is carried through again in a very, very big way within the next season. Another wildly funny world for our group to get thrown into is all I will say.”
Who's in the cast of Only Murders In The Building series 5?
Alongside our crime-solving trio of Selena, Steve and Martin, there are more great names in the cast of series 5, including:
- Meryl Streep, returning as Loretta Durkin, a struggling actress and Oliver's love interest, and later wife, who stars in his Broadway play,
- Christoph Waltz (No Time To Die)
- Renée Zellweger (Bridget Jones)
- Beanie Feldstein (Booksmart)
- Keegan-Michael Key (Abbott Elementary)
- Logan Lerman (Hunters)
How can I watch Only Murders In The Building series 5?
As ever, Only Murders In The Building will be available in the UK on Disney+, and while the streamer is yet to confirm the date of broadcast (other than “coming soon”) it’s likely to be released in August 2025, as traditionally the previous four series have all launched in the summer month. We’ll keep you updated on that date in due course, while in the meantime, why not get up to date on the previous series here.
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