Selena Gomez is making her TV comeback. The actress and singer is starring in Hulu’s new series Only Murders in the Building with comedy icons Steve Martin and Martin Short.
This is Gomez’s first recurring role on a TV series since playing Alex Russo on Wizards of Waverly Place, according to Billboard.
Martin, Short, and Gomez play true crime obsessives who band together to solve a murder in their own apartment building. Martin and John Hoffman co-wrote and created the series, and will co-executive produce alongside Gomez, Short, This Is Us creator Dan Fogelman, and Jess Rosenthal. The official teaser trailer is here, and it promises secrets, intrigue, and enough true crime for any level of obsessive.
Read on for everything we know about Only Murders in the Building.
Season 1 will premiere in August.
Hulu confirmed Only Murders in the Building will drop on Tuesday, August 31, with new episodes releasing weekly. Billboard also reports the series consists of 10 episodes.
Things will never be the same… ??? #OnlyMurdersOnHulupic.twitter.com/gvYz8UKhrJ
— Only Murders in the Building (@OnlyMurdersHulu) February 12, 2021
“It’s really special, surprisingly emotional,” Craig Erwich, the head of Hulu originals, told Deadlinewhen the show was first announced in August 2020. “It’s really modern and self-referential about podcasts and murders, it’s got some great surprises. When they pull this off, it’s going to be really special.”
Gomez herself is a huge true crime fan and even attended CrimeCon Chicago with her mom in February 2020.
Expect a mix of true crime and comedy.
During an Instagram Live in February, Gomez opened up about the tone of the show and what it’s like working with Martin and Short. “The show is actually really fun,” she revealed. “It’s kind of a dramedy, so there’s moments that are real and then there are other moments that are complete chaos and hilarious. I’m working with Steve Martin and Martin Short and if you don’t know their work, by the way, they’re pretty amazing people to be around.”
Short gave a full breakdown of the series to The Daily Beast during a wide-ranging interview last August.
It’s about three people who live in one of those upscale apartment buildings in New York. They see each on the elevator, they kind of nod, but they never really speak. They don’t even know each other’s names. And then you find out that each one of them goes to their individual apartments and just turns on true crime and obsesses. And then one time they’re in the elevator with this fourth person. And they find out that fourth person is killed and they’re determined to solve it. But they make a pact: only murders in the building will they solve. Because they can’t be bothered to go outside.
For Gomez’s April Vogue cover, Martin opened up about the choice to cast her. “You get a list of names, you know, you’re thinking, Sure, they’d be good, they’d be good, and then they say, ‘What about Selena Gomez?’ and it’s just—yes, of course. There was no question except ‘Can we get her?’ We knew she would enhance the show in so many ways, the number one being talent,” he explained. “Her performance is rich and adult. She’s learned to underplay when necessary. Marty and I are pretty manic, and she’s this solid, solid rock foundation. She’s nicely, intensely low-key.”
Gomez will have an onscreen love interest in Aaron Dominguez.
Paparazzi photographed Gomez and Dominguez filming in NYC in February; Gomez was snapped cuddling alongside Dominguez as the two shared a sweet smile.
Gomez’s fan base went wild after seeing the photo, assuming the pair were dating and spamming his Instagram. Gomez later addressed the situation in a March interview with the L.A. Times. “We had just started working together,” Gomez said. “I honestly thought, ‘No wonder guys don’t want to date me!’ I think people only care because I’m young, and the older I get the less they’ll care. For now it’s a part of the job that I don’t really like. I’m actually grateful that I’m not involved with anyone right now.”
Dominguez also joined Gomez’s IG Live in February, and the pair’s chemistry was apparent.
The cast and crew are currently filming in NYC.
On December 3, Martin shared his excitement about the first day of filming on Twitter. Sporting a masked selfie, he took the opportunity to celebrate Gomez and poke fun at Short.
Today is the first day of filming our new TV show, “Only Murders in the Building,” in Manhattan. Starring the incredible Selena Gomez and the just okay Martin Short. pic.twitter.com/oLKhfDWUYj
— Steve Martin (@SteveMartinToGo) December 3, 2020
Paparazzi captured Gomez filming with Martin and Short many times in December, January, February, and March. Her covetable costumes include a chic all-black suit, a preppy plaid miniskirt, and a ton of great coats. Most recently, she wore a navy checkered trench and bright yellow pants while filming in the Bronx.
The cast is loaded with famous faces.
Nathan Lane will play a recurring role as “a building resident and owner of a popular New York City grocery chain,”Deadline reported on January 13. Amy Ryan is also set to star in an undisclosed role.
Martin tweeted about Sting’s involvement in the show in January.
A special day on the set of “Only Murders in the Building.” (Our masks are down because we’re 30 seconds before shooting.) For detailists, Sting is hold the Financial Times cryptic crossword which he zinged through to embarrass us all. pic.twitter.com/trN8iftA3l
— Steve Martin (@SteveMartinToGo) January 29, 2021
And Jane Lynch also made an appearance with Martin—complete with matching costumes—on his Twitter feed in March.
On the set of “Only Murders in the Building” today with the great @janemarielynch. Yes, we’re in look-alike clothes. pic.twitter.com/TaLLWkBzwU
— Steve Martin (@SteveMartinToGo) March 24, 2021
Only Murders in the Building will premiere on Hulu in 2021.