Olivia Colman is heading to ‘Only Murders in the Building’ as season 6 adds another huge star

The Oscar winner joins a huge British ensemble as Charles, Oliver and Mabel take their investigation to London

Olivia Colman has joined the cast of Only Murders in the Building season 6, adding another major British name to the Hulu mystery comedy as the series prepares to move its central trio from New York to London.

The casting announcement was made on August 18, with Colman appearing in a promotional video alongside Selena Gomez, Meryl Streep and Martin Short. In the clip, Gomez and Streep tease the arrival of another guest star before Colman appears on screen in costume. Variety reported that the Oscar winner will be part of the show's sixth season, which is currently in production in the UK.

 

 

 

 

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Colman's arrival adds another high profile name to what has become an unusually star packed ensemble. Season 6 has already recruited an extensive group of British and international performers, including David Tennant, Sharon Horgan, Martin Freeman, Jim Broadbent, Jennifer Saunders, Geri Halliwell, Nicola Coughlan, Sean Teale, Simone Ashley, Jodie Whittaker, Rhea Norwood, Richard Ayoade, Amar Chadha Patel, Matthew Beard, Jamie Demetriou, Anjana Vasan, Jane Horrocks, Derek Jacobi, Adrian Lukis, Kathryn Hunter and Peter Capaldi.

The new season represents a significant change for Only Murders in the Building. Hulu confirmed in October 2025 that the series would return for a sixth season consisting of 10 episodes, with Charles Haden Savage, Oliver Putnam and Mabel Mora travelling overseas for their next investigation. The upcoming story will be based in London, marking the first time the amateur detective trio has taken its central mystery outside the United States.

Steve Martin, Martin Short and Selena Gomez are returning as the show's three principal characters. Michael Cyril Creighton is also returning, while Meryl Streep is back after playing Loretta Durkin in previous seasons. Streep's presence alongside Colman has already attracted attention because the two actors previously appeared together in the 2011 film The Iron Lady.

The move to London follows the dramatic conclusion of season 5. The finale ended with a new mystery involving Cinda Canning, the true crime podcaster played by Tina Fey. The closing events set up the investigation that Charles, Oliver and Mabel will pursue when the story resumes in the UK.

The sixth season is being produced in London, with filming underway during 2026. The production has already generated attention through behind the scenes photographs and appearances from several of the newly announced British performers. The expanding cast has also given the upcoming season a distinctly British character, with performers from Doctor Who, Bridgerton, Sherlock, Absolutely Fabulous and other major productions joining the mystery.

Colman's addition is particularly notable because she arrives with a long record across comedy and drama. The actor won the Academy Award for her performance as Queen Anne in The Favourite and has since continued to move between major films, television dramas and comedy projects.

Her role in Only Murders in the Building remains undisclosed, keeping another piece of the season's mystery under wraps. The production has also kept details about many of the newly announced guest characters secret, meaning viewers will have to wait to discover how the performers fit into the London investigation.