Netflix has assembled an impressive cast for the upcoming new murder-mystery dramedy series, “The Residence.” The new series from executive producers Shonda Rhimes and Betsy Beers, and the series will be a White House-themed mystery-screwball-comedy-whodunnit mashup.
Joining the cast are Andre Braugher (“Brooklyn Nine-Nine”), Susan Kelechi Watson, Jason Lee, Ken Marino, Edwina Findley, Molly Griggs, Al Mitchell, Dan Perrault, Bronson Pinchot, Isiah Whitlock Jr., and Mary Wiseman. They join the cast opposite Uzo Aduba, who was the first actor cast in the series.
Shonda Rhimes Puts Together Impressive Ensemble For Netflix’s ‘The Residence’
Netflix gave an official order for the murder-mystery series in March 2022. The Shondaland series, which will be set in the White House, will be a screwball comedic mystery series. Per the show’s official description: “132 rooms. 157 suspects. One dead body. One wildly eccentric detective. One disastrous State Dinner. ‘The Residence’ is a screwball whodunnit set in the upstairs, downstairs, and backstairs of the White House, among the eclectic staff of the world’s most famous mansion.”
The upcoming series will be eight episodes and is inspired by Kate Anderson Brower’s 2015 nonfiction book, “The Residence: Inside the Private World of the White House,” which focused on the lives of the first families of the White House, including the Kennedys, the Regans, the Clintons, and the Obamas, from the point of view of their staffers.
Aduba leads the cast as Cordelia Cupp, a consulting detective for the Metropolitan Police Department, who is searching for clues to solve the White House murder mystery. Coredia is a master observer of human behavior, who has an eccentric and distinct conversational style that some may find unsettling.
Based on Netflix’s official cast descriptions, Emmy Award-winning actor Braugher will portray A.B. Wynter, the White House chief usher. Findley (“The Wire”) portrays the butler of the White House, Sheila Cannon. Lee (“Mallrats,” “Chasing Amy,” “My Name Is Earl”) has been cast as Tripp Morgan, the younger brother of President Morgan and the family screwup. Marino (“The State,” “Party Down”) will portray Harry Hollinger, the best and oldest friend of President Morgan and his closest advisor and confidante. Pinchot (“Beverly Hills Cop,” “Perfect Strangers”) portrays Didier Gotthard, the executive pastry chef of the White House. Whitlock Jr. (“The Wire,” “Cocaine Bear”) is Larry Dokes, the MPD Chief of Police.
Elsewhere, Griggs plays Lilly Schumacher, social secretary for the president. Al Mitchell (“Stranger Things”) is Rollie Bridgewater, the head butler/maître d’ of the White House. Kelechi Watson (“This Is Us”) plays Jasmine Haney, a young and rising assistant usher for the White House. Wiseman (“Star Trek: Discovery”) will play Marvella, the executive chef of the White House staff.
Paul William Davies (“Scandal,” “For the People”) is serving as the showrunner and executive producer along with Rhimes and Beers. The series is part of Rhimes’ overall deal with Netflix previously announced in 2018 under her Shondaland production banner. This has led to hit shows for the streamer, including the period drama “Bridgerton” and “Inventing Anna.”
It appears mystery whodunnits are on the rise, with the success of “Only Murders in the Building” on Hulu. Netflix previously went all in on the “Knives Out” series. As reported by Variety, Netflix purchased the rights to the first “Knives Out” sequel, “Glass Onion,” and the currently-in-the-works third movie, for $450 million. “Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery” made its streaming debut on Netflix last December receiving great acclaim following a limited theatrical release in November.
The role of President Morgan has not yet been cast in “The Residence.” The show is currently in the works for Netflix and will stream exclusively on the platform later on.
