Netflix has provided a first look atThe Residence, which will be Shondaland’s fourth series to debut on the streaming service. Shondaland’s previousNetflix showsincludeBridgerton,Inventing Anna, andQueen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story. Instead of being a historical romance likeBridgertonandQueen Charlotte, or a drama likeInventing Anna,The Residencewill bea comedic whodunnit that takes place at the White Houseand involves the eccentric staff there.
On X (formerly Twitter),Netflixhas shared afirst-look image ofOrange is the New Black’s Uzo Aduba and the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s Randall Park inThe Residence. Aduba plays the whodunnit’s detective, Cordelia Cupp, while Park portrays FBI agent Edwin Park. The cast also includesBreaking Bad’s Giancarlo Esposito as A.B. Wynter, the White House’s Chief Usher, andThis Is Us' Susan Kelechi Watson as Jasmine Haney, the White House Assistant Usher. The series will be available to stream on March 20. Check out the image below:
What This Means For The Residence
Netflix’s Next Shondaland Show Looks Promising
WithBridgertonseason 4not expected to be released until late 2025 or in 2026,The Residencewill officially be the next new Shondaland season available to watch on Netflix. Aduba’s role is a fitting one considering that her acclaimed performance as Suzanne “Crazy Eyes” Warren inOrange is the New Blackhelped define one of Netflix’s earliest original series and the platform’s overall streaming success. The first-look image shows her having the presence needed to play the lead detective character in the upcoming mystery.
With Netflix describingThe Residenceas a"screwball whodunnit,“Park will undoubtedly be able to lean into his comedic talents.
Seeing Park alongside Abuda is also a welcome sign, since his performance as Agent Jimmy Woo is among the funniest in the MCU. With Netflix describingThe Residenceas a"screwball whodunnit,“Park will undoubtedly be able to lean into his comedic talents. While they are not featured in the first-look image,Esposito and Watson’s characters are also eagerly anticipated. Watson provided stellar comedy inThis Is Usand Esposito’s dramatic flair will fit well into the whodunnit story.
Our Take On The Residence’s First Image
It Is A Departure From The Best Shondaland Shows
The Residencehas been a long-gestating project, making it rewarding to now see a first image, and to have a release date. Many of the best Shondaland shows, includingNetflix’sInventing Anna,Scandal, andHow to Get Away with Murder, have been dramas. It will beintriguing to see howThe Residencewill fare as a comedic mystery, a mix of genres that Shondaland has not used in the past. Given the talent involved in front of and behind the camera, the series has ample potential.
The Residence
Cast
Based on the novel by Kate Andersen Brower, The Residence is a drama-mystery series created by Paul William Davies. The series follows a detective named Cordelia Cupp, who is brought in to solve a strange murder that occurs during a White House state dinner, causing the staff to begin to question one another as to who could have committed the crime.
