A Man on the Inside came to Netflix on November 21, 2024, giving TV fans a new cozy mystery-comedy to enjoy. Created by Mike Schur and inspired by the Chilean documentary The Mole Agent, this new series is a must-see. It stars Ted Danson as Charles, a retired professor and widower who decides to take on an unusual role as an amateur spy in a retirement home dealing with theft. Once he enters Pacific View, things become difficult because he needs to manage his secret investigation while also connecting with the residents.
By the end of the eight-episode first season, Charles’s time at Pacific View comes to an end. The same isn’t true for his amateur detective work, since Schur and Danson already have ideas for the next mystery in the series. Here’s what we know about A Man on the Inside season 2
Will ‘A Man on the Inside’ Return With Season 2?
On December 26, 2024, Netflix announced that A Man on the Inside will have a second season.
“We are thrilled to make another season of A Man on the Inside, starring young up-and-comer Ted Danson,” series creator Michael Schur told Tudum. “From our partners at Netflix and Universal TV to the writers, cast, and crew, it’s a truly exceptional team of talented and lovely people, with one notable exception (young up-and-comer Ted Danson, who’s kind of a nightmare).”
When Will ‘A Man on the Inside’ Season 2 Be Released?
Although there is no specific release date yet, Netflix has announced that season 2 of A Man on the Inside will be available on the platform sometime in 2025. This aligns the new episodes with the production schedule of season 1. According to Deadline, A Man on the Inside (originally called A Classic Spy) brought its cast together in early February 2024 and started filming later that month, ahead of its November 2024 release. Variety announced in late March 2025 that filming for season 2 will start in April. Based on how long last season took to produce, fans can probably look forward to new episodes around November 2025.
Who Will Be In The Cast Of ‘A Man On The Inside’ Season 2?
Since A Man on the Inside is a mystery-box series, it’s very likely that the mystery solvers and their families will come back for season 2. This includes Ted Danson (Charles), Lilah Richcreek Estrada (Julie), Mary Elizabeth Ellis (Emily), and Eugene Cordero (Joel).
It’s not clear if any of the residents or staff of Shady Pines would come back, as the story from season 1 ends well in the finale. It’s possible that one or two of Charles’s new friends might make a brief appearance, but it’s more likely that A Man on the Inside will introduce a completely new cast each season, like in Only Murders in the Building.
In late March 2025, A Man on the Inside started adding new members to its season 2 cast, and it seems like the upcoming season will be very exciting. Good news ahead: Danson’s actual wife, Mary Steenburgen, is becoming part of the cast. Variety confirmed that the actress nominated for a Golden Globe (known recently for her roles in comedies like Book Club and Step Brothers) will star alongside her husband of 30 years. The outlet teased her role as Mona Margadoff, “a former musician who factors heavily in the case Charles is trying to solve.” We can’t wait to see this family affair!
Steenburgen isn’t the only newcomer in season 2. In May, Deadline announced 11 new cast members to expand the group. Some popular TV shows will be featured: Max Greenfield (New Girl), Jason Mantzoukas (Big Mouth, Brooklyn Nine-Nine), Gary Cole (NCIS, Veep), former Disney Channel star Madison Hu, Constance Marie (George Lopez), David Strathairn (the Bourne series), Linda Park (Star Trek: Enterprise), Jill Talley (Mr. Show with David and Bob), Sam Huntington (Being Human), Michaela Conlin (Bones), and comedian/YouTuber Lisa Gilroy.
Descriptions of their characters were also shared: Cole will play “Brad Vinick, a successful businessman whose sizable donation to his alma mater starts a chain reaction that leads to Charles getting hired;” Conlin portrays “Andrea Yi, who teaches economics at Wheeler College, and is excited about the changes coming to the school;” Gilroy’s role is “Kelseigh Rose, a budding photographer, is the new wife of billionaire Brad Vinick;” Greenfield is “Jack Beringer, the charismatic President of Wheeler College, whose job requires him to raise money from wealthy graduates;” Hu portrays “Claire, a Wheeler College Junior who works multiple campus jobs to pay for her tuition;” Huntington is “Max Griffin, a rabble-rousing professor of journalism at Wheeler College;” Mantzoukas will be “Apollo Lambrakis, an affable contractor who dreams of writing the Great American Novel;” Marie’s character is “Vanessa, a former con-artist who serves as a part-time-source on the criminal underworld for Julie;” Park plays “Elizabeth Muki, the director of the Fine Arts Department at Wheeler College;” Straitharn’s role is “Dr. Cole, head of the English Department at Wheeler College, and the most famous and popular professor on campus:” and Talley plays “Holly Bodgemark, the overworked, perpetually frazzled Provost of Wheeler College.”
What Could Happen In ‘A Man On The Inside’ Season 2?
The last moments of A Man on the Inside’s first season end a month after the Pacific View case wrapped up. After learning about a new case, private detective Julia tells her team they can’t take it because it’s “impossible.” Then, her assistant Megan (Kerry O’Malley) reminds her that they already know someone perfect for the job. “Oh no,” Julie says, before calling someone and saying, “I can’t believe I’m saying this, but I have another job for you.”
Charles is on the other line and has a quick, cool moment when he replies, “Say no more,” and hangs up. Then he quickly calls back. “Hey, sorry. I do need you to say more. But whatever it is, I’m in.”
Since season 1 ended without any cliffhangers, Charles’ next investigation can go in many different directions.
Mike Schur has some ideas, however. In an interview with Deadline when the show started in November 2024, he expressed his hopes for it to continue and shared his thoughts about its future. “We’re sort of in a fingers crossed, we’ll that bridge when we come to it, kind of a deal. But I will say that there is no shortage of ideas from me and from other writers about what we might do in a future season. Fingers crossed, we’ll see,” he told the outlet. Meanwhile, Danson reportedly crossed his fingers and added, “Dear Lord, yes.”
In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Danson said that his new Netflix series might be his favorite job so far and that its future could take different directions. The star emphasized that “there’s no shortage of stories to tell” in the series and expressed that he would like to see some of his co-stars return for a second season.
“I’m so grateful that I have no idea [about season 2’s plot], so I wouldn’t have to pretend like I can’t tell you,” he said. “I know that Mike has millions of ideas. If we’re so lucky, seeing how it takes place in San Francisco, it’d be nice if some of these characters [from season 1] we could bump into them on the street, because it won’t take place in that retirement home. It’ll be someplace else, but they all live in San Francisco, so it’d be wonderful to bump into them that way.”