The future of Shrinking Season 3 and beyond gets a detailed response from series creator Bill Lawrence, with the second installment recently coming to a close on Apple TV+.
Co-created by Lawrence, Brett Goldstein and series lead Jason Segel, Shrinking focuses on Jimmy Laird (Segel), a therapist with an unusual and often overly-involved approach to treating his patients. Still reeling from the sudden death of his wife, Jimmy turns to Dr. Paul Rhoades (Harrison Ford) for advice. The main cast also includes Christa Miller, Jessica Williams, Luke Tennie, Michael Urie, Lukita Maxwell, and Ted McGinley.
What did Bill Lawrence say about Shrinking?
In an interview with the Los Angeles Times, Lawrence was asked about whether the already-renewed season 3 will be the last or if the dramedy could continue for longer. The co-creator noted that the current story is being envisioned as three seasons. However, if people are still enjoying the series, then there will be ways to continue it. Lawrence also shared that they are working on writing Shrinking Season 3.
“I think that this story is over in three seasons,” Lawrence explained. “Because if we started the fourth season with Jason Segel going, “I’m still so sad about my wife dying and I really messed up with my daughter,” people would be like [contorts face into a look of agony]. One of the fun things that we’ve done, because we’re in the writers room already for Season 3, is we’re putting Easter eggs in it as to what the new story that starts Season 4 is about. One of the cool things about streaming, what you can do now, is do a three-season story that has a beginning, middle and end. If people love those characters, there’s plenty stories to tell.”
Shrinking Season 2 ends with Jimmy reaching out to talk to Louis (Goldstein, who is a recurring guest) at a crucial moment. Most of the second installment focused on Jimmy struggling to forgive Louis, the drunk driver response for his wife’s death.
Shrinking is produced for Apple TV+ by Warner Bros. Television, where Lawrence and Goldstein are under overall deals, and Lawrence’s Doozer Productions. Lawrence, Segel, Goldstein, Neil Goldman, James Ponsoldt, Jeff Ingold, Liza Katzer, Randall Winston, Annie Mebane, Rachna Fruchbom, and Brian Gallivan all serve as executive producers.
Shrinking is the third collaboration between Lawrence, Warner Bros. TV, and Apple TV+. His other projects include Bad Monkey and Ted Lasso, both for Apple. He will also executive produce the upcoming Scrubs revival, though he will not be the showrunner, and an untitled HBO comedy led by Steve Carell.
