Kieran Culkin would kill to be on Only Murders in the Building.
Ahead of the show’s Season 5 premiere, co-creator and showrunner John Hoffman revealed to Parade that the Succession alum was “crushed” to not be able to guest star on the Hulu comedy.
“Some people have not been able to do it for schedule and stuff like that. And it’s been very interesting,” Hoffman said in an exclusive interview with Parade. The executive producer went on to recall a “very notable actor” — whom he later revealed to be Culkin — coming up to him at the Emmys and reiterating, “Just so you know, I was crushed when I couldn’t do it and I would kill to be on it. Please write me anything.”
“So it was really sweet,” Hoffman said, noting that he loves Culkin and that “people fall out for good and bad reasons.”
Since debuting in 2021, Only Murders in the Building has featured numerous celebrity guest stars…and the latest season is no exception! Renée Zellweger, LoganLerman, ChristophWaltz, BobbyCannavale, Keegan-Michael Key, Beanie Feldstein and Dianne Wiest are among the stars who joined the Season 5 cast.
Dianne Wiest in ‘Only Murders in the Building’
“When I look at this cast this season, in Season 5, Dianne Wiest is just a personal favorite of mine forever. And I couldn’t believe when I was talking to her on a Zoom about doing it. And then she just fulfilled in the greatest ways,” Hoffman said.
Zellweger, who plays Camila White this season, was also someone Hoffman had always dreamed of working with.
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The showrunner admittedly can’t believe some of the names who have appeared on the Emmy-nominated show. Hoffman also pointed out that “there was a little bit of a shift” when Meryl Streep joined in Season 3. He explained, “You get a great embrace like that, and a sort of stamp of approval on the writing, on the producing and directing and everything else and the time she had was pretty evident, so it drew people to it in that way, I think.”
(L-R) Meryl Streep, Steve Martin, John Hoffman, Selena Gomez and Martin Short
While over the years there have been plenty of icons in the building, from Eugene Levy and Eva Longoria to Tina Fey and Paul Rudd, there are still stars, including Culkin, that Hoffman has on his wishlist.
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“Catherine O’Hara has been on my wish list forever, and it’s always due to schedules,” Hoffman shared. “These are very busy, brilliant actors, and so when you can line up like ‘Do you have three months?’ sometimes you’re asking for. It’s not like a cameo they’re coming in for, so that’s the challenge.”
For Hoffman, there’s always a “wish list of brilliant people” in his mind, and now, he doesn’t “hesitate to ask anymore.” “That’s the truth,” he said.
Only Murders in the Building, produced by 20th Television, returns for its fifth season Sept. 9 on Hulu.
Next, Everything to Know About Season 5 of Only Murders in the Building
This story was originally reported by Parade on Sep 8, 2025, where it first appeared in the TV section. Add Parade as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
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