The new Shondaland murder mystery series “The Residence” shares some DNA with another Netflix whodunit: Rian Johnson’s “Knives Out” film.
“It resuscitated the genre,” showrunner Paul William Davies told Variety at “The Residence” premiere in Los Angeles on Wednesday, revealing that Johnson’s film was a “hugely important” guidepost for his show in the way that it drew inspiration from 1970s whodunits.
“He played around with the history,” Davies explained. “That really opened the door for a lot of us to be like, ‘Oh, yeah, we can do that again.’”
“The Residence,” which is now streaming on Netflix, stars Uzo Aduba as the wildly eccentric detective (and legendary birder) Cordelia Cupp, who is tasked with solving a murder that takes place during a White House state dinner. In creating the screwball comedy — which features a sprawling cast that includes Susan Kelechi Watson, Randall Park and Ken Marino — Davies pulled inspiration from the murder mystery ensembles of “Death on the Nile” and “Murder on the Orient Express,” as well as “Clue” and “The Last of Sheila.” He was also influenced by the sitcom “Fawlty Towers” and the play “Noises Off,” which had a “theatricality” and farce he liked.
“The Residence” also features some unexpected appearances, like comedian and former senator Al Franken playing a fictional politician and Kylie Minogue … playing Kylie Minogue.
“We were really excited when we actually got Kylie Minogue because we kept referring to Kylie Minogue,” said executive producer Betsy Beers, as her Shondaland counterpart Shonda Rhimes chimed in: “But we didn’t know if it was gonna happen.”
So, how did the team manage to get the pop idol on board?
“We approached her. She read it and she really responded to it,” Davies said, sounding relieved. “For being Kylie, she’s a very down-to-earth, warm, accessible person who really thought it would be fun,” Davies said. “I was like, ‘Anything you’re able to do or willing to do, I’ll write for you.’ So I wrote more because she was game.”
Minogue even performed her 2001 smash hit single “Can’t Get You Out of My Head.” Davies is a big fan of the track. “We used it as much as we could in the show,” he said.
At the premiere, “The Residence” crew also saluted the late Andre Braugher, who originally played the role of White House Chief Usher A.B. Wynter. When Braugher died in December 2023, partway through production, Giancarlo Esposito stepped in to play the character.
“I honor him completely in my performance because I knew him,” Esposito said of Braugher, his friend and former co-star. “I worked with him on ‘Homicide: Life on the Street,’ and we started in New York theater way back when. His performance in ‘Glory’ changed my life.”
So, as Esposito considered whether to sign on for “The Residence,” he wondered how he could fill Braugher’s shoes.
“I realized, I don’t have to. He would want me to do what I do the best,” Esposito said. “And when I realized that, I realized all I have to do is hold his spirit inside me and do the best job that I could do as an actor, without forgetting the legendary icon that he was.”
See more photos from “The Residence” premiere below.
Shonda Rhimes poses with daughter Harper Rhimes on the blue carpet.
Michael Buckner
Giancarlo Esposito arrives at the premiere.
Michael Buckner
Susan Kelechi Watson poses on the carpet.
Michael Buckner
Al Franken and Eliza Coupe smile for photographers.
Charley Gallay/Getty Images for Netflix
Bronson Pinchot strikes a pose.
Michael Buckner
Julieth Restrepo, Paul Witten, Jae Suh Park, Randall Park and Mary Wiseman team up on the carpet.
Roger Kisby/Getty Images for Netflix
The cast and crew of “The Residence” — (L-R) Ken Marino, Susan Kelechi Watson, Eliza Coupe, Al Mitchell, Betsy Beers, Edwina Findley, Uzo Aduba, Julieth Restrepo, Dan Perrault, Paul William Davies, Bronson Pinchot, Al Franken, Shonda Rhimes, Mel Rodriguez, Giancarlo Esposito, Randall Park, Jason Lee, Mary Wiseman — with Netflix’s Nne Ebong, Peter Friedlander, Emily Levitan and Andrew McQuinn.
Charley Gallay/Getty Images for Netflix
Paul Feig joins Betsy Beers at the after party, held at the Hollywood Roosevelt.
Michael Buckner
CNN’s Dana Bash and Spencer Garret pose with Uzo Aduba and Randall Park inside the after party.
Michael Buckner
Ken Marino and Edwina Findley smile for photos at the after party.
Michael Buckner
