Netflix has released the official trailer for upcoming murder mystery series The Residence, the latest from Shondaland – the production company founded by writer and producer Shonda Rhimes (Bridgerton, Grey’s Anatomy). From Scandal writer Paul William Davies and starring Uzo Aduba (Orange is the New Black, In Treatment), the show gives us a chaotic and comedic whodunit set inside the White House during the most disastrous state dinner in history. Take a look at the trailer above and learn more about the series below.
A Murder Mystery in the White House
The trailer introduces Cordelia Cupp, a sharp-witted, highly skilled investigator tasked with solving a murder in the halls of one of the most scrutinised buildings in the world. As chaos unfolds, Cupp—described as “the best detective in the world”—must navigate an ever-growing list of suspects, political intrigue, and personal vendettas. The show balances tension with absurdity, as glimpses of food fights, heated arguments, and smashed plates highlight the dysfunctional nature of those within the White House’s walls.
With 132 rooms, 157 suspects, and one dead body, The Residence looks to play with classic murder mystery tropes and provide a satirical look at power dynamics behind the scenes of America’s most famous residence. The victim? A.B. Wynter, the White House chief usher, played by Giancarlo Esposito (Breaking Bad). As social secretary Lilly Schumacher (Molly Griggs) ominously states in the trailer, “A lot of people in this house had issues with A.B.”
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The Star-Studded Cast
Leading the series is three-time Emmy winner Uzo Aduba, known for Orange Is the New Black, as the quirky and highly perceptive Cordelia Cupp. Joining her is Randall Park (Fresh Off the Boat) as FBI Special Agent Edwin Park, a sceptical investigator assigned to work alongside Cupp. Other cast members include Jason Lee, Ken Marino, Susan Kelechi Watson, Jane Curtin, and a surprising cameo from Aussie singer Kylie Minogue as herself.
Talking to Netflix site Tudum, Aduba describes her character as fitting the mould of Shondaland’s strong-willed heroines: “She’s strong, she doesn’t mince words, she’s unapologetically herself.” Cordelia’s passion for birdwatching, an unusual trait for a detective, also plays into her investigative style. “It told me so much about how she investigates cases, because you have to pay attention to every single detail while birding – it all relates,” Aduba explains.
Meanwhile, Jason Lee teases his role as Tripp Morgan, the president’s rebellious younger brother: “Tripp is outspoken, he doesn’t care. He wants to cause trouble. He fancies himself a rebel against the system. And his brother, of course, is the system.”
A Blend of Mystery, Comedy, and Farce
While Davies’ background in Scandal makes him no stranger to White House intrigue, he cites a different source of inspiration for The Residence: the 1963 classic Charade, starring Audrey Hepburn and Cary Grant. “The Residence is honestly a lot of things. It’s funny, it’s suspenseful, it’s clever, it’s totally farcical in places, it’s genuinely romantic in others,” Davies says. “As a murder mystery, what I think really makes it fresh and unique is Cordelia Cupp. She’s just special.”
Above all, he hopes audiences have fun with the series: “It’s a word I used over and over and over in so many documents I created for this show. Often in all caps: ‘Keep it FUN.’ I want people to be entertained. I want them to laugh, to be engaged—to try to solve this mystery.”
When Does The Residence Premiere?
All eight episodes of The Residence will land on Netflix on March 20.
