Kylie Minogue Joins Shondaland’s Murder Mystery!

by

The latest Shondaland murder mystery show, “The Residence,” bears a resemblance in its genetic makeup to the Netflix detective series “Knives Out” by Rian Johnson.

Showrunner Paul William Davies stated to EbMaster at the premiere of “The Residence” in Los Angeles on Wednesday, “His movie revived the genre.” He added that Johnson’s film was a significant milestone for his show as it took inspiration from the 1970s detective series.

Davies clarified that he had manipulated historical facts, which sparked enthusiasm among many, including myself, as we thought, ‘Why not give it another try?'”

This version conveys the same meaning in a more conversational and less formal tone while maintaining clarity.

Streaming on Netflix, “The Residence” features Uzo Aduba portraying Cordelia Cupp, an offbeat detective with a passion for bird-watching, who is assigned to unravel a murder mystery that unfolds at a White House state dinner. The production of this quirky comedy boasts a large ensemble cast including Susan Kelechi Watson, Randall Park and Ken Marino. Davies drew inspiration from the ensemble murder mysteries such as “Death on the Nile,” “Murder on the Orient Express,” “Clue” and “The Last of Sheila,” as well as the sitcom “Fawlty Towers” and the play “Noises Off,” which he admired for their theatricality and comedic elements.

In simpler terms, “The Residence” is a comedy on Netflix where Uzo Aduba plays Cordelia Cupp, a detective with a love for bird-watching who solves a murder at a White House event. The show has a big cast including Susan Kelechi Watson, Randall Park and Ken Marino, and it was inspired by other famous murder mysteries and comedies like “Clue” and “Fawlty Towers”.

In “The Residence,” I come across some surprising guest roles, such as myself, in a humorous political part, emulating a fictitious senator, alongside the renowned Kylie Minogue, who assumes her own role as well – portraying none other than herself.

Betsy Beers, the executive producer, expressed her excitement when they actually secured Kylie Minogue for the project, as she had often mentioned Kylie Minogue. Shonda Rhimes added, ‘However, we weren’t sure if this would come to fruition.’

So, how did the team manage to get the pop idol on board?

Davies stated, sounding relieved, as they approached her and she read the material, she reacted positively to it. ‘Kylie is a very approachable, earthy, and warm individual who found the idea amusing,’ Davies continued. ‘When I proposed writing more because she was open to it, she agreed.’

Minogue also sang her iconic 2001 chart-topper “Can’t Get You Out of My Head” during the performance. Davies is quite fond of this tune, mentioning that they incorporated it extensively within the show, as he stated.

At the film’s debut, the team behind “The Residence” paid tribute to the late Andre Braugher, who initially portrayed White House Chief Usher A.B. Wynter. Sadly, Braugher passed away in December 2023 during production, at which point Giancarlo Esposito took over the role.

I give him my full respect during our collaboration as I had known him,” Esposito noted about Braugher, his friend and past colleague. “We worked together on ‘Homicide: Life on the Street,’ and our journey began in New York theater long ago. His portrayal in ‘Glory’ greatly impacted my life.

As Esposito pondered over joining “The Residence,” he found himself questioning how he might step into Braugher’s role.

Esposito stated, ‘I discovered I didn’t need to. He would want me to excel at what I do best.’ Once I understood this, it dawned on me that all I had to do was keep his spirit close and perform to the absolute best of my abilities as an actor, never losing sight of the iconic legend he represented.

See more photos from “The Residence” premiere below.

Read More

2025-03-22 01:48