Shondaland’s new murder mystery series “The Residence” draws inspiration from the 1970s whodunit genre, with showrunner Paul William Davies citing Rian Johnson’s “Knives Out” as a key influence. The Netflix series stars Uzo Aduba as eccentric detective Cordelia Cupp and premiered in Los Angeles on Wednesday.
Davies revealed that Johnson’s film was a “hugely important” guidepost for his show, which features a sprawling cast of characters including Susan Kelechi Watson, Randall Park, and Ken Marino. The series combines elements of screwball comedies with murder mystery ensembles, drawing inspiration from films like “Death on the Nile” and “Murder on the Orient Express,” as well as plays like “Fawlty Towers” and “Noises Off.”
The show also features some unexpected appearances, including comedian Al Franken playing a fictional politician and Kylie Minogue playing herself. Minogue even performed her hit single “Can’t Get You Out of My Head” in the series.
At the premiere, the cast and crew paid tribute to the late Andre Braugher, who originally played White House Chief Usher A.B. Wynter but passed away during production. Giancarlo Esposito took over the role, citing his friendship with Braugher and the actor’s iconic performance in “Glory” as an inspiration.
The show has been praised for its blend of humor, mystery, and intrigue, with Davies crediting Johnson’s “Knives Out” as a key factor in its success.
Source: https://variety.com/2025/scene/news/the-residence-netflix-kylie-minogue-andre-braugher-1236343901