Netflix has provided a first look at The Residence, which will be Shondaland’s fourth series to debut on the streaming service. Shondaland’s previous Netflix shows include Bridgerton, Inventing Anna, and Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story. Instead of being a historical romance like Bridgerton and Queen Charlotte, or a drama like Inventing Anna, The Residence will be a comedic whodunnit that takes place at the White House and involves the eccentric staff there.

On X (formerly Twitter), Netflix has shared a first-look image of Orange is the New Black‘s Uzo Aduba and the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s Randall Park in The Residence. Aduba plays the whodunnit’s detective, Cordelia Cupp, while Park portrays FBI agent Edwin Park. The cast also includes Breaking Bad‘s Giancarlo Esposito as A.B. Wynter, the White House’s Chief Usher, and This Is Us‘ Susan Kelechi Watson as Jasmine Haney, the White House Assistant Usher. The series will be available to stream on March 20. Check out the image below:

From Shondaland, The Residence is a screwball whodunnit set in the upstairs, downstairs, and backstairs of the White House, among the eclectic staff of the world’s most famous mansion, coming to Netflix on March 20th. Here’s your first look at The Residence, starring Uzo… pic.twitter.com/OVWRqfLXMa — Netflix (@netflix) December 10, 2024

What This Means For The Residence

Netflix’s Next Shondaland Show Looks Promising

With Bridgerton season 4 not expected to be released until late 2025 or in 2026, The Residence will officially be the next new Shondaland season available to watch on Netflix. Aduba’s role is a fitting one considering that her acclaimed performance as Suzanne “Crazy Eyes” Warren in Orange is the New Black helped define one of Netflix’s earliest original series and the platform’s overall streaming success. The first-look image shows her having the presence needed to play the lead detective character in the upcoming mystery.

With Netflix describing The Residence as a “screwball whodunnit,” Park will undoubtedly be able to lean into his comedic talents.

Seeing Park alongside Abuda is also a welcome sign, since his performance as Agent Jimmy Woo is among the funniest in the MCU. With Netflix describing The Residence as a “screwball whodunnit,” Park will undoubtedly be able to lean into his comedic talents. While they are not featured in the first-look image, Esposito and Watson’s characters are also eagerly anticipated. Watson provided stellar comedy in This Is Us and Esposito’s dramatic flair will fit well into the whodunnit story.

Our Take On The Residence’s First Image

It Is A Departure From The Best Shondaland Shows

The Residence has been a long-gestating project, making it rewarding to now see a first image, and to have a release date. Many of the best Shondaland shows, including Netflix’s Inventing Anna, Scandal, and How to Get Away with Murder, have been dramas. It will be intriguing to see how The Residence will fare as a comedic mystery, a mix of genres that Shondaland has not used in the past. Given the talent involved in front of and behind the camera, the series has ample potential.