Apple TV’s hit series Shrinking has big plans — and major changes — in store for season 4, which has led some viewers to theorize that Harrison Ford won’t be returning as a main cast member.
Shrinking, which premiered in 2023, stars Jason Segel as Jimmy, a grieving therapist who decides to become more involved in his patients’ lives. Ford, 83, plays Paul, a senior therapist and colleague of Jimmy’s who has Parkinson’s disease.
Over the years, creator Bill Lawrence has made it clear that he had a three-season vision for the show. Season 1 would follow Jimmy’s grief, while the sophomore season would address forgiveness as he bonded with the man who accidentally killed his wife. Season 3, which concluded on Wednesday, April 8, shows Jimmy moving forward and possibly finding love with Cobie Smulders’ Sofi.
Lawrence’s hints that season 4 would depart from his original plan for the show caused some concern on social media earlier this month. The screenwriter, 57, however, has since clarified that the same stars will be playing the same characters next season. He also confirmed that Ford’s character isn’t going anywhere — despite speculation that Paul’s health could take a turn for the worse.
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Ford reflected on his role at the PaleyFest LA panel on Tuesday, April 7, calling it “one of the most pleasurable experiences of my life.” Joining him were Segel, Jessica Williams, Lukita Maxwell, Luke Tennie, Christa Miller, Michael Urie and Ted McGinley, who are all expected to be back.
“I think people will feel when they come back to this show, that it’s a completely different story,” Lawrence said at the event. “And the reason we agreed to do it was that we feel that the cast and characters of this show have enough stuff going on in their life that we are interested in seeing what a new story for these characters looks like.”
Lawrence teased what fans have in store for them in season 4.
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“There’s some stuff in the third year that is left unresolved, and it hints that the next year will be different because of what characters are doing and where they’re going,” he continued. “People shouldn’t be surprised if there’s a time jump and it feels like we’re telling a completely different story.”
Lawrence added: “If the fourth season of this show came on and Jimmy was like, ‘I’ve been thinking about it. I’m still super sad about my wife,’ I’d be like, ‘Turn the TV off.’ You can’t do that again. So we’re hoping people feel it’s an incredibly optimistic and happy ending.”
Shrinking is currently streaming on Apple TV.