“Shrinking” Season 3: All About the Heartwarming Show's Next Installment (Including Michael J. Fox's Debut!)
- - “Shrinking” Season 3: All About the Heartwarming Show's Next Installment (Including Michael J. Fox's Debut!)
Jacqueline WeissJanuary 14, 2026 at 5:00 AM
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Apple TV+
Harrison Ford and Jason Segel in "Shrinking".
Jason Segel and Harrison Ford are getting back into their therapist chairs for Shrinking’s third season.
Created by Segel, Bill Lawrence and Brett Goldstein, the Apple TV series has been met with praise from viewers and critics since it first premiered in January 2023.
The Emmy-nominated show centers around Jimmy (Segel), a grieving therapist with a tendency to meddle in the personal lives of his clients, despite his boss Paul (Ford) and co-worker Gaby (Jessica Williams) not being on board with his unconventional methods.
The day after the first two episodes of season 2 were released in October 2024, Apple TV confirmed during a cast and crew discussion at New York Comic Con that the series had been renewed for a third season.
“I’m so lucky to work on Shrinking with actors, writers and a crew so talented that they all elevate the material,” Lawrence said in a statement. “I’m even luckier that they are people I’d want to spend time with anyway. Huge thanks to Apple TV+ and Warner Bros. for the amazing partnership and support. So grateful we get to keep making this show. Onward!”
Here’s everything we know so far about Shrinking season 3, including who’s returning in the cast and what it will be about.
Warning: Season 2 spoilers ahead!
How did season 2 of Shrinking end?
Apple TV+
Damon Wayans Jr. in "Shrinking".
Season 2 of Shrinking had a dramatic conclusion with Jimmy forgiving and saving Louis (Goldstein), the drunk driver who killed Jimmy's wife, Tia (Lilan Bowden), and was moments away from taking his own life.
Following a tense season between Jimmy and Alice, which came to a head after she discovered her dad forbade Louis from continuing his friendship with her, they finally reconciled after the teen temporarily moved in with Gaby. Gaby had her own reunion during the finale at Thanksgiving dinner when her love interest, Derrick No. 2 (Damon Wayans Jr.), showed up with her mom (Vernée Watson).
The normally stoic Paul (Ford), who was told that he had six months to a year before his medication stops working for him, emotionally thanked his friends at the dinner for their support as he continues to face Parkinson’s.
While the second season continued to explore the many layers of grief, a romance between Jimmy and Sofi (Cobie Smulders), whom he purchased a used car from, was left open for a possible continuation in season 3.
Who’s returning to the cast of Shrinking season 3?
Apple TV+
Harrison Ford and Wendie Malick in "Shrinking".
In addition to Ford, Segel and Williams, the main cast for the third season of Shrinking will include Christa Miller, Luke Tennie, Michael Urie, Lukita Maxwell and Ted McGinley.
Recurring stars expected to return include Wendie Malick and Devin Kawaoka, plus Wayans Jr. and Goldstein. Lawrence also confirmed in June 2025 that Smulders will return after her cameo with Segel, who was her How I Met Your Mother costar.
“The cool thing about the show — and we even told all the actors and actresses this when we started — is that this is a show about a tiny found family that built a nuclear safety bubble around themselves to get through s---, and then people forgive and open up these doors,” Lawrence told TVLine at the time.
He continued, "You see Cobie Smulders come in for Jason as a guy that — you know, you talk about moving forward, and whether or not [Jimmy] can find a way to even imagine himself being happy again," teasing that Sofi could be the answer for him.
Who’s joining the cast of Shrinking season 3?
Apple TV+
Cobie Smulders and Jason Segel in "Shrinking".
In addition to the returning stars, Apple TV announced in March 2025 that Jeff Daniels would be joining Shrinking’s third season in a guest arc as Jimmy’s father, marking the actor's first major live-action comedy series role.
Joining him is Michael J. Fox, who is making his first return to on-camera acting since officially retiring in 2020. While his role has yet to be revealed, Lawrence has said that Paul's journey with Parkinson's was inspired by Fox's lived experience.
“It's cool to get to write about things you care about now, and Michael J. Fox is my first mentor, so we wanted to represent it in hopefully an inspiring and not sad or tragic way," Lawrence told PEOPLE in December 2024.
Fox also opened up about how the role came to be, telling PEOPLE in October 2025 that after seeing the show, he called Lawrence. “I said, ‘You did a show about Parkinson’s, and you didn’t call me?’ And he said, ‘Oh, you want to do it?’ And I said, ‘I’d love to do it,’ ” Fox said.
“So he said, ‘Let me think about it, see what I can do.’ So he went to work on it and came up with this concept, it's really good,” Fox continued.
What have the cast and crew said about Shrinking season 3?
Apple TV+
Michael Urie and Jessica Williams in "Shrinking".
In December 2024, Lawrence hinted to Deadline that fans can expect to see their favorite characters moving forward in the third season.
“I think I’ve been public about saying the first year is about grief, the second year was about forgiveness and third year’s about moving forward,” he said.
“I don’t think you can do this show about moving forward without knowing how that guy’s life moves forward, at least for an episode or two. So now I just got to leverage Brett into doing what I want him to do. He’s a very busy man,” he added of Louis, who was introduced in season 2.
Segel echoed Lawrence about the theme of the three seasons, telling Variety that same month: “I’m allowed to say our words for Season 3 are ‘moving forward.’ So that’s all we really know so far.”
Is there a trailer for Shrinking season 3?
Apple TV released the trailer for Shrinking season 3 in December 2025, kicking off with Paul's big return to work.
While Jimmy is struggling to move forward and let himself find love again, Gaby is feeling stuck, and Alice is navigating a whole new terrain: college.
Meanwhile, Paul meets Fox's character in the waiting room of what appears to be a doctor's office. Fox asks Paul what he's in for, to which he replies, "Parkinson's. You?" Fox's character quips, "Just a haircut."
When will Shrinking season 3 be released?
Apple TV+
Luke Tennie and Christa Miller in "Shrinking".
Season 3 of Shrinking will premiere on Jan. 28 with a special one-hour episode, followed by weekly releases. The season will feature 11 episodes and conclude on April 8.
Where can I watch Shrinking?
Apple TV+
Jason Segel in "Shrinking".
Fans can catch up on seasons 1 and 2 of Shrinking on Apple TV. Season 3 will also air on the streamer.
on People
Source: “AOL Entertainment”
