Apple TV+ renews ‘Shrinking’ for Season 4 but Harrison Ford’s future raises one big concern
This story contains spoilers.
Such was Apple TV's success with 'Shrinking' that it renewed the dramedy for Season 4 well before Season 3's premiere. However, the focus is purely on Harrison Ford's character, after the direction of his arc has left fans wondering whether he will return for a fourth installment. In 10 episodes of the third season, Ford's Paul has seen his Parkinson's spread rapidly, pushing him to retire and call time on his therapy practice. With his health deteriorating, the storyline saw him and his wife, Dr. Julie (Wendie Malick), moving from California to Connecticut to live close to his daughter Meg (Lily Rabe). With one episode remaining, questions have arisen about how the storyline connects Paul to his family and friends.
In its Season 4 announcement release, the streamer revealed the cast members returning to the fold. "Bringing more heart and humor, the series will also see the return of cast members Christa Miller, Emmy Award nominee Jessica Williams, Luke Tennie, Emmy Award nominee Michael Urie, Lukita Maxwell, and Ted McGinley." At the time of writing, Ford, Segel, and Brett Goldstein were confirmed to return, but the change in Paul's arc now raises questions. For now, there is no word on Season 4's release date or plotline, and much of what to expect depends on what the finale, titled, 'And That's Our Time' has in store.
Earlier, showrunner Bill Lawrence spoke to Deadline about going past the originally planned three-season run for 'Shrinking'. "I’ve tried to figure out how to navigate this," Lawrence said. "Everybody who has been talking to me lately goes, 'Oh, Shrinking just got picked up for fourth season, it was a three-season story, and Ted Lasso is going, and Scrubs is rebooted.' But when people are saying, Hey, you said Shrinking was a three-season story. Well, first of all, we made 36 episodes of Shrinking, that’s a season and a half of Scrubs."
This suggests that, aside from Ford's speculated departure, there's enough of a story left to be told. There is a possibility that Season 4 might find a way to bring Paul and Jimmy together, despite both living in Connecticut and California. The Season 3 finale airs on April 8, and Season 4 is expected to release sometime in 2027, possibly with another 11 episodes. In the meantime, fans can watch all three seasons of 'Shrinking' on Apple TV+.
