A Man on the Inside season 2: everything we know so far about the popular Netflix show's return

It's not long now until the arrival of A Man on the Inside season 2, the popular Neflix spy comedy that saw Charles (Ted Danson), a retiree-turned-sleuth finding a new lease of life while investigating a jewelry theft in retirement home, Pacific View.

But with all that done and dusted and the case officially solved, what's next for Charles? Well, it didn't seem like much at all until he got a phone call from Julie, the private investigator that hired him to help her infiltrate the home in the first place.

And, she's got another case. While Charles solved the first one, he's exactly who she needs for whatever lies ahead. Here's everything we know about A Man on the Inside season 2 from release date, to confirmed cast, to plot synopsis, and more.

A Man on the Inside season 2: is there a release date?

A Man on the Inside season 2 will hit Netflix on November 20 – and in true Netflix fashion, all eight episodes will drop at the same time.

And when speaking of the show's renewal, creator, Michael Schur, told Tudum: "We are thrilled to make another season of A Man on the Inside, starring young up-and-comer Ted Danson. From our partners at Netflix and Universal TV to the writers, cast, and crew, it's a truly exceptional team of talented and lovely people, with one notable exception (young up-and-comer Ted Danson, who's kind of a nightmare)."

A Man on the Inside season 2: has a trailer been released?

While A Man on the Inside season 2 trailer hasn't dropped yet, given the show's November 20 release date, it's most certainly imminent.

Season 1 was released at the same time last year (well, one day difference) and the trailer dropped on October 28. So, if I was to pop in my pocket square and switch into spy mode, I'd say that the trailer will be out very soon.

A Man on the Inside season 2: confirmed cast

Thanks to first look images of A Man on the Inside season 2 and cast announcements from Tudum, we know of cast members returning and new characters joining, as follows:

• Ted Danson as
• Mary Elizabeth Ellis as
• Lilah Richcreek Estrada as
• Stephanie Beatriz as
• Stephen McKinley Henderson as
• Mary Steenburgn as Mona Margadoff
• Gary Cole as Brad Vinick
• Michaela Conlin as Andrea Yi
• Max Greenfield as Jack Beringer
• Sam Huntington as Max Griffin
• Jason Mantzoukas as Apollo Lambrakis
• Constance Marie as Vanessa
• David Strathairn as Dr. Cole
• Jill Talley as Holly Bodgemark
• Madison Hu as Claire
• Lisa Gilroy as Kelseigh Rose
• Linda Park as Elizabeth Muki

And, also thanks to Tudum, I can reveal a little about each new character joining the show for season 2's new sleuthing mission.

For Ted Danson's real-life wife, Mary Steenburgen, her character Mona Margadoff is described as "a former musician who factors heavily into the latest case Charles is trying to solve." For Gary Cole as Brad Vinick: "a successful executive whose sizable donation to his alma mater starts a chain reaction that leads to Charles getting hired.

Michaela Conlin as Andrea Yi "who teaches economics at Wheeler College and is excited about the changes coming to the school, Max Greenfield as Jack Beringer "the charismatic president of Wheeler College, whose job requires him to raise money from wealthy graduates." Sam Huntington as Max Griffin "a rabble-rousing professor of journalism at Wheeler College."

Jason Mantzoukas as Apollo Lambrakis "an affable contractor who dreams of writing the Great American Novel." Constance Marie as Vanessa "a former con artist who serves as a part-time source on the criminal underworld for Julie." David Strathairn as Dr. Cole "head of the English department at Wheeler College, and the most famous and popular professor on campus."

Jilly Talley as Holly Bodgemark "the overworked, perpetually frazzled provost of Wheeler College." Madison Hu as Claire "a Wheeler College junior who works multiple campus jobs to pay for her tuition." Lisa Gilroy as Kelseigh Rose "a budding photographer and the new wife of billionaire Brad Vinick." And finally, Linda Park as Elizabeth Muki "the director of the fine arts department at Wheeler College."

Mysteriously though, there's another name that Deadline has confirmed is joining season who isn't mentioned on Tudum's list, Jackée Harry, in a role that's being kept firmly under wraps. But, "could potentially return in season 3."

And from all of these character descriptions, we can get a pretty good idea of what's to come for the season 2 plot. More on this below.

A Man on the Inside season 2: story synopsis and rumors

Full spoilers for A Man on the Inside season 1 to follow.

After Charles's success at Pacific View uncovering the criminal, who turned out not to be a criminal at all, it all seemed done and dusted for the amateur sleuth. The residents of Pacific View celebrated Virginia and Elliot getting married (again), Didi decided not to quit her job after a passionate speech from Charles, and Charles also rebuilt his relationship with his daughter, Emily.

But, as Julie sat at her agency in the season 1 finale, another case turned up that only one man could help them with – Charles. And while it wasn't revealed what the case would be, Tudum has since confirmed for A Man on the Inside season 2, Charles will go undercover at Wheeler College campus.

No surprises there if you've taken a look at the official cast list for season 2 above, but what will unravel at Wheeler College remains under wraps. For good reason too, it's a spy series after all.

Though we do have an official plot synopsis from Netflix to divulge a little more entail: "Eager to take on another big undercover case, Charles Nieuwendyk (Danson) gets his chance when a mysterious blackmailer targets Wheeler College president Jack Berenger (Max Greenfield), who enlists Charles to go undercover as a professor.

"Who’s making these threats? Does it have something to do with the iconoclastic billionaire Brad Vinick (Gary Cole), a Wheeler graduate, and his proposed donation to the school? Charles finds no shortage of possible suspects, but his attention gets diverted by free-spirited music teacher Mona (Mary Steenburgen), whose zest for life awakens feelings he thought he’d buried after the passing of his wife.

"Is he ready to open his heart again at this stage in his life? And more importantly, has he fallen for the very criminal he’s been sent to unmask? Meanwhile, his daughter Emily (Mary Elizabeth Ellis) is inspired by the changes in her father and uncovers a long-ignored passion, while PI Julie (Lilah Richcreek Estrada) embarks on her own journey of growth as she reconnects with an important figure from her past."

We also know, from the first-look images, that Pacific View isn't entirely in the past, despite the case being solved. Both Didi (Stephanie Beatriz) and Charles's good friend Calbert (Stephen McKinley Henderson) are also making a return, but in what capacity, it's not clear.

Whether they're just there for a friendly game of backgammon and a quick shipment of missing salt shakers, or if they're playing a part in Charles's next case, it wouldn't feel the same without at least a visit to Pacific View.

And the Schur agrees. Speaking of Didi's return to Hope Sloop on the Emmys red carpet, he said: "There was no reason at the beginning of the year because it's like a new location, but I was like, I don't know, we're going to figure it out because I want Stephanie Beatriz to be in everything I ever write for the rest of my life."

Will there be more seasons of A Man on the Inside?

There's no official renewal of A Man on the Inside past season 2, so far. But, if Deadline's report on Jackée Harry's role potentially returning for season 3, there's certainly hints. And what can we love more than a mystery to follow?

The show's creator Michael Schur has made it clear he'd make more, speaking to The Hollywood Reporter back when the first season aired, he said: "I told Netflix, I'll do this forever if you want to keep paying me to write seasons of a show where Ted Danson is an undercover detective. I will sign up for this through 2050 if you let me."

Adding: "But what you have at the end of the season is a 76-year-old man with a new lease on life and a new sense of purpose and a new kind of fledging career as an undercover detective... You have a lot of building blocks for future seasons."

And with Mary Steenburgen's role as Mona and a new case at Wheeler College has anything to do with it in season 2, we'll have a slightly older man with an even more fiery passion for life ready for even more seasons.

For more Netflix-based coverage, read our guides to Nobody Wants This season 2, Stranger Things season 5, The Four Seasons season 2, and Running Point season 2.

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