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Interview with Selena Gomez, Steve Martin and Martin Short, stars of Only Murders in the Building
Since 2021, Only Murders in the Building has established itself as an endearing, atypical comedy and thriller, and its mischievous trio of actors – superstar Selena Gomez and the two legends of comedy Steve Martin and Martin Short – have a lot to do with it. Interview with three stars with an infectious sense of humor.
Interview by Violaine Schütz.
It is one of the most surprising, endearing and funny series of the past few years. Available on Hulu in the United States and on Disney+ in France, Only Murders in the Building has been winning praise from audiences and critics alike since 2021, as well as nominations and awards at the Emmy Awards or the Golden Globes.
Only Murders in the Building: the season 4 of the endearing show available on Disney+
The reason for all the hype? Plenty of plot twists, sharp satirical lines about the media industry and an original narrative about three lonely neighbours who launch a crime podcast and investigate murders in a New York building.
But the spark resides in the trio of actors, who have now become friends. On one hand, two septuagenarian legends of American comedy, Steve Martin (Father of the Bride) and Martin Short (¡Three Amigos!), and on the other hand, Selena Gomez, the pop star, mental health advocate, beauty icon, and award-winning actress for Emilia Perez at Cannes this year.
Meryl Streep and Eva Longoria as guest stars
Add to this mischievous, cunning and whimsical cast a host of luxury guest stars – including Paul Rudd, Meryl Streep and Eva Longoria – to see why this cross-generational, Cluedo-like show is worth watching.
As the fourth season of Only Murders in the Building first aired on Disney+ on August 27th, Numéro has met with Selena Gomez, Steve Martin and Martin Short, who share the same chemistry in real life that the one they create on screen.
Interview with Selena Gomez, Steve Martin and Martin Short, stars of the series Only Murders in the Building
Numéro: How do you explain the public and critical success of Only Murders in the Building?
Steve Martin: Well, I think that the script and the stories are very good, and that the premise is unusual. What we didn’t know was that the chemistry between the three of us, that none of us can even try to explain, would show through the screen. We’re just having fun. We love each other. We’re all professionals and we give it our all. Our writers do too, and we have great directors and writers. We’re all very lucky.
“In this new police investigation, I had no idea about who had done what until the shooting of the film was about to start.” – Selena Gomez
Selena and Martin, do you agree with Steve?
Martin Short: No, I don’t agree.
Steve Martin: You don’t agree with any of the things I’ve just said, Martin?
Martin Short: No, I haven’t listened to nor remembered anything you’ve just said, there’s a difference (laughs).
This fourth season takes on different aspects: a trip to Los Angeles, a new murder mystery (that of a stuntwoman who stood in for the character played by Steve Martin), a love story, a tribute to stuntmen…
Martin Short : Yes, lots of things happen… This new detective story has many twists and turns. I think it will leave the audience in the lurch until the very end – no one knows who the hell committed the murder.
Selena Gomez: Yes, it’s crazy. I had no idea about who had done what until the shooting of the film was about to start. So it was a real surprise.
Steve Martin: That’s how you wanted it, didn’t you Selena? (The actress nods in agreement, ed.)
“Eva Longoria is hilarious.” – Selena Gomez
In this season, the crime podcast hosted by your characters becomes a movie, and other actors play the roles of your characters. Are you happy with the casting (Eva Longoria, Eugene Levy and Zach Galifianakis)?
Selena Gomez: I was thrilled. Honestly, I was so excited to work with everyone on set. I think Eva Longoria did a fantastic job, she is hilarious.
Steve Martin: I’m glad that Eugene Levy (American Pie, Schitt$ Creek) is playing my character. We’ve worked together several times, including on Father of the Bride and on Cheaper by the Dozen 2, so I’ve known him for a long time. He is as funny on screen as he is in real life. He is just a great guy to be around. He also stands as the best-looking of all of us (comedy actors, ed.) in recent years. He has established himself as the Marcello or Alain Delon of our generation.
Martin Short: I was a big fan of Zach Galifianakis (Very Bad Trip) before I met him. In season 4, he plays the role of the actor who really doesn’t want to make the film adaptation of the podcast. Money is the only reason why he does it. He doesn’t like the character he has to play, but he pulls it off brilliantly.
Steve Martin: Actually, if you really think about it, each one of the actors who play us in the series does so for a different reason. Eugene Levy loves me. Zack Galifianakis doesn’t care and lives his life. Everyone plays the character they have to play in their own way.
Your characters have changed a lot over the course of the different seasons. What was the biggest challenge for you as an actor this time?
Selena Gomez: I don’t think I’ve personally experienced things in terms of challenges. I feel like I’ve been able to gradually become Mabel (the character played by Selena Gomez in the series, ed.) and to grow with her. She is a part of me now. I’m just enjoying the process.
Steve Martin: For me, my biggest challenge was when I was given a scene that was supposed to be really funny and it was up to me to make it funny. In those cases, you want to make sure of these things: “What’s the right balance? Is it too big? Is it too small?” Marty (Martin Short) has one gear – fast and strong. I have several.
Martin Short: And above all, talking about that, what the audience does when Steve is on screen is to press “fast forward”. They want to get back to the energy.
“Sometimes it’s just impossible to keep a straight face and not to laugh on set.” Selena Gomez
How do you keep from bursting out of laughter while filming during the most hilarious scenes?
Selena Gomez: Sometimes it’s just impossible to keep a straight face for me. They (Martin Short and Steve Martin, ed.) are much better at it than me. I love comedy and I have so much fun on set. And I think it is mainly thanks to the writing and to the scriptwriters.
Martin Short: I think that to make a comedy, you have to laugh on set. You want the cameramen to tremble during certain funny scenes because they’re trying not to laugh. We laughed a lot on set. We just cut them out in the edit.
“All three of us are equally crazy..” Steve Martin, star of Only Murders in the Building
What have the three of you learned from working together?
Selena Gomez: I just enjoy their company. Even when I’m on set, sitting, waiting around for something to happen and they’re playing a game, I find some comfort in that. I feel very safe and protected around them.
Martin Short: After four seasons together, when you have that chemistry, which we had from the start, those moments of waiting between takes aren’t just comforting. It’s something we’re traditionally comfortable with. I look forward to these shared moments on set as much as I look forward to shooting the scenes.
Steve Martin: In any group, when there are three actors, usually one is a bit crazy, and when that person leaves the room, the other two say, “What was that?” But that just doesn’t happen with us. We’re just people.
Martin Short: That’s because you’re not in the room when we say it…
Steve Martin: It’s true that I often leave the room… Anyway, all three of us are equally crazy.
The season 4 of Only Murders in the Building, directed by Steve Martin and John Hoffman, starring Steve Martin, Martin Short and Selena Gomez, is available on Disney+.
Translation by Emma Naroumbo Armaing.
