Shrinking season 4: Release date speculation and latest news
The season 3 finale may have seemed like the end of the road - but was it?
*Warning: Contains full spoilers for Shrinking season 3.*
The third season of Apple TV comedy-drama Shrinking has now come to an end, with the final scene showing a touching heart to heart between Jimmy and Paul after a whole heap of upheaval left the former adrift once more.
In the season finale, change was afoot, with all of Jimmy's friends moving away, even if only temporarily. In many ways it felt like everything was being wrapped up, with the characters moving on and Jimmy finally learning to progress with his life after the tragedy of his wife's death.
But is that the end for the series, which stars Jason Segel and Harrison Ford and has become a firm favourite with Apple TV subscribers?
Read on for everything you need to know about Shrinking season 4.
Will there be a Shrinking season 4?
There will! Shrinking was renewed for a fourth season back in January 2026, just ahead of the show's third season airing.
Co-creator Bill Lawrence had previously revealed that he pitched the show with a three-season arc, but like his other show, Ted Lasso, it is set to continue beyond that and begin a new arc.
In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Lawrence explained that the decision to continue was made while the team were writing season 3.
Explaining the decision to continue, he said: "This is the ending of the three-season story we pitched... We’re lucky enough that we all like each other. The actors love the gig; Harrison’s been cool and like, 'I don’t care if this is my last gig ever,' and Apple loves doing the show.
"But we decided as a staff that we are not going to veer from our three-season story. And that’s because we’re fans of the show. Everybody likes their own s***, but we’re nerdy fans of the show and the actors and actresses — and if we turned on the fourth season and Jimmy was just sitting around saying to Paul, 'You know, I’ve been thinking about it, and I’m still super sad about my wife,' I’d be like, 'I don’t f***ing want to watch this anymore. I already saw this!'
"So our burden and our decision was: This is the end of that story. This is the finale of that three-season story. And I hope that people will dig it that when we come back, whether there’s a time jump or not, that they’ll feel like we’re telling a completely different story."
Lawrence also teased that the show could even run into a fifth of sixth season, and revealed this is something the team are working out now.
When will Shrinking season 4 be released?
We don't yet know when Shrinking season 4 will be released, but we can look to the timescale between previous seasons for guidance.
In the past, seasons have arrived with a bit over a year between them – there were 19 months between the start dates of seasons 1 and 2, and 15 months between seasons 2 and 3.
We would imagine that fans will have a similar wait in store this time around, meaning season 4 is likely to arrive sometime around spring/summer 2027.
We will update this article once we get some more concrete information regarding season 4's release date.
What will Shrinking season 4 be about?
We don't yet know what Shrinking season 4 will be about, but we do know it will be a very different story than the one told in seasons 1 to 3.
Season 3 ended with Jimmy looking like he will move his relationship with Sofi to the next level, while the rest of the gang has almost entirely moved away.
Gaby, Derrik, Liz and Derek have gone on an extended trip to Barcelona, Brian and Charlie have moved to Tennessee, Sean has moved out of the pool house, Alice has gone to college in Connecticut and Paul and Julie have also moved to Connecticut, with Paul having left the therapy practice to Gaby.
In his interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Lawrence said of the upcoming story: "My one hint would be that I don’t think you can ever get away from where the show started, which is with Jason Segel and Harrison Ford, who both have very distinct things we know we have to service.
"I want to do right by Parkinson’s and by Harrison’s journey, and by staying in an inspiring place — for what that means because of how personal it is not only to Harrison and to [Michael J.] Fox, but to me, because of my family and to Brett because of his family. So that will, without a doubt, go on.
"And Jason is the anchor and the weed of the show. I won’t divulge what the new story is, but I’ve already given you a hint. If we started with Jason hearing a song and getting teary and reminiscing about his wife, you would go, 'I thought in the last three seasons this already happened? I thought he got through this?' I think people will enjoy watching."
He also teased that a time jump could be on the horizon, after seasons 1 to 3 only had a matter of months between each of them in the timeline.
Who will be back to star in Shrinking season 4?
In his interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Bill Lawrence confirmed that "the entire ensemble is returning", including Jason Segel, Harrison Ford and the rest of the central cast.
This means Jessica Williams, Luke Tennie, Michael Urie, Lukita Maxwell, Christa Miller and Ted McGinley will all be back. Meanwhile, he also said that Michael J Fox, who joined the show in a supporting role in season 3, will also "definitely be back".
Based on this, here are the stars we feel sure will be back for Shrinking season 3:
- Jason Segel as Jimmy Laird
- Harrison Ford as Dr Paul Rhoades
- Jessica Williams as Gaby Evans
- Luke Tennie as Sean Mitchell
- Michael Urie as Brian Lorenzo
- Lukita Maxwell as Alice Laird
- Christa Miller as Liz Bishop
- Ted McGinley as Derek Bishop
- Devin Kawaoka as Charlie
- Rachel Stubington as Summer
- Lily Rabe as Meg
- Wendie Malick as Dr Julie Baram
- Damon Wayans Jr as Derrick
- Cobie Smulders as Sofi
- Michael J Fox as Gerry
Is there a trailer for Shrinking season 4?
There isn't a trailer for Shrinking season 4 just yet, as filming has yet to begin.
However, once any footage does become available, we will add it in to the article here. In the meantime, you can rewatch the season 3 trailer below now.
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Shrinking seasons 1-3 are available to watch on Apple TV. You can sign up to Apple TV now.
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Authors
James Hibbs is a Drama Writer for Radio Times, covering programmes across both streaming platforms and linear channels. He previously worked in PR, first for a B2B agency and subsequently for international TV production company Fremantle. He possesses a BA in English and Theatre Studies and an NCTJ Level 5 Diploma in Journalism.
