Summary

• Despite the critical acclaim for the previous movie, Tony Shalhoub says there is no "fixed plan" in place for a Monk sequel.
• Shalhoub does, however, say that creator Andy Breckman wishes to keep the story going, and that he himself is open to returning for the right reasons.
• The first movie proved to be a hit for Peacock, holding a 95% approval rating from critics on Rotten Tomatoes and garnering strong viewership.

Tony Shalhoub addresses the possibility of a sequel to Mr. Monk's Last Case: A Monk Movie. Fourteen years after the popular series concluded on the USA Network, Shalhoub reprised the role of Adrian Monk for the film revival released on Peacock, which earned a 95% critical score on Rotten Tomatoes. Beyond reuniting familiar characters, the revival saw the titular detective struggling with his mental health, having regressed during the COVID-19 pandemic, and taking on a sudden and deeply personal case related to his stepdaughter, Molly.

Following the positive reception to the film, the Variety Awards Circuit podcast asked Shalhoub about the chances of a film sequel that could continue the adventures of the beloved Monk. Though acknowledging he won't rule anything out, and even confirming creator Andy Breckman is wishing for more, he's currently waiting to see what happens. Read Shalhoub's response below:

We don’t know if there’s going to be more, but it’s Andy Breckman’s wish, I think he’s signaling the people at NBC and Peacock, as much as the audience. We don’t know anything definite, there isn’t a hard fixed plan yet, but we all had such a great time bringing it back. I certainly wouldn’t be opposed to it if it was the right time and the right idea and the right material. I guess we’ll have to see.

The Evolution of Monk’s Reception

Monk's Reviews Have Been Consistently Positive

Chronicling Adrian Monk’s struggle as both a mystery solver and private investigator, Monk was an eight-season series that originally ran from 2002 to 2009. It was a beloved show during the time of its release, earning numerous Emmy nominations and wins. Shalhoub was a particularly standout element of the show, winning the Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series in 2003, 2005, 2006, and 2010. This means that Shalhoub won Emmys for half of the Monk seasons, and he was nominated for every season for which he did not win.

Over the course of its eight seasons, Monk’s reviews stayed consistently positive. Monk seasons 1 and 2 both have perfect 100% scores on Rotten Tomatoes. By the end of the series, the reviews had dipped slightly lower, but Monk season 8 still has a positive score of 82% among critics. The series overall holds an 89% on Rotten Tomatoes among both critics and audiences.

As a result, Mr. Monk’s Last Case: A Monk Movie had the pressure to perform, and that it did. The Peacock original holds a 95% among critics on Rotten Tomatoes, and an also-positive 80% among Monk audiences. Thus, a follow-up to the Monk movie would have even more massive shoes to fill as both Monk and Mr. Monk’s Last Case: A Monk Movie received such universal praise.

Should There Be Another Monk Movie?

Mr. Monk's Last Case Was Well-Received

Mr. Monk's Last Case is a heartfelt reunion filled with the humorous charm and procedural intrigue of the original series. From the COVID-19 pandemic to a billionaire determined to be the first civilian to orbit Earth, the movie felt timely, and used these elements to heighten the stakes of Monk's internal struggles and the case he's investigating. The balance between new and old was generally well-received and almost seems like it could be a blueprint for a movie sequel.

Despite the revival's success, however, a sequel could undermine the now two perfect endings to Monk's story. The series finale already gave him a satisfying conclusion as he finally solves the truth behind the death of his wife Trudy and meets Molly for the first time. Mr. Monk's Last Case ending pulls off another fulfilling resolution with how Monk ultimately confronts his mental health struggles and realizes the positive difference he's made in the world with his detective work. A sequel may not be necessary after these two phenomenal endings.

There is also the issue of pacing, as the case itself felt drawn out in a 90-minute movie, which was rarely the case during a 40-minute episode of the original series. If a continuation does end up happening, instead of another movie, it would work better as a sequel revival show set up by Mr. Monk's Last Case. Adrian's realization of the difference he'd made related to the numerous cases he'd solved, and the many cold cases that remain unsolved, giving him new purpose, could be a natural way to continue the story, and return to its procedural television roots.

The entirety of Monk and Mr. Monk's Last Case are available to stream on Peacock.

Why A Monk Revival Show Would Work Even Better

Mr. Monk's Last Case Introduced New Characters

In addition to the pacing issues of a feature-length Monk movie, there are a number of other reasons why a Monk revival series might work better than another film. For one, Mr. Monk’s Last Case introduced some new characters for the movie in addition to bringing back the old cast. While these characters could have follow-ups in a sequel Monk film, it would be interesting to follow new character arcs as Monk enters a new era, over a longer form such as a TV season.

Furthermore, Monk could fill a particular niche that is currently missing on television. While there are plenty of long-running procedurals of various forms, including Law & Order and Grey’s Anatomy, Monk struck a particular chord that no other series has seemed able to fully recapture. Monk is a bumbling detective, but the traits that make him so relatable directly connect to some of his biggest struggles as a character. Portraying those unique arcs made Shalhoub such a standout in Monk, and the actor deserves the chance to get to play the role again in a longer form than in Mr. Monk's Last Case.

Source: Variety Awards Circuit