WARNING: This article contains SPOILERS for Mr. Monk's Last Case: A Monk Movie
Summary
- Mr. Monk's Last Case: A Monk Movie sets up the possibility of a new chapter in the character's history, potentially leading to a TV show reboot.
- The movie's ending provides closure but also hints at future Monk stories, with Adrian being called upon to solve cold case files.
- A Monk movie sequel is more likely than a series reboot, but a new TV show could work well with the setup of unsolved murders and a procedural format.
best TV procedurals of all time, Monk has been revived in the form of a movie. The Monk reunion takes place more than a decade after the events of the finale, with Adrian reuniting with his friends to solve a very personal case.
While Mr. Monk’s Last Case: A Monk Movie’s ending does bring some sense of closure to Adrian and those around him, it is not a definitive ending to the character’s journey. At a time when so many popular TV shows are coming back with reboots and remakes, having a new Monk series would not be too surprising. That said, more than reigniting the show’s popularity, the Monk movie sets the stage for some sort of sequel thanks to an important story reveal.
Mr. Monk’s Last Case: A Monk Movie's Cast Guide: All Returning & New Characters
Monk’s cast, led by five-time Emmy winner Tony Shalhoub, reunites for Mr. Monk’s Last Case: A Monk Movie 14 years after the show came to an end.
Mr. Monk’s Last Case’s Cold Case Files Set Up New Monk Adventures
When Adrian goes to the pricing for the first time in years to learn more about Griffin’s case, the new police captain shows him dozens of cold case files – murders that have never been solved. According to the captain, those files are waiting for Adrian Monk. They are cases that no police detective has managed to solve, meaning only Adrian’s “Here’s what happened…” deduction skills would be able to close them. While this scene was mainly to confirm that Monk was currently retired, it set up future Monk stories in which Adrian would have to solve each of those cases.
Why Sharona Is Not In Mr. Monk’s Last Case: A Monk Movie
Sharona Fleming (Bitty Schram), Adrian Monk’s first assistant in the famous procedural show, does not return in Mr. Monk’s Last Case: A Monk Movie.
At the end of Mr. Monk’s Last Case, Adrian decides to go back to work after thinking of all the families he helped bring closure to. Mr. Monk’s Last Case’s bench scene sees Adrian talking to dozens of people whose murderer he solved, yet it also sees Adrian talking to a woman whose murderer hasn’t been solved yet. Mr. Monk’s Last Case’s final scene all but confirms that Adrian will go back to being a consultant for the police, with his work now focused on the cold case files. This is the perfect setup for a Mr. Monk movie 2 or a Monk revival series.
While A Monk Movie Sequel Is More Likely Than A Series Reboot
While nothing has been said regarding a Monk revival show, Mr. Monk’s Last Case: A Monk Movie is not meant to be the end of the story. According to the show’s creator, Andy Breckman, despite the movie’s title, this is not necessarily Monk’s final adventure (via EW), noting “I have an idea for a sequel that I'd love to do.” That said, while a Monk movie sequel seems far more likely than a series reboot, a new Monk TV show would work quite well given what has been set up. The unsolved murders angle would fit the show’s procedural nature, especially if in shortened seasons of eight or 10 episodes.
Note: Mr. Monk's Last Case: A Monk Movie is currently streaming on Peacock.
Sources: EW
