Casting the stars of Only Murders in The Building: Tiffany Little Canfield opens up on the process, surprises and dream picks

Only Murders in The Building has become a masterclass in casting, pulling in Hollywood's biggest names while still keeping its quirky, heart-filled core. But how do those faces end up in the Arconia's elevators and hallways?

Casting director Tiffany Little Canfield recently shared her process, the wild surprises along the way, and even her ultimate dream pick.

The answer lies in chemistry, bold choices, and a little bit of luck.

---

Building the iconic trio and beyond

When Only Murders in The Building was first taking shape, Tiffany Little Canfield already knew the magic started with Steve Martin and Martin Short. But the real puzzle was finding someone who could break into their legendary dynamic.

She recalled to The Hollywood Reporter how it unfolded;

"It was Steve and Marty when I was hired. Dan Fogelman reached out and said, I've got a show about a true-crime podcast in New York City with Steve and Marty, do you want to look at it?'"

The search led to Selena Gomez's Mabel Mora, though Little Canfield admitted it wasn't easy.

"I've pursued [Gomez] in the past, and it's hard to get her because she's such a multihyphenate. This one, I think, really intrigued her...The chemistry and the Zoom was so on fire from the first moments of the meeting, they knew this was a fit."

That perfect balance between Martin and Short's seasoned comedy and Gomez's sharper, contemporary presence gave the show its unique rhythm.

Over time, the casting for Only Murders in The Building continued to push boundaries.

From Cara Delevingne to Paul Rudd, Meryl Streep to Melissa McCarthy, the series became a revolving door of icons. For Little Canfield, the thrill was never just about star power but about who could elevate the story.

As she put it, every choice had to feel like a surprise, yet inevitable once fans saw it on screen.

---

Meta casting, surprise guests, and dream picks for Only Murders in The Building

By the time season four rolled around, Only Murders in The Building wasn't afraid to turn the camera back on itself. Casting Eva Longoria, Zach Galifianakis, and Eugene Levy as Hollywood versions of Charles, Oliver, and Mabel gave the show one of its funniest meta twists.

Little Canfield explained to THR:

"With Eva, what was really funny to us is she's such a multihyphenate too, and matches who Selena is in real life. But the character of Mabel is in such a shutdown period... The dynamic of her and Eva felt meta."

Of course, not all casting choices for Only Murders in The Building were straightforward. Sometimes agents came knocking. She said;

"Kumail Nanjiani was shooting an independent film on the East Coast, and they said, 'He has time. Is there anything for him?'"

That is what gave birth to his unforgettable turn as the eccentric Christmas-All-the-Time Guy.

Other roles required more precision. Jin Ha's character Marshall P. Pope had to stay under the radar until the right moment.

"It was a tricky one, for sure..."

She admitted, explaining how his versatility sealed the deal.

And when asked about her ultimate "white whale," Little Canfield didn't hesitate.

"We already got it! Meryl. I'm stealing this from casting director John Papsidera, only because it seems impossible since he's retired very publicly, but Daniel Day-Lewis."

It's the kind of dream pick that keeps fans speculating about who might next grace the Arconia's halls.

---

Only Murders in The Building thrives because of its clever mysteries, but Tiffany Little Canfield's casting magic is just as crucial to its success.

From securing Selena Gomez to pulling off wild meta stunts with Eva Longoria, she has turned casting into an art form that keeps fans guessing.

As season five of Only Murders in The Building gets nearer, one thing is certain: every new name added to the cast will feel both surprising and perfectly at home.

---

Stay tuned to SoapCentral for more.