Shrinking creator elaborates on Michael J. Fox's character in Season 3

Shrinking, the comedy-drama title from Apple TV+ created by Bill Lawrence, Jason Segel, and Brett Goldstein tells the story of Jimmy, a therapist who starts to deviate from professional boundaries while coping with the grief of losing his wife.

Since its debut in January 2023, the series has carved a niche for itself with its strong writing, compelling performances, and grounded portrayal of grief.

For the loyal fans and the good news came when it was renewed for a third season. Lawrence has now offered new details about Michael J. Fox’s return to acting and the role he will play in the upcoming episodes.

Shrinking creator shares details on Michael J. Fox's character in the upcoming instalment

Fox was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 1991 and shared about his condition with the public. His symptoms became more prominent, and he gradually reduced his workload before stepping away from on-screen acting in 2020.

That retirement, however, did not last long. In May, it was announced that Fox would guest star in Shrinking Season 3, marking one of his most substantial acting roles in several years.

Speaking to TVLine, Bill Lawrence shared how the casting of the season happened. According to Lawrence, Fox mentioned in an event that he missed his acting days.

Lawrence mentioned that Fox was drawn to playing a fully realized character, rather than a version of himself and that it felt both meaningful and creatively exciting.

Dropping detail on the multi-episodic nature of his arc in Shrinking, he further confirmed that Fox is portraying a “full-fledged character” and emphasized that the role is designed around Fox’s strengths as a performer.

"He made the mistake of saying out loud in front of me at a social event over the summer that he kind of missed acting."

Fox’s comedic instinct is strong and noticeable to his fans, who have seen him in Family Ties, Zootopia 2, and Stuart Little. Viewers will see more when Season 3 is out. While the role engages seriously with Parkinson’s disease, Lawrence stressed that humor remains a key part of Fox’s presence on the show.

The storyline fits naturally into Shrinking’s existing arc. Season 2 ended with Paul giving an emotional speech as he confronted the progression of his Parkinson’s symptoms.

That development positioned the disease as a major theme heading into Season 3 of Shrinking, creating space for Fox’s character to enter the narrative in an organic way rather than as a stunt appearance.

He said,

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"Unsurprisingly, we live in a world dealing with Parkinson's, and for Mike to be able to play a full-fledged character with that condition, I just thought it was fascinating and super cool to watch. He still has ridiculous comic timing, and people will see that as soon as the trailer comes out."

Season 3 of Shrinking will also introduce new cast members, including Jeff Daniels, Candice Bergen, Sherry Cola, and Isabella Gomez.

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