Mr. Monk's Last Case: A Monk Movie Release Date, Cast, Plot, Trailer And More Details
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For eight seasons in the 2000s, the USA Network found itself with a huge critical and commercial hit in "Monk." One part gentle comedy, one part empathetic drama, and one part procedural crime-solving mystery, the unpredictable genre-bender followed Adrian Monk, a former San Francisco police detective who shifted gears to solve tough cases as a consultant and private investigator. He managed to crack the case, almost without fail, as he annoyed everyone around him with his fastidious and prickly personality, a result of his suffering from obsessive-compulsive disorder and grieving the shocking death of his wife, Trudy.
The Tony Shalhoub series wrapped up its long run in 2009, but "Monk" the series was so influential and Monk the character so resonant that the show never truly faded from the collective memory. In fact, Peacock, the streaming wing of NBCUniversal — owner of the "Monk" home network of USA — plans to revive the franchise with a feature-length film set to debut in the near future. Here's everything we know about "Mr. Monk's Last Case: A Monk Movie."
When will Mr. Monk's Last Case: A Monk Movie be released?
"Monk" aired its last original episodes in 2009, but the kernel for a reboot or revisitation of the series developed during the early days of the pandemic in 2020. The concern and stress over spreading a deadly virus resulted in a widespread and intense fear of germs, characteristics of OCD-stricken "Monk" main character Adrian Monk (Tony Shalhoub). As "Monk" creator Andy Breckman told Entertainment Weekly, "During the lockdown, everyone was asking me, and I'm sure they were asking Tony, 'Gosh, I wonder how Monk would fare?' Or, 'Maybe Monk would thrive because he was suddenly in his element living in a bubble.'" Very quickly, Breckman recruited Shalhoub to make a "Monk" short depicting just such a scenario, which became part of the Peacock streaming service's "The At-Home Variety Show."
Fans and executives at Peacock's parent company of NBCUniversal were so pleased with the sketch that they asked Breckman and creative partner David Hoberman to make a "Monk" movie to go directly to streaming. Filming on "Mr. Monk's Last Case" got underway nearly three years later in May 2023. Part of a collection of Peacock movies revisiting characters from popular USA Network shows of the 2000s, like "Psych" and "Burn Notice," the "Monk" movie is scheduled to hit the streamer on December 8, 2023.
What is the plot of Mr. Monk's Last Case: A Monk Movie?
"Mr. Monk's Last Case: A Monk Movie" picks up on the personal and professional life of prickly investigator Adrian Monk in real life, years after the series wrapped in 2009. "It's Monk present day after however long we've been away from him, 13 years now, going on 14 years," titular actor Tony Shalhoub told Entertainment Weekly. "Monk has been knocked back on his heels because of COVID. He's older. He's not going to be chasing down things on the street and things like that."
And it would seem that the finality offered by the "Monk" series finale wasn't so final after all. The two-part series-ender, "Mr. Monk and the End," provided closure and answers about the death-by-murder of Monk's beloved wife, Trudy. It looked like Monk could even see some relief from the symptoms of his severe case of obsessive-compulsive disorder. But like Shalhoub said, the pandemic undid any off-camera progress the character made.
"He was suddenly back at square one," "Monk" creator Andy Breckman told Entertainment Weekly. "So the movie finds Monk in a pretty dark place, and he's back in a hole that he has to try to dig out of emotionally." In order to do that, he'll continue therapy appointments with Dr. Bell and continue to develop a relationship with Molly, Trudy's daughter, whom Monk met in the series finale. She'll factor in majorly in "Mr. Monk's Last Case," as its supposedly final mystery will involve the detective trying to solve the murder of Molly's fiancé.
Who is starring in Mr. Monk's Last Case: A Monk Movie?
Nearly the entire main cast from the original USA Network run of "Monk" the series will return for Peacock's "Mr. Monk's Last Case: A Monk Movie." Tony Shalhoub, who won three Emmy Awards (on eight straight nominations) for outstanding actor in a comedy series thanks to his nuanced portrayal of brilliant but troubled investigator Adrian Monk, will return to the role that made him a small-screen legend.
Ted Levine is set to reprise his part as San Francisco police captain and Monk's forever frustrated foil, Leland Stottlemeyer, and Jason Gray-Stanford will again play Randy Disher, Stottlemeyer's primary police lieutenant. Hector Elizondo will also come back as Monk's therapist, Dr. Bell. Both of Monk's assistants/nurses will appear in "Mr. Monk's Last Case," with Traylor Howard as Natalie Teeger, and Bitty Schram as Sharona Fleming, albeit in flashback sequences. Similarly, Melora Hardin will appear as the deceased Trudy Monk in the detective's memories.
Molly, Trudy's daughter from an extramarital affair, was played by Alona Tal on "Monk" the series, but she'll be portrayed by Caitlin McGee ("Bluff City Law," "Mythic Quest") in "A Monk Movie." One major new character — and a villainous presence who will butt heads with Monk — is Rick Eden, an arrogant billionaire who wants to be the first private citizen to orbit the Earth. He'll be played by "Rome" star James Purefoy.
Who is writing and directing Mr. Monk's Last Case: A Monk Movie?
Before striking a chord with the signature show of his career, Andy Breckman was a prolific writer of comedy far broader than the drama-laced, emotionally-driven "Monk." He contributed jokes to the early seasons of "Late Night with David Letterman" and wrote sketches for "Saturday Night Live" from 1983 to 1997, as well as for Robert Smigel's "TV Funhouse" spinoff in the early 2000s.
Breckman also penned the film comedies "Hot to Trot," "I.Q.," "Sgt. Bilko," and "Rat Race" before "Monk" would occupy most of his time from 2002 to 2009. Breckman created "Monk," served as head writer, and contributed stories and scripts to the series throughout its run. Beckman is the sole writer on the revival straight-to-Peacock film "Mr. Monk's Last Case: A Monk Movie," while also acting as an executive producer.
The upcoming feature-length "Monk" continuation will also keep things in the professional family with its director. Nobody directed more episodes of "Monk" than Randy Zisk, who helmed 34 installments between 2002 and 2009 of the series on which he was also a producer. His familiarity with the property is likely a big reason why he was selected to direct "Mr. Monk's Last Case: A Monk Movie."
Is there a trailer for Mr. Monk's Last Case: A Monk Movie?
On November 8, 2023, Peacock launched its marketing campaign for "Mr. Monk's Last Case: A Monk Movie" with a trailer for the straight-to-streaming revival of the 2000s USA dramedy. The package begins with a one-two punch — a self-aware joke for the hardcore "Monk" fans of old and then an explanation and refresher for those not as well-versed in the world of OCD-afflicted private detective Adrian Monk. The cast of the original series convenes in a well-appointed home, with their billionaire host remarking, "The great Adrian Monk. For a while there you were solving a major case every week." Monk says he couldn't have done it alone (cut to his cohort) — well, he could have, only "it would've taken longer."
From there, viewers get a rundown of all of Monk's many mental health issues and phobias, including heights, germs, needles, and birds. He'll have to tackle many of those fears (and he will, poorly and comically) when he's reluctantly enlisted to help solve the murder of the fiancé of his deceased wife's daughter. All that occurs amidst a backdrop of a post-COVID world, where everyone has seemingly turned into a germaphobe, much like Monk has always been.
Where you can watch previous seasons of Monk
While many would probably agree that there is never a bad time to throw on some "Monk," there is no denying that the news of "Mr. Monk's Last Case: A Monk Movie" has presented the perfect opportunity to get reacquainted with the original series. Reliving all of Adrian Monk's eye-opening cases and hilarious antics is the ideal way to prepare for the sleuth's final investigation and hold franchise followers over until the movie finally arrives.
Luckily, when it comes to watching what is arguably some of Tony Shalhoub's best work over and over again, there are a few options that fans in need of more Mr. Monk can look into. Episodes of "Monk" can be found on the streaming services Peacock and Amazon's Prime Video, where every season is available. Entries can also be found for rent or purchase through on-demand platforms such as Apple TV, YouTube, Vudu, Amazon Video, and Google Play. With eight seasons and over 120 entries, there are plenty of memorable "Monk" moments to enjoy before "Mr. Monk's Last Case: A Monk Movie" makes its debut.