There might be more to come from Tony Shalhoub as the brilliant titular detective in a new Monk story. Following 2023's reunion film, Mr. Monk's Last Case, it's been teased that another chapter of the story could very well be made.

Per Deadline, Shalhoub and Monk creator Andy Breckman spoke about Mr. Monk's Last Case. Shalhoub commented on how he was concerned initially with revisiting the role, addressing how important it was for the reunion film to feel bigger than an ordinary episode of Monk. Fortunately, Shalhoub was happy with the script, and he proceeded to slip back into the character just fine when it came time to start filming.

"At first it sounded kind of risky,” Shalhoub explained. “We wanted to raise the stakes, we did not just want to come back with episode 126. We wanted this to be more special. We wanted it to be kind of an event, for the scale to be larger.”

The actor continued, "[Revisiting the role] wasn’t terrifying, but it was a bit daunting. But Andy came up with this great script and there was such positive energy from Peacock. Everybody was excited to revisit it. By the time got to shooting on first day, we were revved up. It didn’t take long to fall back in.”

Mr. Monk's Last Case could be seen as a farewell story for fans, as right now, there aren't any official plans to make any more movies or shows connected to Monk. However, Breckman teased that the franchise isn't finished just yet. He said he'd be up to "explore another chapter" in the Monk story, adding, "This is my retirement plan."

Will Monk Get Another Chapter?

Monk originally ran for eight seasons from 2002 to 2009. The show follows Tony Shalhoub as Adrian Monk, a private detective who struggles with OCD and multiple phobias as he uses his wits to solve complex cases for the San Francisco Police Department. During its run, the show was a big success, earning eight Emmy Awards along with other major honors.

In 2020, Shalhoub reprised the role for a short film showcasing how the character would be handling the COVID-19 pandemic. The short, called Mr. Monk Shelters in Place, helped put the wheels in motion for the Peacock reunion film, Mr. Monk's Last Case, to be brought to Peacock in 2023. Joining Shalhoub in the reunion film were Ted Levine, Traylor Howard, Jason Gray-Stanford, Melora Hardin, and Hector Elizondo, while new cast members included Caitlin McGee and James Purefoy.

Source: Deadline