Mr. Monk’s Last Case Trailer Shows A Fitting Sendoff For Tony Shalhoub
Peacock has released a trailer for Mr. Monk’s Last Case: A Monk Movie. The film, starring Tony Shalhoub as the germophobic detective, picks up just after pandemic restrictions have been lifted. The clip sees Monk, Randy Disher (Jason Gray-Stanford), Natalie Teeger (Traylor Howard), and Leland Stottlemeyer (Ted Levine) chatting with Rick Eden (James Purefoy).
“The great Adrian Monk,” Rick says. “For a while there, you were solving a major case every week.” Monk replies with all seriousness, “I couldn’t have done it alone,” before joking, “I could have, but it would have taken longer.” The humorous exchange is followed by a brief overview of the titular detective’s quirks and ailments.
Mr. Monk’s Last Case: A Monk Movie is set in a world recovering from Covid. Directed by Randy Risk from a script by Andy Breckman, the story follows Adrian Monk, a consulting detective grappling with obsessive-compulsive disorder and numerous phobias, who takes on a final and deeply personal case involving his step-daughter Molly, a journalist getting ready for her wedding.
Created by Andy Breckman, Monk began as a detective television series that aired from 2002 to 2009 on the USA Network. The show follows the life of Adrian Monk (Tony Shalhoub), a brilliant but neurotic former detective with the San Francisco Police Department. Monk’s exceptional investigative skills are hindered by his obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and phobias.
Still, Monk solves the most complex crimes due to his keen attention to detail. The series also sees Monk struggling with personal demons. He is haunted by the unsolved murder of his wife, Trudy, which serves as a central mystery throughout the show. In the early seasons, Monk’s assistant, Sharona Fleming (Bitty Schram), and later Natalie Teeger (Traylor Howard), aid him in his investigations.
Monk received praise for its unique blend of crime-solving and character-driven comedy. Tony Shalhoub’s portrayal of Adrian Monk earned him critical acclaim and several awards, including multiple Primetime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series. Over the years, the show developed a dedicated fan base and consistently raked in high ratings.
The series also contributed to the resurgence of the detective genre on television and inspired other shows with quirky protagonists and unconventional crime-solving methods. Monk’s influence can be seen in subsequent series that explore the intersection of crime, comedy, and character-driven narratives.
Interestingly, Adrian Monk was originally pitched as a bumbling Inspector Clouseau-like detective to ABC, and Michael Richards (best known for playing Kramer on Seinfeld) was attached to star in the comedy. When Richards opted out of the project, ABC decided to drop it. In a surreal casting coincidence, Tony Shalhoub had auditioned to play Kramer on Seinfeld.
When he landed the lead role in Monk, Tony Shalhoub made an effort to spend time with a psychotherapist who specialized in obsessive-compulsive disorder to learn about the illness. “We’ve been careful not to treat it too lightly, and OCD sufferers and OCD support groups have embraced the show,” the actor previously explained to New York Daily News.
Mr. Monk’s Last Case: A Monk Movie is in good hands with director Randy Zisk as he helmed and executive produced several episodes of the series. Moreover, Shalhoub serves as executive producer alongside Breckman, Zisk, and executive producer of the original series, David Hoberman.
