Cheers icon's Netflix comedy A Man on the Inside finally gets future confirmed as season 3 key details are revealed - but it's not all good news

Netflix has confirmed that Ted Danson's cosy comedy-mystery A Man on the Inside will return for a third season. However, the news does come with a catch: it will also be its last.

The streamer announced that the upcoming run, already in production in San Francisco, will serve as the show's third and final season.

The confirmation arrives alongside a raft of casting details for the closing chapter, which has been created by Parks and Recreation and The Good Place mastermind Mike Schur. Danson, best known to generations of viewers as Sam Malone in Cheers, returns in the lead role as retired engineering professor turned licensed private investigator Charles Nieuwendyk.

The show's regular ensemble is back with him, including Mary Elizabeth Ellis, Lilah Richcreek Estrada, Stephanie Beatriz and Mary Steenburgen, plus recurring players Sally Struthers, Eugene Cordero and Stephen McKinley Henderson, who have all featured since season 1.

Season 3 also sets up a Parks and Recreation reunion for Schur. Nick Offerman, who played Ron Swanson in the NBC comedy Schur co-created, joins the cast as Jack Spencer, an employee who takes a special interest in Charles's latest case.

The new mystery centres on Coco Van Beck, the grand dame of San Francisco society, played by Tony winner Bernadette Peters. She hires Charles to find out who is trying to sabotage her philanthropic work, and most of the fresh faces are tied to her world.

New cast additions (via Deadline) include Annette O'Toole (Virgin River) as Kitt, one of Coco's oldest friends; Christopher McDonald (Hacks) as vineyard owner and Coco's third ex-husband Leland; Diedrich Bader (Better Things) as real estate developer Mark Delaurio; and Rachel Dratch (Saturday Night Live) as harried assistant Maud. Stephen Root is also set to play Dave, Charles's estranged brother, while Jessica St Clair (The Studio) is Chloe, a friend helping Emily (Ellis) through a new phase of parenthood.

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Explaining the decision to bring the story to a close, Schur paid tribute to his leading man.

"This series began with a retiree taking a chance at a new life," he said. "By answering a help-wanted ad and venturing out into the world, Charles Nieuwendyk made his world bigger and proved that life only slows down if you let it. We are thrilled to be able to conclude his journey with one final chapter, as embodied by the great Ted Danson, who I am legally required to refer to as a 'National Treasure.'"

The ending is not entirely a shock. While the announcement of the show's conclusion comes now, it is understood to have been baked into the season 3 renewal unveiled in early February, giving Schur and his team the chance to build the run as a deliberate send-off.

As of now, Netflix has not yet confirmed a release date for the final season – but watch this space.

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Authors

Morgan Cormack is a Drama Writer for Radio Times, covering everything drama-related on TV and streaming. She previously worked at Stylist as an Entertainment Writer. Alongside her past work in content marketing and as a freelancer, she possesses a BA in English Literature.