Michael J. Fox Joins Shrinking Season 3, Marking His First TV Role In 5 Years And Reunion With Bill Lawrence

Shrinking just landed another major guest star: Michael J. Fox has signed on to play a significant role in the Apple TV+ dramedy's third season, TVLine has learned.

While details on his role are being kept under wraps, Fox's new gig marks his return to acting and his first TV role since his two-episode stint on The Good Fight, where he reprised his Good Wife character Louis Canning in 2020. While his new role remains a mystery for now, it's possible that it may be connected to Harrison Ford's therapist Paul Rhoades, who has been dealing with his Parkinson's diagnosis since Season 1, a disease Fox has been battling for over three decades. (Could Fox potentially be playing... himself?)

The casting also marks a reunion for Fox and Shrinking co-creator/executive producer Bill Lawrence. Fox starred as the lead in Lawrence's first series as a creator, Spin City, before he departed once his symptoms exacerbated. The ABC comedy won Fox an Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series in 2000, his fourth out of five total trophies (three of which were for Family Ties). In addition, he provided his voice for one episode of Clone High and guest-starred on two episodes of Scrubs, both former projects of Lawrence's.

Fox's other TV credits include the one-and-done The Michael J. Fox Show, in addition to Rescue Me, Boston Legal, Curb Your Enthusiasm and Designated Survivor.

Co-created by Jason Segel, Lawrence and Brett Goldstein, Shrinking follows grieving therapist Jimmy (Segel) who starts to break the rules and tell his clients exactly what he thinks. "Ignoring his training and ethics, he finds himself making huge, tumultuous changes to people's lives... including his own," reads its official description.

In addition to Segel and Ford, Shrinking stars Christa Miller, Jessica Williams, Luke Tennie, Michael Urie, Lukita Maxwell and Ted McGinley. Other new editions for Season 3 include Jeff Daniels as Jimmy's dad, Sherry Cola (Nobody Wants This) and Isabella Gomez (One Day at a Time).

After Shrinking's Season 2 finale in December, series co-creator/writer/director Bill Lawrence told TVLine that Season 3 would focus on how Jimmy and his friends are moving on with their lives. 

Thoughts on Fox's casting or Shrinking Season 3? Drop some comments below.