There’s an incredible true story behind the quirky, charming, and unlikely secret agent at the center of A Man on the Inside on Netflix, now returning for its highly anticipated Season 2. The dramedy has become one of the biggest hits in recent months, and fans finally have the news they’ve been waiting for.
Season 2 is finally streaming on Netflix! In this article, we’ll cover the release date, the exciting new cast members joining the show, and everything fans need to know. The trailer is at the bottom of the page.
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A man on the inside – all the key details
- Title: A Man on the Inside
- Format: Series
- Runtime: 1 Season / 8 Episodes (Season 1)
- Genre: Comedy, Crime
- Original language: English
- Creator: Michael Schur
- Lead cast: Ted Danson, Mary Elizabeth Ellis, Lilah Richcreek Estrada
- Produced by: Netflix / Fremulon / 3 Arts Entertainment
The first season
Retired Professor Charles (Ted Danson) feels like life has nothing left to offer. A year after his wife’s disappearance, he’s stuck in his routine and has grown distant from his daughter. Everything changes when he spots an ad for a private investigator. Inspired to try something new, Charles goes undercover to solve the mystery of a stolen family heirloom, reigniting both adventure and connection in his life.
Through clues, misunderstandings, and moments of self-reflection, Charles rediscovers his love for adventure and the importance of relationships, reconnecting with himself and his daughter. What many don’t know is that this gripping story is not just fiction: it’s based on real events, following a man named Sergio Chamy, whose life was the subject of a documentary nominated for the 2020 Oscars.
An absurd but true story
What may seem like an absurd story is actually inspired by real events, as chronicled in the 2020 documentary The Mole Agent, directed by Maite Alberdi. The film follows Sergio Chamy, a Chilean man in his 80s or 90s, who answers a newspaper ad to go undercover in a nursing home. His mission is to investigate alleged mistreatment of a patient at the request of the woman’s concerned son. But during his stay, Sergio discovers a reality very different from what he expected.
It’s not systemic abuse, but rather occasional lapses, like missed medication doses. Yet Sergio’s investigation uncovers something deeper: the profound loneliness many elderly residents experience in these facilities. Much like in the series, he grows fond of the people he meets, forming connections with their stories, struggles, and everyday lives.
Recognition at the 2025 Emmy Awards
At the 77th Emmy Awards, Ted Danson and Mary Steenburgen—who joins Season 2 as Mona Margadoff, a former musician connected to Charles’s latest case—made history as the first couple to jointly receive the Bob Hope Humanitarian Award. The honor recognizes their decades-long commitment to protecting people and the environment, including work with Angels at Risk, an organization that supports and trains individuals affected by addiction.
What to expect from the second season
The comedy is adding around a dozen new cast members for Season 2, which is currently filming on a college campus. Ted Danson, along with the cast and crew, is already hard at work bringing the new episodes to life. Created by Mike Schur, the upcoming season follows retired Professor Charles as he goes undercover at the college, joined by a fresh group of characters. “We’re excited to make another season of A Man on the Inside, starring the young promise Ted Danson,” says Schur, clearly joking, to Tudum.
Among the executive producers for Season 2 are Mike Schur himself, along with Morgan Sackett, David Miner, Maite Alberdi, Marcela Santibañez, Julie Goldman, and Christopher Clements. Unlike the first season, however, the second season of A Man on the Inside is not based on a true story. It’s a completely contemporary narrative.
New cast members
Gary Cole (NCIS, Veep) plays Brad Vinick, a successful executive whose generous donation to his alma mater sets off a chain of events that leads to Charles being hired. Michaela Conlin (Bones, For All Mankind) is Andrea Yi, an economics professor excited about the changes coming to Wheeler College. Max Greenfield (The Neighborhood, Unfrosted) portrays Jack Beringer, the charismatic college president tasked with raising funds from wealthy alumni.
Sam Huntington (Superman Returns, Being Human) is Max Griffin, a rebellious journalism professor. Jason Mantzoukas (Taskmaster, Big Mouth) plays Apollo Lambrakis, a likable construction entrepreneur dreaming of writing the Great American Novel. Constance Marie (With Love, George Lopez) is Vanessa, a former con artist and criminal informant for Julie (Lilah Richcreek Estrada). David Strathairn (The Bourne Legacy, Alphas) plays Dr. Cole, the head of the English department and the campus’s most popular professor.
Jill Talley (Mr. Show, Spongebob) plays Holly Bodgemark, the overwhelmed and always stressed dean of Wheeler College. Madison Hu (The Brothers Sun, The Boogeyman) is Claire, a third-year student juggling multiple jobs to pay for college.
Lisa Gilroy (Interior Chinatown, Jury Duty) is Kelseigh Rose, an aspiring photographer and new wife of billionaire Brad Vinick. Linda Park (Bosch, For All Mankind) plays Elizabeth Muki, director of the Department of Fine Arts.
Release date on Netflix
The second season will be available for streaming on Netflix starting November 20, 2025.
Want to catch up on the first season? ► WATCH ON NETFLIX
