Shrinking season 3 trailer reveals Michael J. Fox’s return to acting on Apple TV+, sharing a Parkinson’s joke with Harrison Ford and teasing emotional new storylines.
The first trailer for Shrinking Season 3 has arrived, and it features a moment many viewers never expected to see again: Michael J. Fox returning to acting after stepping away from his career in 2020 due to speech issues connected to his Parkinson’s diagnosis.
The Apple TV+ comedy teases Fox’s appearance in a scene set in the waiting room of a medical facility, where he sits beside Dr. Paul Rhoades, played by Harrison Ford. In a brief exchange that sets the tone for the season, Fox’s unnamed character asks Paul what he is “in for.” When Paul answers, “Parkinson’s,” Fox dryly replies, “Just a haircut,” prompting laughter from both men.
Parkinson’s has been part of Shrinking since the beginning. Paul’s diagnosis was introduced in Season 1, with the character initially attempting to hide both the illness and the severity of his symptoms before eventually confronting the disease more directly. Fox’s appearance adds another layer to that ongoing storyline, blending humor and honesty in a way the series has embraced from the start.
Fox’s casting, first announced in May, marks a reunion with Shrinking co-creator Bill Lawrence. Fox previously starred in Lawrence’s ABC sitcom Spin City for four seasons before leaving the show in 2000 due to Parkinson’s-related challenges. He also had a notable guest arc on Scrubs, another series created by Lawrence.
The Season 3 trailer also highlights other returning connections. Series co-creator and star Jason Segel reunites with his How I Met Your Mother co-star Cobie Smulders, who plays Sofi, Jimmy’s new love interest. Smulders first appeared briefly during Season 2, and the new footage shows her role expanding. After Sofi stops by Jimmy’s house and leaves, Liz (Christa Miller), Derek (Ted McGinley), and Sean (Luke Tennie) tease him for failing to ask her out.
Alongside the romantic tension, the trailer hints at more personal challenges ahead. Jimmy grapples with his emotions as his daughter Alice, played by Lukita Maxwell, prepares to leave for college, signaling another major life transition for the character.
With its mix of returning favorites, emotional storytelling, and Fox’s highly anticipated acting comeback, Shrinking Season 3 appears poised to balance heartfelt moments with the show’s signature humor when it returns to Apple TV+.
