Warning: The following contains spoilers for Only Murders in the Building season 4, episode 10, "My Best Friend's Wedding."Only Murders in the Building's surprise character, who makes a guest appearance in the season 4 finale, will return for season 5. In the episode, which aired on October 29, Tea Leoni stars as Sofia Caccimelio, wife of Nicky "The Neck" Caccimelio, a man who has gone missing. Sofia tries to convince Charles and Mabel to investigate her husband's disappearance, which she says has everything to do with the building they live in. This storyline will continue into Only Murders in the Building season 5, which has already been confirmed by Hulu.

Deadline now reveals that, according to sources close to the production, Leoni will return in the season. Only Murders in the Building showrunner John Hoffman teased Leoni's expected role, though at the time of his interview, the actor's return was not confirmed. He explained that Leoni's appearance is "an extension of the little news report in Episode 9," and Sofia belongs to "a world" that the show hasn't tackled yet. Check out what he said:

I think she's the great tease at the end of the finale and a little bit of an intriguing bump forward. She's an extension of the little news report in Episode 9 that Mabel makes note of at the hospital. [Sofia] is the wife of the Dry Cleaning King of Brooklyn, and maybe a couple of dry cleaning outlets in Manhattan, as well, we may come to know.

But beyond that, it’s a world opened up potentially that we haven’t talked about too much yet in New York, so she holds a lot of intrigue.

What This Means For Only Murders In The Building Season 5

Sofia Opens Up A New World

The Only Murders in the Building season 4 finale leaves a trail of questions, closing the season with a heartbreaking death. With the show taking a special interest in the life of a doorman in season 5, along with Sofia's timely offer to Mabel and Charles, Hoffman's comments seem to imply that the world in Only Murders in the Building is expanding.

What this could lead to also opens the show up in a brand-new way by raising the stakes and tension. Sofia is the wife of the Dry Cleaning King, who has ties with the Caputo crime family. Leoni's involvement in the next season points Only Murders in the Building in a more dangerous direction while the trio investigates the murder of the Arconia's latest victim.

Our Take On Only Murders In The Building Season 5's New Character

Sofia Needs To Come Back

It does seem that the Caccimelios have a mob vibe, and Leoni's Sofia would make a fabulous mob wife. While Leoni's guest appearance is a direct manifestation of the news report in episode 9, not incorporating Sofia into Only Murders in the Building season 5 would be a crime. She already seems like an intriguing personality to have around, and she could make for a fascinating character to play off Charles, Oliver, and Mabel. Her appearance also stirs the show in a different direction.

So far, the show has limited itself to inside the building, Broadway, and the film industry. The show briefly touches on the food industry and illegal trade in Only Murders in the Building season 1 with the Dimases, but quickly shifts from it. Venturing into the underground criminal world is certainly interesting. Seeing Mabel and Charles taking the job would also be big. After all, there are only so many murders to investigate in the building. Their search needs to extend for the show to go on, and Leoni's Sofia offers the perfect opportunity.

Source: Deadline