‘Search Party’ Sets Season 4 Return, Adds Susan Sarandon, Busy Philipps, & More

Courtesy of HBO Max

Itching for another round of mystery-solving with the gang from HBO Max’s Search Party? Good. The dark comedy, it’s been announced, returns in January 2021. And it’s doing so with quite a stellar cast.

Along for the ride this time around are Susan Sarandon (Ray Donovan), Busy Philipps (Girls5eva) , Ann Dowd (The Handmaid’s Tale), Griffin Dunne (This Is Us), Lillias White (The Get Down), and Goosebumps author R.L. Stine in a cameo appearance.

Season 4 picks up where things left off with Dory (Alia Shawkat) being held captive by psycho stalker Chip (Cole Escola), who is hellbent on convincing her that they’re best friends. Meanwhile, Portia (Meredith Hagner) pursues a new acting gig in a film about the trial that encapsulated Season 3, and Elliot (John Early) finds himself co-hosting a far-right conservative talk show with returning guest star Chloe Fineman, who plays Charlie Reeny.

As for Dory’s ex, Drew (John Reynolds), he’s attempting to close the book on his past by working as a costumed cast member at a theme park. Despite their different paths, the old friends will reconnect and decide whether or not they’ll become a search party once more in order to find Dory.

Search Party Alia Shawkat Season 4

(Credit: Courtesy of HBO Max)

Below, get your first look at the stars in action.

Search Party, Season 4, Coming January 2021, HBO Max

Search Party Season 4 Susan Sarandon
Courtesy of HBO Max

Susan Sarandon portrays Lylah, a wealthy woman who happens to be the aunt of Dory’s kidnapper, Chip.

Busy Philipps and Meredith Hagner in Search Party - Season 4
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Busy Philipps stars as Donna DiMarco, a former teen star who has been cast as Portia in a film about Keith Powell’s (Ron Livingston) murder. The actress makes a lot of, well, interesting choices regarding her approach to the role, which leaves the real Portia feeling rather dismayed.

Search Party - Season 4 - Ann Dowd
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Ann Dowd plays Paula Jo, a nosy, Christmas-obsessed townie who gets a little too close for comfort to Chip’s house.

Griffin Dunne as Richard Wreck in Search Party - Season 4
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Griffin Dunne appears as Richard Wreck, the CEO of the pastry company Lil’ Sticky’s, which could offer a key clue to uncovering Dory’s whereabouts.

Search Party Season 4 Lillias White
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Lillias White takes on Wilma, a world-famous talk show host who becomes obsessed with Chantal (Clare McNulty), the woman who essentially started Dory’s obsession with mystery solving.

Search Party Season 4 Chloe Fineman John Early
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Elliott joins Charlie behind the desk on her conservative talk show, and we can only begin to imagine the topics they’ll tackle together.

Search Party Season 4 John Reynolds
Courtesy of HBO Max

Bonus photo: Drew seems to find someone of interest at the theme park.