The Exciting Update on Psych 4: A Detective Comedy Franchise

The Status of Psych 4's Development

With over two years gone since the last installment, Timothy Omundson has an exciting update for Psych 4. Omundson has been one of the main stars of the detective comedy franchise since its launch, playing Carlton 'Lassie' Lassiter, one of the Santa Barbara Police Detectives who James Roday Rodriguez's Shawn and Dul\u00e9 Hill's Gus work with. Following the show's ending, it was revealed that creator Steve Franks and Rodriguez would begin producing a series of Psych movies, with the first three releasing from 2017-2021, while the fourth remains in an unknown state of development.

Shawn and Gus from Psych

While speaking with Screen Rant for his role as Hephaestus in Percy Jackson and the Olympians, Omundson was asked about the progress on Psych 4's development. The OG star confirmed that the script for the fourth movie is not only complete, but is currently with the executives at Peacock, and that the cast consistently talk to each other in a group chat and are eagerly awaiting the greenlight from the streamer.

Shawn and Gus making monster faces from Psych

Well, I can tell you there has been a script written, which I believe - and I could be totally wrong here - I believe it's already with the network, with Peacock, and we're just hoping and praying that they see fit to give us the green light. But I know that Steve and James started writing the script before the writers' strike. I think it might have even been when they wrote Psych 3, I think it might have been a three-parter, so they switched that around to get ready for Psych 4. Because I think they didn't have the money at the time to do two episodes when we did 3. So yeah, 4 was pretty much in the pipeline and ready to go, and they just made some adjustments to it, from what I've been told. We have a Psych family text thread that we all chime in on. And we all talk several times a week, and, of course during the holidays, and we are all prepped and ready to go. I mean, not prepped, but we are all primed and ready and excited. We're all chomping at the bit and waiting to start running once we hear they got that green light. Hopefully, we'll have actual real news soon to say, 'Yes, this happened,' and it's more than just aspirational now. We just need the nice people at Peacock to realize that these fans not just desire but need a fourth movie.

Shawn and Gus solving a case in Psych

Why Psych 4 Hasn't Happened Yet

Given the show's devoted fanbase and the positive reception to the movies thus far, it may come as somewhat of a surprise that Psych 4 has not been officially greenlit by Peacock as of the time of writing. Prior to the first movie's release, Franks had indicated that he intended to produce upwards of six movies. Much of the original cast have also been open to coming back for future movies, with even such supporting stars as Rachael Leigh Cook telling Screen Rant in April 2023 that she would 'be thrilled' to get the call to reprise her role of Abigail:

Gus in therapy in Psych

In the meantime, it's kind of hilarious that I am living the real-life version of what they say Abigail is up to, which is traveling. Kind of weird, right? I don't know, maybe I just dipped into another dimension, I'm not sure how that works, but it feels like what happened. Exactly! But I'm a huge Psych-O, as well, I love that show, I love those guys, and yeah, of course I would pick up the phone if that call came.

Gus in a hospital gown in Psych

With reports initially indicating that production on Psych 4 was expected to begin in late 2022, Rodriguez confirmed in May 2023 that this was the plan, though was hindered by a scheduling conflict with some of its ensemble cast. The co-writer/star also said one of the reasons the sequel hasn't been announced yet is the same as Omundson noted above, which is that Peacock have 'to decide that they want to pay for it again.' After a Blu-ray box set for the show was released in late 2023 describing it as the 'complete' collection of the franchise, sources reported that talks were still ongoing.

The biggest hurdle for Psych 4 getting off the ground last year proved to be the joint Writers Guild of America and SAG-AFTRA strike, as members of both guilds fought for fair pay and protections against being replaced by AI. Given a major part of the pay discrepancy called into question were streaming residuals, it's understandable that Peacock would be weighing their options for what they can afford in both producing the sequel and paying the cast and crew for its potential streaming success. However, with the Psych fanbase remaining strong as ever and the cast still just as keen to return for more, one can hope that the greenlight is announced in the coming months.