Although CBS has decided not to move forward with a Neighborhood spinoff, Malcolm’s storyline is far from over. According to series star and executive producer Cedric the Entertainer, Season 8 of The Neighborhood will continue to explore Malcolm’s new life in Venice — a shift originally meant to launch a new series.
The Season 7 finale served as a backdoor pilot, showing Malcolm (Sheaun McKinney) relocating to Venice to pursue new opportunities with his brother Marty (Marcel Spears). While the spinoff was shelved, Cedric says this change will still factor into the show’s final season, as it reflects the personal growth of Calvin and Tina’s sons.
“We love the idea that Malcolm has moved there,” Cedric said. “It represents the growth of the show and its characters.”
Viewers can expect to see storylines alternating between Pasadena and Venice, with Cedric teasing that there’s plenty of comedic material in Malcolm adjusting to independence, and still ending up at his parents’ house.
Some characters introduced in the potential spinoff may also reappear, including Malcolm’s literary agent Lisa (Angelique Cabral) and eccentric tech mogul Bruce (Justin Long). Cedric hinted that Bruce could have a future at the Fuse Box, adding, “Justin brought so much fun to the role — he and Max [Greenfield] were comedy gold together.”
Though the franchise expansion is off the table, The Neighborhood isn’t holding back in its final season. Malcolm’s Venice arc will remain an essential part of the show’s farewell — a move Cedric calls a “natural evolution” for the characters fans have followed for years.
