Season 3 of the Apple TV+ series 'Shrinking,' co-created by Bill Lawrence, Brett Goldstein, and Jason Segel, centers on the theme of "moving forward" as its diverse cast of characters navigate significant new chapters in their lives. Jason Segel, who also portrays the lead character Jimmy, has indicated his willingness to extend the series beyond its initial three-season plan, but only if the narrative demands it and the creative team can identify a compelling direction for the story to continue.

In the new season, Jimmy confronts the emotional challenge of his daughter, Alice (Lukita Maxwell), preparing to leave home for college. Meanwhile, Paul (Harrison Ford) is coming to terms with the realities of Parkinson’s disease, prompting him to spend more quality time with family and loved ones. Brian (Michael Urie) and Charlie (Devin Kawaoka) embark on the journey of new parenthood, adding another layer of evolving relationships. Jimmy himself is contemplating exploring the evident spark between him and Sofi (Cobie Smulders), reflecting the overarching theme of personal progression.

Segel shared insights into the show's development, including the careful handling of the Jimmy and Alice dynamic in Season 3. He explained how their parent-child relationship, which had previously been inverted and then equalized, now sees Jimmy firmly taking the parental wheel again. A particularly poignant moment in their storyline reveals that Alice's fear of going to college stems from a deeper anxiety than just missing her 'found family,' a speech delivered perfectly by Lukita Maxwell.

Behind-the-scenes anecdotes included the challenges of shooting the soccer game scenes, where actors often reacted to a production assistant with a flag rather than a live game, reminding Segel of childhood pretend play. He also recounted his spontaneous and highly enthusiastic reaction to Jimmy being asked to officiate Paul and Julie’s (Wendie Malick) wedding. This unscripted response initially concerned the showrunner, but Segel's instinct proved correct as his genuine reaction was ultimately included in the final cut. The idea for the memorable "cantaloupe joke" delivered at the wedding had been conceived a year prior, originally intended for Michael Urie's character's wedding, and was adapted for Paul and Julie's ceremony with Bill Lawrence's unique challenge of delivering it as a single, run-on sentence.

Beyond 'Shrinking,' Segel discussed his personal cinematic inspirations. He named 'Inception' and Christopher Nolan’s first 'Batman' film as his favorite works by Nolan, expressing immense admiration for the director’s singular vision and a strong desire to collaborate with him. For Steven Spielberg, 'E.T.' holds a special place, evoking vivid childhood memories of watching it repeatedly in theaters and a recent communal viewing that still moved the audience. He also fondly recalled a childhood experience of seeing 'Superman 2' with his older brother, who famously yelled at the screen during a pivotal moment.

Segel holds Michael J. Fox's 'Back to the Future' in high regard, calling it a "perfect movie" for its impeccable structure and callbacks, serving as a blueprint for his own writing. He also cited 'Teen Wolf' and 'Doc Hollywood' as influential. Notably, 'Doc Hollywood' served as a significant inspiration for his own writing, specifically 'Forgetting Sarah Marshall,' sharing a similar narrative arc where a character, initially believing themselves superior, discovers humility and beauty in simplicity. When asked about a hypothetical crossover or a character he'd love to see in Jimmy's therapy office, Segel suggested a counter-genre vampire show crossover and expressed a strong desire to work with Gary Oldman, specifically mentioning the idea of therapizing his 'Dracula' or a character from 'Slow Horses'.