How’s this for a twist: the biggest name in the sprawling cast of Netflix‘s The Residence… isn’t actually in the cast at all.

Now streaming, the eight-episode Shondaland comedy chronicles a murder investigation at the White House in the middle of a state dinner. To be clear, this isn’t just any state dinner — it’s a crucial gathering meant to repair the United States’ rocky relationship with, of all places, Australia.

hugh jackman's controversially young gf

And boy does this show have some fun with pop culture from Down Under. For starters, Australian songstress Kylie Minogue makes multiple appearances throughout the season, dropping a memorable F-bomb or two along the way.

“She started off as frankly a smaller part,” series creator Paul William Davies tells TVLine. “When she agreed to do it, I figured it would be for the minimum amount [of time], but she was totally game to do more, so I wrote more for her. She really had a great experience, and we loved working with her. She’s funny, she’s got great timing and she was really a great presence on set.”

But of all the Australian icons attending the state dinner, no one turns more heads than Hugh Jackman, whether he’s tap dancing in the dining room or passing out on the floor of a famed upstairs bedroom. Unlike Minogue, however, Jackman isn’t playing himself — though not for lack of trying.

The Residence Creator Addresses the Hugh Jackman-Shaped Elephant in the Room: 'It Was a Bit of a Gamble'

“We did try [to cast him], and he responded in a way that was very sweet and apologetic,” Davies says. “And he has nothing to apologize for. He’s Hugh Jackman! He’s busy. It just didn’t work.”

With the role written and no Jackman to fill it, Davies “quickly pivoted” to having multiple actors — in this case, Ben Bigler and Justin Ellis Johnson — portray the Academy Award nominee, always shot from behind.

“I thought, you know what, I’ll do this in a way that’s fun and kind of leans into it,” Davies says. “It was a bit of a gamble, but I had fun with it, and I think we all kind of just embraced it.”

Have you visited The Residence yet? If so, what are your first impressions of Uzo Aduba as Cordelia Cupp, the latest addition to TV’s legacy of quirky female detectives? And which suspect is at the top of your list? Grade Netflix’s newest mystery below, then drop a comment with your thoughts.