The Diplomat season 3: Release date and latest news
When will we get a follow-up after that huge cliffhanger?
As we've got used to two to three-year waits for some streaming shows to return, we can all be thankful for a series as efficient as The Diplomat, which is about to return for its third season just under a year after the second debuted.
Still, that wait has felt remarkably long, simply because of the enormous cliffhanger that fans were left on at the end of season 2, with president Rayburn dying and vice president Grace Penn taking up his mantle.
This means we'll be seeing more of Allison Janney in season 3 – which can only be a good thing – while she is being joined this time around by her former West Wing co-star Bradley Whitford, playing Grace's husband Todd.
Whitford has said about joining the show: "I heard about it initially – was it the summer before this? I was shooting something in Budapest, and I got a text from Debora [Cahn, showrunner] asking if I would be interested. And I knew it was playing Allison's husband, and it was a show I already loved, and I was absolutely beyond thrilled.
"It's an exquisite privilege to be able to work with Allison anytime, and after all these years, to be able to put all this history we have in this sort of funky, weird relationship is really, really fun."
They will join the likes of Keri Russell, Rufus Sewell, David Gyasi and Rory Kinnear in the cast for season 3, which will chart Kate's journey as her husband Hal continues to push for her to become the Vice President.
Thankfully, fans can also rest assured that this won't be the final chapter for The Diplomat, as the show was renewed for a fourth season well ahead of time, earlier this year.
But when will the third season of The Diplomat be released on Netflix? Read on for everything you need to know.
Will there be a The Diplomat season 3?
There will! The series was officially renewed ahead of the second season debuting, and season 3 even went into production before the second run of episodes had been released.
The third season went into production on 10th October 2024, with Netflix announcing it in a post on Twitter, which has been rebranded as X.
Sharing her excitement about the announcement, showrunner Debora Cahn later told Variety: "After an amazing summer shooting in the UK, we brought London home to NY. Best of both worlds — filming in Brooklyn. We love doing this. We’re so excited to get to keep going."
Fans will no doubt be delighted at the news after season 2 ended on a shocking note, with Grace Penn being named US president after President Rayburn died.
Given Kate's newfound ambitions, and Grace's involvement in the bombing of HMS Courageous, a face-off seems sure to be on the way in season 3.
When will The Diplomat season 3 be released?
All eight episodes of The Diplomat season 3 will be released on Thursday 16th October 2025.
The second season arrived around a year and a half after the first, but production on that run was delayed by the 2023 Hollywood strikes.
It therefore makes sense that season 3 is arriving even sooner, almost exactly a year after season 2.
What will happen in The Diplomat season 3?
Season 2 ended with a shocking reveal, as Rufus Sewell's Hal called the president to tell him that his vice president, Grace Penn (played by Allison Janney), instigated an attack on a British warship as part of a tactical move, in a strategy which accidentally caused numerous deaths.
Meanwhile, Kate finally opened up to Grace to tell her she wants her job.
But the timing turned out to be disastrous: the president got so upset by Hal’s call that he literally dropped dead, leaving Grace as the new commander in chief.
Teasing how this shocking ending will play into season 3, showrunner Debora Cahn simply said in an interview with Deadline "welcome to season 3", hinting that it will be the focus of the new season.
Meanwhile, hinting that season 3 was likely to pick up immediately after season 2, she said: "I like to stay open to the idea that, who knows, at some point we skip ahead a year or two, but I find myself always wanting to come into the story just 30 seconds after we left it.
"I’ve never done that kind of storytelling before, and I think some of it is a desire to be attentive to the fact that people watch over a longer period of time.
"They’re watching two, three episodes in a sitting, and we want to feel like it remains propulsive. It’s like one long story. They’re watching one long movie. But once you get in the habit of doing that, then it’s just fun to write that way."
We also now know that Hal will still be campaigning for Kate to be Vice President, and that we will continue to see her increasingly complicated friendship with Austin Dennison develop, while she also has an "unnerving bond" with First Gentleman Todd Penn.
Cahn has also said of the new season: "Season 3 flips the chessboard. In season 3, Kate lives the particular nightmare that is getting what you want."
Who will be back to star in The Diplomat season 3?
When it comes to the confirmed cast for season 3, we know that Keri Russell will be back as Kate Wyler, while Rufus Sewell, David Gyasi, Ali Ahn, Rory Kinnear, Ato Essandoh and Celia Imrie will also be returning.
Meanwhile, Allison Janney is also back for season 3, after that massive cliffhanger which saw her character Grace Penn becoming president of the United States – Michael McKean won't be back, after his character William Rayburn's shock death.
One new character we know will be introduced is Todd Penn, Grace's husband, who will be played by Bradley Whitford, providing The West Wing fans with a fun reunion for Janney and Whitford.
Additionally, Aidan Turner is set to join the cast as a new acquaintance of Kate’s in London.
Here's a list of The Diplomat cast members confirmed for season 3:
- Keri Russell as Kate Wyler
- Rufus Sewell as Hal Wyler
- David Gyasi as Austin Dennison
- Ali Ahn as Eidra Park
- Rory Kinnear as Prime Minister Nicol Trowbridge
- Ato Essandoh as Stuart Hayford
- Allison Janney as Vice President Grace Penn
- Bradley Whitford as Todd Penn
- Celia Imrie as Margaret 'Meg' Roylin
- Aidan Turner as Callum
- Tracy Ifeachor as Thema
- Pandora Colin as Lydia Trowbridge
- Nana Mensah as Billie Appiah
- Miguel Sandoval as Miguel Ganon
- Rosaline Elbay as Nora
- Alysia Reiner as Ivy Griffin
Is there a trailer for The Diplomat season 3?
There is! You can watch the trailer for the new season right here now.
The Diplomat season 3 will stream on Netflix. Seasons 1-2 are available now – sign up from £5.99 a month. Netflix is also available on Sky Glass and Virgin Media Stream.
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Authors
James Hibbs is a Drama Writer for Radio Times, covering programmes across both streaming platforms and linear channels. He previously worked in PR, first for a B2B agency and subsequently for international TV production company Fremantle. He possesses a BA in English and Theatre Studies and an NCTJ Level 5 Diploma in Journalism.
Molly Moss is a Trends Writer for Radio Times, covering the latest trends across TV, film and more. She has an MA in Newspaper Journalism and has previously written for publications including The Guardian, The Times and The Sun Online.
