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Tom’s Guide
Tom’s Guide
Technology
Christina Izzo

'The Diplomat' season 3 release date is sooner than we thought

L-R: Kate Wyler (Keri Russell) and Hal Wyler (Rufus Sewell) sit side by side in a first look image for Netflix's "The Diplomat" season 3.

Get ready for another round of juicy political drama (and no, we're not just taking about the current state of the union). "The Diplomat" season 3 is returning to Netflix and, in even better news, the episodes are hitting the streaming service even earlier than we anticipated.

In case you need a reminder, the hit show — which stars Golden Globe winner Keri Russell as veteran U.S. diplomat Kate Wyler, whose new posting as the ambassador to the United Kingdom has her navigating international crises, strategic alliances and her own personal marital problems (Rufus Sewell portrays Kate's husband and fellow diplomat Hal) — released its second season in October 2024, a year-and-a-half after its April 2023 debut season.

However, "The Diplomat" fans won't have to wait that long for the third installment, as a newly released trailer has confirmed that the Debora Cahn-created drama will return on Thursday, October 16. Mark your calendars!

The minute-long date announcement video, released by Netflix on Monday, August 18, also gives a teaser look at the new season, which will have Russell's Kate Wyler dealing with a new POTUS: Grace Penn, reprised by Oscar winner Allison Janney. "A terribly flawed woman is now president and only we know just how flawed," Kate is seen worrying in the new clip, though hubby Hal assures her, "You will be in the White House, watching what she does all the time."

And, as seen in the announcement vid, Janney isn't the only major "West Wing" alum to be featured in "The Diplomat" cast this season: Emmy winner Bradley Whitford finds himself back in the governmental muck as President Grace Penn’s husband, Todd Penn.

“I was thrilled when I heard that Debora [Cahn, creator, showrunner, and executive producer] was interested in me doing something,” Whitford told Tudum. “I had no idea what it was, but I love the show. I was jealous of the writing on this show. I love Keri. I love Rufus. And I hear Allison Janney is good at acting too. It’s an amazing cast.”

Along with Russell, Sewell and Janney, fellow returning actors include David Gyasi as British Foreign Secretary Austin Dennison, Ali Ahn as CIA Station Chief Eidra Park, Ato Essandoh as Deputy Chief of Mission Stuart Hayford and Rory Kinnear as British Prime Minister Nicol Trowbridge.

As for what to expect from the upcoming episodes? “Season 3 flips the chessboard,” Cahn told Tudum. “In Season 3, Kate lives the particular nightmare that is getting what you want.” Good thing that the third season is back to an eight-episode order after its six-ep predecessor — sounds like the powers that be are going to need that extra screentime!

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