It’s official:The Diplomatisn’t closing up shop just yet. Netflix announced that the political thriller has been renewed forSeason 4, confirming thatKeri Russell’sKate Wylerwill continue to navigate the ever-messy waters of global diplomacy — and her equally fraught marriage — for at least one more chapter. The early renewal was announced during Netflix’s upfront presentation by chief content officerBela Bajaria, who also confirmed new seasons forBridgerton,My Life with the Walter Boys,Love on the Spectrum, and several others.
Season 3 ofThe Diplomatis already in production and set to premiere this fall, withThe West WingalumAllison Janneyjoining the cast alongside returning starsKeri Russell,Rufus Sewell, andBradley Whitford. Season 4 is now officially on the books as well — a rare show of confidence that reflects just how deeplyThe Diplomathas connected with audiences.
How Did Season 2 of ‘The Diplomat’ End?
The renewal news comes just as fans are still reeling from the explosive Season 2 finale, which dropped in May and ended with one hell of a political bombshell. After a tense confrontation between Hal (Sewell) and President Rayburn (Michael McKean) over evidence implicating Vice President Grace Penn (Janney) in the British warship attack, Rayburn dies — leaving Penn to assume power.
Kate receives the news from Hal over the phone in a shell-shocked state, while Penn’s staff descends on the ambassador’s residence in a silent but clear power move. It’s a stunning cliffhanger that showrunnerDebora Cahnsays was always part of the plan once Janney came on board. “It became clear that we wanted her to be a strong center of gravity in the story,” she toldThe Hollywood Reporter. “At that point, it sort of seemed obvious that that was the move.”
While Season 1 was about keeping the marriage from crumbling, Season 2 re-centered Hal and Kate as a complex, if still volatile, partnership. “To me, this season is such a different temperature for them as a couple,” Russell explained. “It becomes kind of heartbreaking and real and mature… the way that really long-term relationships do.”
Production on Season 3 is underway and will pick up with Penn now president and Kate likely under even more pressure — not just as a diplomat, but as a possible future VP. With a condensed six-episode Season 2, some viewers were disappointed by the quick pacing, but both Russell and Sewell promise that Season 3 dives even deeper.
The DiplomatSeason 2 is now streaming on Netflix. Season 3 premieres this fall.
The Diplomat
