Bradley Whitford and Allison Janney, who famously starred together on The West Wing, are reuniting on screen in the third season of Netflix’s political drama The Diplomat, set to premiere tomorrow, October 16.
The series stars Keri Russell as Kate Wyler, a career diplomat who becomes the U.S. ambassador to the United Kingdom. Created by Debora Cahn, the show explores the complexities of politics, public service, and personal relationships within high-stakes environments.
Season 3 will consist of eight episodes, with Russell reprising her role. Returning cast members include Janney as President Grace Penn, Rufus Sewell as Hal Wyler, David Gyasi as Austin Dennison, Ali Ahn as Eidra Park, Ato Essandoh as Stuart Hayford, and Rory Kinnear as Nicol Trowbridge.
Whitford joins the series as Todd Penn, the president’s husband. Cahn described Whitford’s casting as a “fantasy version” of the character, praising his chemistry with Janney. During a recent interview, Whitford said, “She’s one of my favorite human beings on the planet… it was total joy to be with Allison again.”
The season picks up after the shocking events of Season 2, which saw Kate discovering that Vice President Grace Penn was involved in an attack on a British naval ship. Following the fallout, Penn becomes president, leaving the vice president position open and complicating Kate’s ambitions.
Russell highlighted the show’s focus on civil servants, emphasizing the dedication and challenges faced by those in public service. She called the series a “love letter” to the Foreign Service and expressed gratitude for telling their stories.
Netflix has also confirmed that The Diplomat will return for a fourth season. Janney and Whitford will continue as series regulars alongside Russell and Sewell, with production already underway.
Season 3 of The Diplomat will be available to stream in its entirety on Netflix starting Thursday, October 16.
