Netflix has officially dropped the first teaser for Season 3 of The Diplomat, and it’s giving fans both high-stakes drama and a nostalgic reunion. Bradley Whitford joins the series as Todd Penn, the husband of Allison Janney’s newly appointed President Grace Penn. The casting marks a reunion for the former West Wing stars, this time portraying the First Couple navigating their new reality in the White House.
Season 2 ended with a major twist: President Rayburn (Michael McKean) died unexpectedly after learning of Vice President Grace Penn’s suspected involvement in a terrorist plot. With the president gone, Grace ascends to the Oval Office—while Ambassador Kate Wyler (Keri Russell) is left grappling with the chaos she helped ignite.
The returning cast includes Ali Ahn, Rory Kinnear, Ato Essandoh, David Gyasi, Celia Imrie, Nana Mensah, and Miguel Sandoval.
The teaser picks up in the immediate aftermath. Kate is seen running through the streets on a phone call, likely reacting to Rayburn’s death. In another scene, Todd Penn is escorted into an office where he embraces Grace. Other snippets show tension between Kate and Todd as they share a quiet but uneasy moment in a pool, and later sip cocktails alongside Grace in a scene capped by Todd’s sarcastic remark, “How was everyone’s day at the office?”
Season 3 places Kate in a political and personal crisis. She’s accused Grace Penn of orchestrating a terrorist attack and admitted she wants the vice presidency. But now Grace is president, and Kate’s husband, Hal (Rufus Sewell), may have inadvertently caused the president’s death. Despite the scandal, Hal continues to campaign for Kate to step into the VP role—pushing her further into the very spotlight she’s trying to avoid.
Todd Penn’s arrival adds a new layer of complication. Though he’s been mentioned since Season 1, this is the first time viewers will see him onscreen. His history includes a high-profile financial scandal in which he misplaced $6.3 million in NIH grant money, nearly derailing Grace’s political future. Now as First Gentleman, Todd’s presence could either stabilize or further disrupt the fragile power structure Kate finds herself caught in.
The show is created and showrun by Debora Cahn, with executive producers Keri Russell, Janice Williams, Alex Graves, Peter Noah, and Eli Attie.
Production for Season 3 was already underway last fall, before Season 2 premiered. Netflix has already greenlit a fourth season, underscoring the show’s growing popularity and critical acclaim.
The Diplomat Season 3 is set to premiere this fall on Netflix. With shifting alliances, political betrayals, and new players entering the fold, it looks like Kate Wyler’s nightmare is just beginning.