Following the breathless cliffhanger that ended Season 2, production on The Diplomat Season 3 has moved into full swing, splitting camera units between central London locations, historic estates in Oxfordshire, and government soundstages in New York.
Showrunner Debora Cahn has confirmed that Season 3 will not rely on a time jump. Instead, the story picks up immediately on the heels of Grace Penn's ascension to the presidency. With Allison Janney confirmed as a series regular holding the highest office in the United States, the central dynamic shifts dramatically. Kate Wyler was originally being evaluated to replace Penn as Vice President; now, Kate is the sole individual who possesses proof of how Penn attained power.
Production insiders report that the upcoming season will explore the sheer operational friction of a presidency founded on a covert defense scandal. With President Penn controlling the executive branch, Kate and Hal Wyler must navigate unprecedented surveillance while serving an administration they privately despise.
Season 3 also promises to delve into Foreign Secretary Austin Dennison's political future in the UK. Having discovered that his own government and closest allies orchestrated the crisis that killed British servicemen, Dennison's partnership with Kate will be tested like never before. With eight episodes planned for Season 3, expectations are sky-high.