This story contains spoilers.
The Diplomat season 4 dives into romantic relationships, but the relationships between countries are just as important. By the end of the last episode, the stakes are dire as tensions between the U.S., U.K., and Russia are about to go nuclear. Will the Keri Russell-starring series return after that cliffhanger? Here’s what we know.
Has The Diplomat been renewed for season 5?
Not yet, but the cast hopes it does. “Fingers crossed,” Rufus Sewell told Decider. “I hope we get a season 5,” Allison Janney told Entertainment Weekly.
Showrunner Debora Cahn is already thinking ahead about keeping her viewers entertained. “Your audience has already seen this show; they don’t just want a glorified rerun. So we want the world to keep growing. We want the characters to keep growing,” she told EW.
She also told Deadline that she has a plan for where the characters end up but is unsure how closely she’ll stick to it.
“I knew this season where I wanted to land. But if we find something better, I’m going for that or if we find that these characters have grown into something that isn’t what I anticipated. When I first pitched the series, I want it to be a living document. I want it to be a living organism,” she said.
What would season 5 be about?
The season 4 finale sure gives the writers plenty of material to work with. Warning: spoilers ahead!
At the G7 summit in Italy, Ambassador Kate Wyler resigns in front of the whole assembly because she can no longer support the Grace Penn administration. The president had launched warships to the U.K. to block Russian vessels from entering British waters and intends to fire on anyone who crosses their path. Kate and other members of the cabinet have tried to stop and reason with the president, but she still insisted. Kate ultimately steps down from her post, unable to support the president’s actions. Others follow: Chief of Staff Billie Appiah, Secretary of State Michael Ganon, and finally, Kate’s husband, Vice President Hal Wyler.
The next season could pick up after the coup, following how Kate and Hal handle the fallout, and how the president responds to their exit. And the thread of nuclear war continues to loom—hopefully it doesn’t come to that.
Who would be in the cast?
We’re still waiting on confirmation about the series’ renewal, and therefore, the formal cast list. But we’re hoping to see the main cast return: Keri Russell (Kate Wyler), Rufus Sewell (Hal Wyler), Ato Essandoh (Stuart Hayford), Ali Ahn (Eidra Park), Nana Mensah (Billie Appiah), Bradley Whitford (Todd Penn), and Allison Janney (President Grace Penn).
When will season 5 be released?
Given there’s no renewal yet, we’ll have to wait for a premiere date to be announced. Historically, the past three seasons have been released in October 2024, October 2025, and now October 2026. We’ll see if the pattern continues.
This story will be updated.