New images of The Diplomat season 3 reveal an unexpected reunion between Allison Janney and a former co-star on The West Wing. Janney joined the cast of The Diplomat season 2 as Vice President Grace Penn, who becomes a mentor of sorts to Keri Russell’s Ambassador Kate Wyler. Grace Penn is a sharp and ruthless new addition to The Diplomat, who ends up playing a key role in The Diplomat‘s shocking season 2 finale. The popular political drama is set to return with its third season on Netflix sometime in 2025, following season 2’s October 2024 release date.

The Diplomat ranks among The West Wing, House of Cards, and other celebrated political dramas with a focus on the executive branch of the U.S. government. While The Diplomat may not have as much critical acclaim as The West Wing — or as many Emmy Awards (26 wins compared to The Diplomat’s lone 2023 nominee) — it became one of the most viewed original series on Netflix in 2023. Creator Debora Chan revealed to Tudum, “Season 3 flips the chessboard. Kate lives the particular nightmare that is getting what you want.” Kate will do so alongside a new main character.

The West Wing’s Allison Janney & Bradley Whitford Are Reuniting As A Married Couple In The Diplomat Season 3

Whitford Will Likely Play The First Man Role Next To Janney’s U.S. President

The Diplomat Season 2-26 Keri Russell and Allison Janney standing together in The Diplomat Kate is angry with someone while Hal looks from the side in The Diplomat A closeup of Allison Janney as Vice President Grace Penn in The Diplomat Season 2

After starring together on The West Wing, Janney and Whitford are back together on the small screen in The Diplomat. This time around, some 26 years after the premiere of The West Wing, Janney and Whitford play a married couple. The Diplomat season 2 viewers are aware that this would make Whitford’s character the First Man next to Janney’s newly acquired presidential role following the death of President Rayburn. Kate Wyler will likely be promoted as the U.S. Vice President in season 3 alongside Janney’s President, which would “give her what she wants,” as Chan alluded to.

The addition of Whitford, who played Josh Lyman in all 155 episodes of The West Wing, makes The Diplomat even more exciting as one of the most highly anticipated 2025 releases on Netflix. His pairing with Janney, who also starred in every West Wing episode as C.J. Cregg, is spot-on, and adds a greater sense of realism and prestige to the already authentic and compelling political drama. Janney won four Emmy Awards for her role on The West Wing, while Whitford won one Emmy for the series. His other two wins were from Transparent (2016) and The Handmaid’s Tale (2019).

The Diplomat Puts A Spin On Allison Janney & Bradley Whitford’s Political Drama Dynamic In The West Wing

They Will Be A Married Political Power Couple In The Diplomat Season 3

Split image showing CJ and Josh in The West Wing

The upcoming dynamic between Janney and Whitford’s characters in Netflix’s political drama will be very different from in The West Wing, given that Janney’s character is now the U.S. President. Janney’s C.J. and Whitford’s Josh were never romantic interests on The West Wing, which adds a new element to their shared filmography. C.J. and Josh had more of a sibling dynamic. The new images of The Diplomat season 3 suggest that Whitford’s character will be a strong aide to Grace Penn — and may have had a role in the conspiracy behind the attack on the HMS Courageous.

Janney and Whitford could become Netflix’s new “Frank and Claire” in The Diplomat season 3.

Rather than competing with each other for promotions as White House staff colleagues in The West Wing, Janney and Whitford could become Netflix’s new “Frank and Claire.” They certainly hold all the cards after Grace Penn’s ascension to the Presidency. Kate’s allegiance to Grace will be tested after discovering her corrupt part in the two-season-long conspiracy involving the HMS Courageous. Whitford’s character could be somewhat two-faced and calculated as a counterpart to Grace. He may be the seemingly innocent mastermind behind the conspiracy and Grace’s rise to power. Kate will have to tread lightly in her new V.P. role.

Allison Janney & Bradley Whitford Previously Reunited In A 2017 Dramedy Movie

They Both Appeared In A Happening Of Monumental Proportions

Allison Janney in A Happening of Monumental Proportions

While Janney and Whitford’s casting in The Diplomat season 3 marks a political drama reunion, it’s not the first time they’ve collaborated on a project since The West Wing ended in 2006. They were both in the 2017 drama film A Happening of Monumental Proportions alongside an ensemble cast including Keanu Reeves, Katie Holmes, Jennifer Garner, Rob Riggle, Common, and more. Despite its Rotten Tomatoes score of 29%, Happening of Monumental Proportions offered an unprecedented look at Janney and Whitford together in a dramedy film. Their reunion in The Diplomat season 3 should be more nostalgic and true-to-form.