- Primary Subject: Kingdom (Netflix Korean Series)
- Key Update: While lead actor Ju Ji-hoon and writer Kim Eun-hee have expressed interest in returning, Netflix has not officially renewed the series for a third season as of early 2026.
- Status: Pending / Not Renewed
- Last Verified: January 22, 2026
- Quick Answer: There is no official release date for Kingdom Season 3. Production is currently stalled due to the main cast and writer’s busy individual schedules.
Ju Ji-hoon has made viewers fall in love with his character, Crown Prince Yi Chang, in the hit Netflix zombie K-drama Kingdom. However, despite fans eagerly awaiting his return, a third season has yet to come to fruition – five years after the release of Season 2.
While Netflix has not officially renewed the period drama for a third season, despite overwhelming demand, a special feature-length episode titled Kingdom: Ashin of the North was released to bridge the events between the second season and a potential third installment.
With that said, will Kingdom Season 3 still happen?
Will There Be Kingdom Season 3?
As mentioned earlier, Netflix has yet to officially greenlight a third season of Kingdom. In fact, details about its return remain scarce.
Despite this, writer Kim Eun-hee told The Hollywood Reporter that she has plenty of ideas for a third season—and even beyond.
“Strangely enough, Kingdom is a series that gives me more energy the more I write it,” she said. “The cast and crew all have great chemistry, and there's so much more to tell. If viewers allow, I would love to see it develop even up to Season 10.”
However, when asked about the show’s return during a media briefing for his other K-drama, The Trauma Code: Heroes on Call, Ji-hoon explained that Eun-hee is busy with other projects.
“So there are no updates yet on a third season,” he added.
Why Kingdom Season 3 May Not Happen?
While there’s no confirmation about the future of Kingdom Season 3, several factors suggest it may not happen.
As the show became an instant global hit, it’s no surprise that its cast has been snapped up by major projects and grown exceptionally busy with their own shows and films.
Since then, Ji-hoon has appeared in several projects, including Gentleman, Ransomed, Light Shop, Love Your Enemy, and more.
Bae Doo-na, who plays the resilient physician Seo-bi, has broken into the international scene with the two-part sci-fi film Rebel Moon. Of course, she has appeared in different K-dramas and K-movies, like Family Plan and Virus.
As for Ashin of the North, star Jun Ji-hyun recently appeared in the TV series The North Star.
With the main stars tied up in their own schedules, writer Kim Eun-hee occupied with other projects, and Netflix remaining silent on a third season, the future of Kingdom Season 3 appears increasingly uncertain.
What Could Kingdom Season 3 Be About?
With the second season’s major cliffhanger, it’s highly likely that Kingdom Season 3 would pick up where it left off.
Ashin is revealed to be the mysterious seller of the resurrection plant, so she may play a major role this time. It’s even something writer Kim Eun-hee has confirmed.
“I think Jun Ji-hyun will become a central character alongside the main characters from seasons one and two,” she said.
With the green-fingered woman seemingly spreading the virus deliberately – even keeping a few infected as pets – she may become the new antagonist.
Ashin may be seeking to annihilate the Korean population to allow Chinese forces to conquer the country, considering she comes from the border between China and Korea and may be working for the Ming Dynasty.
As for the new prince, he, too, may play an important role in the next season after developing immunity to the worms – though one appears to remain in his body and slowly move toward his brain.
By the looks of it, he could become a zombie-human hybrid that viewers will need to watch closely.
“Season one told the story of hunger, and season two told the story of blood. If Netflix agrees, I want season three to tell the story of resentment,” Eun-hee told Soompi. “Season two brought attention to the concept of ‘temperature,’ and I think if the story were to travel north, the different ecosystem there would act as a hint.”
Hopefully, this storyline will be brought to life in Kingdom Season 3. Unless Netflix officially announces its cancellation, there is still a chance for the series to materialize.
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