The Gilded Age Season 3: Cast, Plot, And Release Date—Everything We Know For 2025

The highly anticipated third season of Julian Fellowes’ lavish historical drama, The Gilded Age, is officially set to return, bringing back the opulence, social maneuvering, and seismic cultural shifts of late 19th-century New York. As of December 2025, the production has wrapped and HBO has confirmed a definitive premiere date, promising a season where the clash between old money and new ambition reaches a fever pitch. This guide breaks down the massive ensemble cast, including the major new additions, the confirmed release date, and the thrilling plot details that will define the next chapter of the Russell and van Rhijn/Brook families.

The upcoming season, which will consist of eight episodes, is poised to be the most dramatic yet, focusing on the true cost of progress and the sacrifices required to maintain power in a world changing at an unprecedented pace. Fans can expect the return of nearly the entire beloved ensemble, alongside a host of major new players—including a real-life financial titan and a psychic medium—who will shake up the social hierarchy of New York and Newport society. The stakes are higher, the gowns are grander, and the societal battles are about to become personal.

The Gilded Age Season 3: Full Ensemble Cast and Character Guide

The strength of The Gilded Age lies in its expansive, star-studded ensemble, featuring an unparalleled collection of Broadway and Hollywood veterans. Season 3 sees the return of virtually every main and recurring character from the first two seasons, ensuring continuity in the complex web of relationships and rivalries. Below is a comprehensive list of the primary actors confirmed to return, followed by the exciting new additions.

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Returning Main Cast (The Core Families)

• Carrie Coon as Bertha Russell: The ambitious and relentless "New Money" matriarch who is determined to secure her family's place at the top of New York society, no matter the cost.
• Morgan Spector as George Russell: Bertha's formidable railroad tycoon husband, whose business dealings will face a major new challenge this season.
• Christine Baranski as Agnes van Rhijn: The stern, "Old Money" doyenne who remains staunchly opposed to the changes sweeping through New York.
• Cynthia Nixon as Ada Forte: Agnes’s formerly timid sister, who found unexpected joy and heartbreak in Season 2. Her new status will be a central focus.
• Louisa Jacobson as Marian Brook: Agnes’s niece from Pennsylvania, navigating her romantic life and her role as a bridge between the old and new worlds.
• Denée Benton as Peggy Scott: Marian's friend and an aspiring writer, whose career and personal life will continue to explore the Black elite community and the political landscape of the era.
• Taissa Farmiga as Gladys Russell: Bertha and George’s daughter, who is now a married woman and beginning to assert her own independence.
• Blake Ritson as Oscar van Rhijn: Agnes's son, whose financial ruin in Season 2 will have lasting consequences for the van Rhijn household.

The returning ensemble also includes Simon Jones (Bannister), Harry Richardson (Larry Russell), Thomas Cocquerel (Tom Raikes), Jack Gilpin (Church), Kelli O'Hara (Aurora Fane), Donna Murphy (Mrs. Astor), and Debra Monk (Armstrong), among many others, ensuring all facets of the Gilded Age society are represented.

Major New Cast Members Shaking Up Season 3

The third season introduces several high-profile actors in roles that promise to inject new conflict and historical gravitas into the narrative. These characters, ranging from real-life historical figures to family secrets, are set to challenge the Russells and the van Rhijns directly.

Bill Camp as J.P. Morgan

Bill Camp, an Emmy-nominated actor known for his intense character work in projects like The Queen’s Gambit and The Night Of, joins the cast as the legendary financier J.P. Morgan. This is a monumental addition, as Morgan was one of the most powerful and feared men of the era. The plot confirms that Morgan will find himself at odds with George Russell over the future of the railroad industry, setting up a clash of titans that could threaten the entire Russell fortune.

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Merritt Wever as Monica O’Brien

Emmy winner Merritt Wever (Unbelievable, Nurse Jackie) steps into the role of Monica O’Brien, who is revealed to be Bertha Russell’s estranged sister. Monica’s arrival in New York is expected to be a major source of personal conflict for Bertha, forcing the social queen to confront a past she has long tried to bury. This familial secret is a classic Julian Fellowes device designed to humanize the formidable Bertha.

Andrea Martin as Madame Dashkova

Comedy legend and Tony Award winner Andrea Martin (Great News, SCTV) will play Madame Dashkova, a colorful and mysterious medium who claims she can communicate with the dead. Her presence will likely tap into the era's fascination with spiritualism and the occult, potentially offering a comedic or dramatic foil to the more grounded characters. Madame Dashkova’s interactions with the elite will provide a fascinating look at the spiritual trends of the time.

Leslie Uggams as Mrs. Ernestine Brown

Iconic actress and singer Leslie Uggams (Roots, Deadpool) joins the cast as Mrs. Ernestine Brown, a friend of Elizabeth Kirkland (Phylicia Rashad) and a prominent member of the Black elite community, specifically in Newport. Her character's introduction will further expand the show's exploration of the affluent Black community, providing a deeper look at their social structures and aspirations outside of New York City.

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LisaGay Hamilton as Frances Ellen Watkins Harper

LisaGay Hamilton (The Practice) will portray the real-life historical figure Frances Ellen Watkins Harper, a celebrated abolitionist, suffragist, and poet. Her inclusion suggests that Peggy Scott’s storyline will continue to intersect with significant political and social movements of the Gilded Age, highlighting the fight for civil rights and women's suffrage.

Plot Predictions and The Official Season 3 Logline

The official logline for The Gilded Age Season 3 teases a narrative built around "ambition, sacrifice, and the cost of progress in a rapidly changing world." The central conflict will focus on the idea that "No victory came without sacrifice," setting a somber and high-stakes tone for the new episodes.

The War Between Old and New Money Escalates

The narrative will pick up where Season 2 left off, with Bertha Russell having successfully deposed Mrs. Astor and the old guard, officially turning New York society upside down. However, her triumph is short-lived as she must now contend with new and unexpected challenges, both professional and personal. Her husband, George, will face his most powerful rival yet in J.P. Morgan, potentially jeopardizing the Russell's railroad empire and, by extension, Bertha's social standing. The introduction of Monica O’Brien, Bertha's estranged sister, will force the social queen to face a personal ghost from her past, adding a layer of vulnerability to her seemingly impenetrable facade.

Love, Loss, and a New Beginning for Ada

A major emotional arc for Season 3 will center on Ada Forte, who was recently widowed after the death of her beloved husband, Reverend Luke Forte (played by Robert Sean Leonard, who is confirmed not to return). The new season will explore Ada's life as a wealthy widow, a stark contrast to her previous life as a dependent sister. This newfound financial and personal freedom will likely lead to a shift in the van Rhijn household dynamics and a new sense of agency for Ada. The show will also continue to follow Marian Brook’s romantic entanglements and Peggy Scott’s flourishing career as a writer and activist, now intersecting with a major historical figure in Frances Ellen Watkins Harper.

When and Where to Watch The Gilded Age Season 3

Fans have a confirmed date to mark on their calendars. The Gilded Age Season 3 will premiere on Sunday, June 22, 2025, at 9:00 PM ET/PT. The eight-episode season will air weekly on HBO and will be available to stream simultaneously on Max (formerly HBO Max). This summer release date positions the show as a highly anticipated centerpiece of the 2025 television schedule, promising a return to the drama and decadence that fans have come to expect from the Julian Fellowes universe.

The expansion of the cast to include historical giants like J.P. Morgan and Frances Ellen Watkins Harper, alongside the introduction of personal antagonists like Bertha’s estranged sister, confirms that Season 3 is set to be the most historically rich and emotionally complex installment yet. The battle for social supremacy is far from over, and the new season promises to show that in the Gilded Age, even the greatest victories require the greatest sacrifices.