When The Pitt returns for its third season, HBO Max’s critically acclaimed and Emmy-winning medical drama starring Noah Wyle will have a major cast change — Supriya Ganesh isn’t returning — and is picking up not as long after its second season as the previous time jump.

On Tuesday, June 16, HBO Max announced that production for Season 3 has begun. The video, which you can watch below, also seems to reveal at least part of the cast list — Noah Wyle (Robby), Sepideh Moafi (Al-Hashimi), Katherine LaNasa (Dana), Ellis (Ayesha Harris), Fiona Dourif (McKay), Patrick Ball (Langdon), Taylor Dearden (King), Isa Briones (Santos), Gerran Howell (Whitaker), Shabana Azeez (Javadi), and Shawn Hatosy (Abbot) — given the badges shown.

The series, which is told in real time with each season taking place over the course of a single shift, has won over audiences with its realistic depiction of an emergency room and its compelling characters. It’s easily the best show on TV. Below, we take a look at everything we know so far about The Pitt Season 3, including a premiere date, the cast, and more.

When does The Pitt Season 3 premiere?

While an exact date has yet to be announced, it is likely that it will follow the annual release schedule and once again premiere in January (2027) like the first two seasons (2025 and 2026).

Who’s in The Pitt cast?

The start of production video (below) seemed to reveal the Season 3 cast list: Noah Wyle (Robby), Sepideh Moafi (Al-Hashimi), Katherine LaNasa (Dana), Ellis (Ayesha Harris), Fiona Dourif (McKay), Patrick Ball (Langdon), Taylor Dearden (King), Isa Briones (Santos), Gerran Howell (Whitaker), Shabana Azeez (Javadi), and Shawn Hatosy (Abbot).

Ganesh, who plays Dr. Samira Mohan, will not be returning for Season 3 in what’s said to be “a story-driven decision,” Variety reports. We’ll have to wait to see if the finale writes out the senior resident or if we’ll have to wait until in Season 3 to find out what happened, much like with Collins’ (Tracy Ifeachor) absence explained in Season 2. On the flip side, Ayesha Harris, who has recurred as senior resident Dr. Parker Ellis, part of the night shift, has been upped to series regular for Season 3. Will that mean more of the third season focused the night shift, or might she be moving to the day shift?

We’ll have to wait and see if there are any other changes.

What is The Pitt about?

The Pitt is described by HBO Max as “a realistic examination of the challenges facing healthcare workers in today’s America as seen through the lens of the frontline heroes working in a modern-day hospital in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.” Each episode of the 15-episode seasons covers one hour of Robby’s shift in Pittsburgh Trauma Medical Hospital’s emergency room.

What will The Pitt Season 3 be about?

Showrunner R. Scott Gemmill told TV Insider after the Season 2 finale that the hope is that Season 3 is “all about healing.”

After Robby’s rough Season 2 shift — which saw him admit to suicidal thoughts — this next 15 hours will be his return. “We’re going to see what kind of shape he’s in and this sabbatical, if you really went on it and if it changed him or not, hopefully for the better,” Gemmill said, adding that he’s most worried about him next season. “I think he needs the most work, and hopefully, that’s what his journey Season 3 will be about.”

When TV Insider spoke with Fiona Dourif on June 10, she told us, “McKay is going to be dealing with a new type of patient” in Season 3.

There’s also something new coming for Javadi, as Shabana Azeez revealed to Bustle that her character is on her psych rotation for this next shift. “It’s a very different vibe for me. And I’m scared and nervous. But it’s an honor to be able to show that part of medicine,” she said. But at least that confirms that she’ll be back and could be interesting for her interactions with the rest of the staff.

How will Supriya Ganesh’s exit and Mohan’s absence be explained in The Pitt Season 3?

When Season 3 picks up, it will do so without Ganesh’s Dr. Mohan. But, according to Gemmill, it will likely be as “simple” as Mohan having the shift off.

“The reality of the hospital is that people come and go. And we’ve known that since we started. And it’s one of the things, it’s good and it’s bad. It’s good because it keeps things fresh and it also makes it feel like a real working environment,” he explained. “It’s bad because we lose people, characters that we have grown to love, but that’s just part of the process. So we know that eventually a lot of people will come and go, and that’s just going to be the nature of the show.”

Which day will The Pitt Season 3’s shift cover?

We now know that Season 3’s shift will take place in November. That’s only about a four-month time jump from Season 2’s (Fourth of July weekend). It had been 10 months between Season 1 and Season 2’s shifts.

Wyle shared at the Warner Bros. Upfronts on May 13 that, as expected, it’s “ushering in a whole new set of emergencies and confrontations and complications”.