Outer Banks Season 3: Release Date, Cast, And More

Fans of "Outer Banks," you can unclench — your patience will be mercifully rewarded soon. The end of season 2 was hugely climactic and left lots of questions unanswered. Season 2 aired in the summer of 2021, so it's been a while since we caught up with the Pogues. Luckily, Netflix has released some details about what's to come and when.

"Outer Banks" came out swinging in season 1 and managed to ramp things up even further with season 2. John B. is a lower-class resident of the OBX, a.k.a. a Pogue. He's on the hunt for his long-lost father and the treasure that he went missing trying to find. His girlfriend's wealthy father tries to stop John B. every step of the way, even pinning the murder of the town sheriff on him. In season 2, John B. is on the run from the law and meets new friends like Cleo and adversaries like Carla Limbrey. When the Pogues finally do find the treasure, Ward steals it.

Despite countless attempts on their lives, every major character survived season 2. The last time we see John B. and his accomplices, they disappear into a stormy sea and wash up on a foreign shore totally unharmed. The teaser trailer released by Netflix confirms that the cast will all be returning for season 3, including the newest characters — Cleo, played by Carlacia Grant, and Carla, played by Elizabeth Mitchell. Cleo helped John B. and his friends escape and washed up on shore with them, so she is a true member of the Pogue squad now. Grant has been promoted to a series regular for season 3, Deadline confirmed, so we will definitely be seeing more of Cleo. Mitchell's return also suggests that John B. will have to face off against more than one opponent in his treasure hunt this season. 

Also returning is Chase Stokes as John B., Madelyn Cline as his girlfriend Sarah Cameron, Drew Starkey as her violent brother Rafe, Charles Esten as their influential and wealthy father Ward Cameron, Jonathan Daviss as John B.'s lifelong friend Pope, Rudy Pankow as their friend and fellow Pogue JJ, and Madison Bailey as their class traitor bestie Kiara.

The "Outer Banks" teaser trailer is only a few snippets of the new season, but a lot can be gleaned from a little bit of screen time. It looks like life in "Poguetopia" has its ups and downs for John B. and his crew, who catch fish with spears and cheer on JJ jumping off a cliff but also get on a bear's bad side.

It doesn't look like the Pogues are off the grid for too long, though. Shots of a minivan on the highway and an old-fashioned airplane flying over the ocean suggest that John B. and his friends may be returning to the outer banks. The Pogues are also seen climbing through an elevator shaft and sneaking around inside a church. John B.'s voiceover asks us, "how far will you go to get your treasure?" One thing is certain — our hero definitely hasn't given up the hunt yet.

Ward is still in possession of the treasure — an enormous golden cross. He is also seen coming to near-fatal blows with someone, but that's a normal Tuesday afternoon for Ward. Rafe tells his father that he's hell-bent on avenging him after the Pogues nearly kill him at the end of season 2. In the season 3 trailer, he appears to be sporting a new closely shaved buzzcut and is looking seriously unhinged.

Netflix has officially announced that "Outer Banks" will return on February 23, 2023. This means that the gap between the season 2 and 3 release dates will be well over a year. Despite this gap in filming, it seems that the story will pick up right where it left off, with the Pogues roughing it on a new shore. 

It may be a while 'til we see our favorite underdogs again, but Stokes confirms that season 3 will definitely be "worth the wait" (via Twitter). If the first two seasons and the latest teaser trailer is any indication, Stokes is absolutely right. Season 3 promises to be an action-packed extension of one of the most exhilarating teen shows ever made, and honestly, I don't know if I can wait another day.