Netflix Renews Period Drama 'The Empress' for Third and Final Season

It's official: The Empress's reign will continue for one final season. Netflix has announced that its internationally popular German period drama has been renewed for Season 3, but that its third outing would officially be its last.

The series follows the story of Elisabeth of Bavaria --- known almost universally as Sisi ---- a German princess who marries an Austrian emperor for love and must subsequently navigate a difficult world of intrigue and tension at the Habsburg court. The series grounds its historical drama and political tension in its characters and their relationships, particularly the compelling romance between the two young rulers at its center.

The Empress's recently concluded second season saw Franz and Elisabeth face both foreign and domestic challenges, involving everything from the growing independence movement in Lombardy-Venetia and the scheming of Napoleon III to their struggles to produce a male heir for the Austrian throne. The season ended with Franz riding for Italy to command his troops himself, leaving Elisabeth, their infant son Rudolf, and Dowager Archduchess Sophie behind to hold things together in Vienna. 

“It sometimes leaves me speechless to see how many people we have been able to reach and touch all over the world with The Empress," showrunner Katharine Eyssen said in a statement. "To be able to continue and conclude this story together with our team and the unique ensemble cast is nothing less than a gift."

The Empress took home an International Emmy for Best Drama series for its first season. Its second hit screens in November and quickly became one of the streamer's most successful releases of 2024. The series made its way into the Netflix Top 10 in 84 countries, holding the top spot in ten of them. 

There's very little information to go on about what Season 3 will be like beyond the fact that fan favorites Devrim Lingnau (Elisabeth), Philip Froissant (Franz), Melika Foroutan (Sophie), and Johannes Nussbaum (Maximillian) will all return in their respective roles. But since we know Franz will eventually return home from this war in defeat, the decline of the Austro-Hungarian Empire should provide us with plenty of dramatic stories to tell. (Whether or not the show decides to take us all the way up to Elisabeth's tragic end.)

“The audience has followed Empress Elisabeth's life through happy, exciting, and dramatic times in the last two seasons," Katja Hofem  Vice President Content DACH at Netflix, said. "How wonderful that we can continue telling this story in a third season, with the wonderful team in front of and behind the camera and with Sommerhaus as our production partner.”

Essyen is returning as showrunner for the series' final season assisted by Robert Eyssen. Executive Producers include Scarlett Lacey and Robert Eyssen, alongside Jochen Laube and Fabian Maubauch for Sommeraus Serien GmbH. 

There's no word yet on when we can expect to see The Empress Season 3 released. Seasons 1 and 2 are currently streaming on Netflix.