The tangled romance at the center of Tell Me Lies will return to screens early next year. Hulu confirmed that season 3 of the hit psychological drama will premiere in January 2026, promising more twists, time jumps and emotional fallout for its characters. Based on Carola Lovering’s 2018 novel, Tell Me Lies explores the toxic relationship between Lucy Albright (Grace Van Patten) and Stephen DeMarco (Jackson White), whose entanglement spans years and deeply affects the people around them. The series tells the story in split timelines: 2008, when Lucy and Stephen first meet at Baird College, and 2015, when the consequences of their actions resurface.
A Renewal Fueled by Fan Obsession
Hulu renewed the series in December 2024 after season 2 maintained a lengthy run in the platform’s Top 15 streaming shows. Executive producer and showrunner Meaghan Oppenheimer signed a multi-year deal with 20th Television, signaling long-term franchise potential. Executives praised the show’s hold on social media discussion and viewer engagement. “Two intensely addictive seasons fueled obsessive fan conversation,” said 20th Television president Karey Burke at the time of renewal.
When Season 3 Will Premiere
The first two episodes of season 3 will debut Jan. 13, 2026, on Hulu and on Disney+ for those with the Hulu bundle. Following the cliffhanger-filled season 2 finale, fans won’t wait long for answers. The release positions the crime-romance drama early in Hulu’s 2026 slate.
Returning Cast and New Faces
Van Patten and White will reprise their central roles, continuing the characters’ damaging but intoxicating dynamic. They join returning cast members Spencer House, Catherine Missal, Sonia Mena, Branden Cook and Tom Ellis, who confirmed in May that he was returning. Season 3 will also welcome new cast members. Iris Apatow joins in a recurring role as Amanda, a bubbly freshman hiding a serious secret. Costa D’Angelo will portray Alex, a psychology student and part-time drug dealer connected to Bree’s complicated storyline.
What Season 3 Will Explore
Oppenheimer shared that the new season will shift further into the 2015 timeline and introduce a time jump, while still revisiting unresolved events from 2008. The season will dig deeper into the consequences of past choices, pushing several characters toward accountability. Van Patten teased that viewers will witness “endless” drama and escalating tension. “Everything’s coming to a head,” she said. “I’m scared for the audience.”
Ellis echoed the sentiment, previewing the first scripts: “Just when you thought our characters couldn’t do anything more ridiculous to themselves, they do it.” Hulu also released a synopsis promising scandal, betrayals and emotional backlash as Lucy finds herself pulled into controversy, while other characters face fallout from prior deceptions. The streamer released the season trailer Dec. 17, opening with Lucy recording a confession about past mistakes. The footage hinted at renewed complications in Lucy and Stephen’s relationship and mounting fractures within the friend group.
