The wait is almost over as Netflix has officially dropped the first trailer for Alice in Borderland Season 3, confirming the series’ return on Sept. 25. And this time, the stakes are higher than ever.
Adapted from Haro Aso’s manga, Alice in Borderland became a global sensation upon its December 2020 debut, climbing Netflix’s Top 10 in over 70 countries and earning a 96% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes. Season 2 raised the bar even higher. Released in December 2022, it hit the Top 10 in over 90 countries and held the #1 spot in 17. In Japan, it dominated the charts for 14 consecutive days and racked up 200 million viewing hours globally within just four weeks, setting a record for any Japanese title on Netflix.
Netflix also released a haunting teaser poster that captures the emotional intensity of the upcoming season. In the visual, Arisu and Usagi reach out toward one another in desperation, symbolizing their deep bond and the perilous distance between them. The imagery evokes the unsettling nature of the Borderland, a liminal space between life and death, hinting at the grim possibilities that may lie ahead.
What will season 3 of Alice in Borderland be about?
Following the events of Season 2, Arisu and Usagi, now married, seem to be living peacefully in the real world. But their memories of the Borderland linger, surfacing in dreams and sudden hallucinations. Eventually, their quiet life is shattered when Usagi mysteriously vanishes.
Meanwhile, Ryuji, a man obsessed with the afterlife, abducts Usagi back to the Borderland. When Arisu learns of her disappearance, he is approached by Banda, now a permanent resident of the Borderland, who reveals Usagi’s location. Determined to rescue her, Arisu throws himself back once more into a realm of survival.
Arisu is immediately met with lethal traps of blistering fire arrows and surging electric currents strong enough to kill on contact. As he fights to survive and locate Usagi, he joins forces with new allies to confront whatever terrifying challenge the Joker card holds. With only this final card left unplayed, the final game remains a mystery.
Who’s in the Cast of Alice in Borderland Season 3?
Kento Yamazaki and Tao Tsuchiya return as Arisu and Usagi, leading the new season with their emotionally charged performances. Unfortunately, much of the original ensemble cast won’t be back.
Only a handful of familiar faces will return:
- Ayaka Miyoshi reprises her role as the ever-strategic Ann.
- Hayato Isomura and Katsuya Maiguma return as Banda and Yaba, the Jack of Hearts duo who chose to remain in the Borderland in Season 2.
Joining them is an ensemble of new characters:
- Koji Ohkura
- Risa Sudou
- Hiroyuki Ikeuchi
- Tina Tamashiro
- Kotaro Daigo
- Hyunri
- Sakura Kiryu
- Yugo Mikawa
- Joey Iwanaga
- Akana Ikeda
One key addition is Kento Kaku, star of Netflix’s House of Ninjas, who plays Ryuji, the enigmatic scholar who draws Usagi back into the Borderland. In the trailer, Ryuji looms as a possible ally or a sinister manipulator.
The trailer also unveils glimpses of the new cast in action. Tetsu lets out a chilling scream. Rei, with striking blue hair, smirks with bold defiance. Meanwhile, Kazuya locks in with his gun, aiming with predatory precision.
How Season 3 Connects to the Manga
While the show has largely followed Haro Aso’s original manga, Season 3 ventures into new narrative territory, it’s expected to draw thematic inspiration from the manga’s spinoffs: Alice in Borderland Retry and Alice on Border Road, though neither has been officially translated into English.
In Retry, Arisu and Usagi are also married, and Arisu returns to the Borderland years later, echoing the new season’s premise. More intriguingly, the Joker card that appeared at the end of Season 2 plays a central role in the manga as a ferryman figure, guiding players between the real world and the Borderland.
Will the live-action adaptation adopt this concept or reinterpret the Joker’s identity altogether? Either way, longtime fans can expect psychological twists and emotional depth as the story nears its conclusion.
When and Where to Watch
Alice in Borderland Season 3 premieres Sept. 25, streaming exclusively on Netflix worldwide.
This final installment promises cinematic visuals, mysterious new games, and deeper philosophical themes, making it one of this year’s most anticipated TV events. With the Joker card now in play, the countdown to Borderland’s ultimate reckoning has begun.
What’s your theory about the Joker card’s true purpose? Share your wildest predictions for Alice in Borderland Season 3 with us on Instagram and X/Twitter!
Featured Image Credit: ©Haro Aso, Shogakukan / ROBOT
