Wild Cards Season 3: Release Date Hits This January 2026

Officially, Wild Cards Season 3 is underway. CBC premiered it earlier on January 7, 2026, and the CW will screen it on January 26, 2026. Ten brand-new episodes this season are packed with drama, crime-solving, and an unexpected familial twist. 

Ellis and Max rejoin as partners, but things quickly become tricky. Here is all the information you require about Wild Cards Season 3, including the characters, plot, and episode specifics.

When Is Wild Cards Season 3 Coming Out?

Image © 2025 Blink49 Studios / Front Street Pictures / Piller-Segan Productions

A new chapter in Max Mitchell’s narrative and new episodes will shortly be released in Wild Cards Season 3. This Canadian police drama combines humour, suspense, and crime-solving. The third season of The CW and CBC Television will premiere on different dates. Fans now know when they can watch the upcoming season after it was renewed for Season 3.

U.S. and Canada Premiere Dates

The U.S. premiere of Wild Cards Season 3 is scheduled for January, according to the CW. Canadian viewers, meanwhile, will see it even sooner. The show’s increasing popularity across networks is reflected in this release schedule.

• U.S. premiere: Monday, January 26, 2026, at 8 PM on The CW.
• Canada premiere: January 7, 2026, on CBC Television and CBC Gem.

Returning Cast and Characters

Once more, the odd team of Ellis and Max will work together to solve crimes. There will be some surprises as well as well-known faces for viewers. Stars from Grey’s Anatomy and Riverdale are still on the cast list.

• Vanessa Morgan: Returns to the role as Max Mitchell, a clever con woman.
• Giacomo Gianniotti: Plays sardonic cop and demoted detective Cole Ellis.
• Tamara Taylor: Appears in the film as Max’s long-lost mother, Vivienne.
• Other returning cast: Jason Priestley, Michael Xavier, and more.
• Production teams: Blink49 Studios, Front Street Pictures, and Piller/Segan.
• Key creatives: Michael Konyves (creator), Shawn Piller, James Thorpe, Alexandra Zarowny, James Genn, and Marcus Robinson.

What Is the Plot of Wild Cards Season 3?

Image © 2025 Blink49 Studios / Front Street Pictures / Piller-Segan Productions

Season 3 starts a month after Season 2 ended. Max is now a real police consultant, which helps her stay out of jail by using her unique skills. Ellis goes back to his detective post because all of the charges against him were dropped. This time, two arrivals change things and test their already complicated relationship.

Max’s New Role and Ellis’ Return

Max is getting used to living a legal life, and Ellis is going back to the force. They are still an unlikely pair who are trying to solve crimes together. Their partnership is tense, but it works.

• Max’s role: Now an official police consultant working with law enforcement.
• Ellis returns: Turns from the maritime unit and is ready to work.
• Con woman to consultant: Max moves from her transient life to a permanent job.

Vivienne’s Shocking Return Ignites the Story

When someone unexpected shows up at Max’s door, that’s the biggest twist. What Max believed about her past is broken. This twist makes the high-stakes events of the third season possible.

• Max’s door: Her mother, Vivienne, shows up out of the blue.
• Family tension: Upends Max’s feelings and work life.
• New mystery: The local crime that Max and Ellis have to solve is connected to Vivienne’s past.

How Many Episodes Will Wild Cards Season 3 Have?

Image © 2025 Blink49 Studios / Front Street Pictures / Piller-Segan Productions

There will be 10 episodes in the Wild Cards Season 3. After CBC‘s earlier announcement of a renewal, the CW confirmed this order in November. The first and second seasons also used this shorter format.

Confirmed Episode Count

The number of episodes for the season has been set by the network, which is in line with what people thought would happen based on previous seasons. This structure keeps things moving quickly and the story focused.

• Confirmed: 10 total episodes.
• Airing: Weekly on The CW starting Monday nights in January.

Release Format and Schedule

Fans can’t watch the whole season all at once. Wild Cards will instead use a traditional release plan, which lets viewers follow each twist as it happens.

• Format: One episode per week of weekly airings.
• Platforms: The CW in the U.S., CBC, and Gem in Canada.
• Confirmed by: IMDb, Deadline, and official network sources.

Is Wild Cards Season 3 Done Filming?

Image © 2025 Blink49 Studios / Front Street Pictures / Piller-Segan Productions

Fans wondered if the cast had already finished filming after it was renewed for a third season. Before the CW announced in November that Wild Cards would be back, filming started on August 28, 2025, and continued through December 3, 2025.

The production crew is ready for another round of fun and suspense, with talent coming back both in front of and behind the camera.

Current Filming and Production Status

Filming happened earlier this year, so there was a lot of time to work on the series after it was shot. After this, the CW said the show was renewed. The process stayed quiet, which kept leaks from happening, and it got ready for a big premiere in January.

• Filming status: Filming started on August 28, 2025, and continued through December 3, 2025.
• Confirmed by: Deadline and other reliable sources.
• Why the delay: The CW and CBC had different timelines, but the CW still joined the season.

Directors and Creative Team Behind Season 3

The Wild Cards story goes on with a team of executive producers and directors that can be counted on. To make sure everything stays the same, the main characters from season 2 and earlier have come back. 

The cast has a lot of experienced actors, like Vanessa Morgan and Giacomo Gianniotti, and is led by showrunners and directors who have been in the business for a long time.

• Showrunner: The series is still led by Michael Konyves.
• Directors include: James Genn, Amanda Tapping, Shawn Piller, and Andy Mikita.
• Executive producer credits: Shawn Piller, Marcus Robinson, and Alexandra Zarowny.
• Production companies: Blink49 Studios, Front Street Pictures, and Piller Segan.

Has Wild Cards Been Renewed For 2025?

Yes, CBC has renewed Wild Cards for both a third and a fourth season. The CW confirmed later, but still confirmed that the third season would come out in 2026. When CBC made the first move, a lot of fans didn’t get it. The catch was that US viewers had to wait for a different announcement. Everything is now clear, and the show is set to happen.

Confirmation of More Seasons

CBC gave the show two more seasons, not just one. The CW has only talked about the third season so far, but with how things are going, it seems like a fourth season will come next. The team is already making plans for the future.

• Renewed by: CBC Television for seasons 3 and 4.
• CW confirmation: Joined later and have only confirmed season 3 so far.
• Renewal date: CBC announced it in May, and the CW followed in November.

Why Renewal Confusion Happened

Max thought her history was behind her, just as many people thought the show could be over after season 2. But that wasn’t what happened. The difference between the Canadian and American announcements made the renewal process seem unclear. Luckily, the whole story was told.

• Different timelines: While the CW waited, CBC made an early move.
• Uncertainty: Before the November confirmation, fans thought the show was over.
• Final clarity: The Wild Cards website, press, and networks all now agree on the next season.

Final Thoughts

Wild Cards Season 3 brings back the unlikely duo, ready to solve crimes again. Riverdale’s Vanessa Morgan returns as Max, the clever con artist, alongside the demoted detective Ellis. Tamara Taylor joins as Max’s mother, whose arrival upends Max’s already complicated relationship. 

After the second season ended with twists, fans now have hope for deeper stories. The show explores a world where chaos, crime, and emotional bonds collide with every case.

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