“The Apothecary Diaries” Season 3 And New Movie: Everything We Know About The Release Date, Plot, And Cast
If there is one thing anime fans love more than a good mystery, it is seeing Maomao test poisons on herself with a delightful grin. Thankfully, we will be seeing plenty more of everyoneโs favorite poison-tester soon. The massive hit “The Apothecary Diaries” is officially coming back for a third season, but the good news does not stop there. We are also getting a brand-new feature film to tide us over.
It feels like we have been waiting an eternity since Season 2 wrapped up, but the roadmap for the future is finally clear. Get your medical journals ready and prepare for some serious palace intrigue, because 2026 is shaping up to be the year of Maomao. Here is the full breakdown of everything we know about “The Apothecary Diaries” Season 3 and the upcoming movie.
“The Apothecary Diaries” Season 3 Release Date Schedule
Letโs rip the bandage off first: we have a bit of a wait ahead of us. “The Apothecary Diaries” Season 3 is slated to premiere in Oct. 2026. I know, staring at a 2026 calendar suddenly feels a lot more painful, but good things come to those who wait (or so Jinshi keeps telling himself regarding Maomao).
The release schedule for “The Apothecary Diaries” Season 3 follows a split-cour format, which has become pretty standard for big-budget anime productions lately. Here is how the release window breaks down:
- Season 3, Part 1: Oct. 2026
- Season 3, Part 2: April 2027
This means we get a nice block of episodes in the fall, a break during the winter, and then a return to the Inner Palace or wherever Maomaoโs travels take her in the spring of 2027. While the gap might seem annoying, it ensures the animation quality remains top-tier, courtesy of the folks at OLM and TOHO Animation.
An Original “The Apothecary Diaries” Movie Is Coming
If the gap between the two parts of “The Apothecary Diaries” Season 3 sounds agonizing, the producers are way ahead of you. Bridging the gap between the two cours is an original theatrical film.
The movie is scheduled to hit theaters in Dec. 2026.
What makes this particularly exciting is that it is not just a recap movie disguised as new content. This is a fully original story penned by Natsu Hyuuga, the creator of the original light novels. It serves as a side adventure separate from the main plot, meaning we get to see Maomao and Jinshi in a scenario that even the most die-hard novel readers haven’t experienced yet.
The film will be directed by Norihiro Naganuma, who anime fans might recognize from his work on “The Ancient Magusโ Bride.” Given the visual splendor of that series, we can expect this movie to look absolutely stunning on the big screen.
Cast and Crew: Who Is Returning?
You cannot have “The Apothecary Diaries” Season 3 without the voice that brings Maomaoโs dry wit to life. Aoi Yลซki is confirmed to reprise her role as the sharp-tongued apothecary. Her performance is easily one of the best parts of the show, perfectly balancing Maomaoโs apathy toward royalty with her frantic excitement toward medicinal herbs.
Takeo ลtsuka is also returning as Jinshi, the eunuch (or is he?) who manages to be both incredibly charming and hilariously pathetic when Maomao ignores him. The chemistry between these two voice actors carries the show, so having them back is non-negotiable.
While no major new cast members have been announced yet, we can expect the usual suspects from the palace, including Gyokuyou and Gaoshun, to make their return.
What To Expect From The Plot Of “The Apothecary Diaries” Season 3
If you thought life within the palace walls was dangerous, just wait until they step outside. “The Apothecary Diaries” Season 3 picks up immediately after the events of the second season and is expected to adapt the Western Capital arc.
Maomao and Jinshi are leaving the familiar setting of the rear palace to travel westward. This change of scenery opens the door for a whole new variety of problems. We are talking about high-stakes diplomatic tensions, mysterious local illnesses that will inevitably pique Maomao’s interest, and family secrets that threaten to upend everything Jinshi has worked for.
For the romance fans out there, the slow burn continues. The dynamic between Maomao and Jinshi shifts as they face these new external threats together. While Maomao usually prefers the company of a poisonous snake over a human, seeing her navigate her complicated feelings for Jinshi while solving medical mysteries is exactly why “The Apothecary Diaries” Season 3 is at the top of our watch list.
Between the split-cour season and the original movie, 2026 is going to be a massive year for the franchise. Until then, we will just have to rewatch the first two seasons and try not to eat anything that looks suspicious.
