On November 12, Netflix will debut the third season of “The Empress.” It will also mark the final episodes of the historical series, as the streaming service announced on Thursday. The production had been honored as Best Drama Series at the 51st International Emmy Awards in 2023.
Devrim Lingnau Islamoğlu (27) and Philip Froissant return as Elisabeth and Franz. The imperial couple, however, head into the finale under ominous signs.
Franz Returns Home as a Broken Man
According to Netflix, Emperor Franz returns traumatized from the Sardinian War. He is haunted by the guilt of having lost thousands of young men on the battlefield. Elisabeth tries to stand by him and fights to save their marriage. At the same time, she advocates for what she believes is right for the empire. Yet neither effort bears fruit.
As Franz begins an affair, the marriage teeters on the brink. The resistance at court and her own frail health eventually drive Elisabeth away from Vienna, and for recovery she travels to a distant island. There, it isn’t just the marriage at stake—Elisabeth’s life is on the line as well.
A Meeting with Consequences
On this journey, the Empress happens upon Count Andrássy (Dejan Bućin), the leader of the Hungarian revolution. An immediate, powerful intellectual and physical attraction blooms between them. This encounter will not only alter Elisabeth’s life but also shape the fate of the Habsburg dynasty.
Parallel to these events, Franz’s brother Maximilian (Johannes Nussbaum) sets off with his wife Marie (Josephine Thiesen) for Mexico, where he is to ascend the imperial throne. For Elisabeth, everything ultimately boils down to one question: Will she follow her heart unreservedly, or remain true to her people as a sincere Empress?
In the third season, Archduke Ludwig Viktor, aka “Luziwuzi,” Franz Joseph’s openly queer brother, will also return to the story. He is portrayed by Felix Nölle.
Filming Took Place in Bavaria, the Czech Republic, and Spain
The plot travels to Vienna, Hungary, Mexico, and Prussia. In front of the camera, alongside the leads, are Melika Foroutan, Runa Greiner, Marlene Burow, Christophe Favre, and Merlin Sandmeyer.
Behind the scenes, the trusted team stays together. Katharina Eyssen returns as showrunner and head writer, sharing the creative responsibilities with executive producer Robert Eyssen.
