The Pitt Season 3's Original ER Actor Return Confirmed Amid Major Cast Changes

Published Oct 30, 2026, 4:15 PM EDT Grant Hermanns is a TV News Editor, Interview Host and Reviewer for ScreenRant, having joined the team in early 2021. He got his start in the industry with Moviepilot, followed by working at ComingSoon.net. When not indulging in his love of film/TV, Grant is making his way through his gaming backlog and exploring the world of Dungeons & Dragons with friends. The Pitt season 3 won't be without one fan-favorite ER character. Development on the next chapter of the hit HBO Max medical drama began even quicker than its predecessor, with season 3 getting the greenlight ahead of season 2's premiere. As the last season came near an end, though, multiple changes were revealed for The Pitt season 3 cast, including Supriya Ganesh's exit as Dr. Samira Mohan, and Ayesha Harris' Dr. Parker Ellis being promoted to series regular following her recurring appearances in the first two seasons. Now, in an interview with Collider at the SCAD Savannah Film Festival, Jalen Thomas Brooks was asked about his potential The Pitt season 3 return, in which he confirmed he will be back as ER nurse Mateo Diaz. The star confessed that he is still very much in the dark about what his role in the new season will actually entail, "just like how everybody else on that show never really knows," but praised the continued work of the show's creative team: Jalen Thomas Brooks: But what I do know is that the people behind The Pitt, and that whole creative team, they care a lot about what they’re doing. They’re so seasoned, and they have stories to tell — important ones, too. So, you’re going to continue to see stories of importance and see professionals and masters at class. Since his introduction in season 1, Brooks' Mateo has consistently been a fan-favorite recurring player among The Pitt roster. His quick wit with both his fellow Pittsburgh Trauma Medical Center's ER staff and the patients themselves quickly endeared him to viewers, while the brewing chemistry between him and Shabana Azeez's Victoria Javadi also sparked hopes at a potential romance explored between them. Audiences aren't the only ones who have expressed interest in seeing Mateo and Javadi explore their dynamic further, as Brooks previously told ScreenRant partway through The Pitt season 2's run that he believed the pair have at least "a mutual interest" in each other. He even opined that the pair likely grabbed coffee at some point between the seasons, with the pair paying more attention as they've been in the workplace together more often: Jalen Thomas Brooks: And since we've been around each other in the same workspace for a while, for close to a year at this point, I would say that there's a little bit of attention on both ends of, "We see each other. I know you're here." I think Mateo is acknowledging her, he's not going to brush it off of being like, "Oh, I don't date in the workplace." I think he's like, "No, she knows what she's doing. She's around. She's a possibility." So I think it might not be platonic. I think they could grow into something for sure. While Brooks' confirmation that he will be back for The Pitt season 3 is sure to be an exciting sign for fans of both the show and character, it is interesting that the star indicates he still doesn't know what his role in the season is. Filming began on the next set of episodes back in June, thus making it likely that Mateo's return likely won't be until later in the season if he's yet to film. However, with season 2 having previously taken seven months to film, there's also plenty of time for him to come back to set and get a meaty recurring role. The other interesting note to come from Mateo's return in The Pitt season 3 is whether it will come with any kind of impact on his and Javadi's dynamic, given Azeez's character will no longer be working in the ER as she shifts to her emergency psychiatric rotation. While the first teaser trailer for the season did show her making multiple trips downstairs, they won't entirely be without the opportunity for run-ins, though given the emotional stress likely to come from her new rotation, she may find herself looking for a trusting person to confide in. The Pitt season 3 premieres on HBO Max in January 2027. Release Date January 9, 2025 Network Max Showrunner R. Scott Gemmill Cast Dr. Michael 'Robby' Robinavitch Tracy Ifeachor Dr. Heather Collins The Pitt is a gripping drama set in Pittsburgh's Trauma Medical Center, where dedicated staff tirelessly work to save lives in a busy and underfunded emergency department. Directors Amanda Marsalis Writers Joe Sachs, Cynthia Adarkwa Main Genre Drama Creator(s) R. Scott Gemmill Executive Producer(s) Erin Jontow, John Wells, Noah Wyle, Michael Hissrich, R. Scott Gemmill, Simran Baidwan Producers Cynthia Adarkwa, Michelle Lankwarden Seasons 2 Streaming Service(s) MAX