Solo Leveling Season 3 is one of the most anticipated anime seasons at the moment, especially given the incredible success that the series found with its first two seasons, Solo Leveling Season 1 aired in 2024 and just a year later, Season 2 followed, leveling up on what was already an incredible start to an amazing story. Solo Leveling Season 2 concluded in March 2025, and since then, no update has been given on a third season. As such, Solo Leveling Season 3 has officially been delayed indefinitely. While this delay is certainly disappointing, there are a lot of details that are now clear about what course the franchise is taking next, which puts into perspective how long Solo Leveling’s ongoing delay will be.
Solo Leveling Season 3 Has Been Delayed
Solo Leveling Season 3 has officially been delayed, and that much is clear. Initially, an announcement concerning Solo Leveling Season 3 was expected right after the finale of the second season. The announcement for Solo Leveling Season 2 happened immediately after the first season concluded. In contrast, Solo Leveling Season 3 has not been announced even almost a year after the beginning of the second season.
As such, it is safe to say that Solo Leveling Season 3 has hit some obstacles and that production hasn't moved according to plan. The director for Solo Leveling is also busy with other projects, so that pushes the third season of the anime back even further. In other words, Solo Leveling Season 3 has been delayed and will most likely not be released anytime soon.
Solo Leveling Staff Indicate A 2028 Release Date
While not everything is clear about the fate of the Solo Leveling series, the fact is that it will continue in one way or another. Previously, the director and producer of the Solo Leveling anime commented on when they want the series to return.
It was stated that the preferred time for the series to come back would be around the same time as the 2028 Olympics. This is because Solo Leveling requires a lot of strenuous work from the staff. For them to breathe a sigh of relief and deliver the highest quality possible, it would require over two years of time. Of course, this was just the preference of the staff and not an official release date for the third season.
Solo Leveling Producer Teased Good News For 2026
Solo Leveling Season 3 has yet to receive any major news in 2026 so far, but it appears that it is on the cusp at this point in time. Atsushi Kaneko, one of the producers at A1 Pictures, recently stated that Solo Leveling fans have some great news coming their way.
The news isn't exactly clear yet, but Kaneko asks fans for patience for just a bit longer. It appears that this news is absolutely massive in regard to what it means for the Solo Leveling franchise, and as such, could just be about the next project of the series, which might be the third season.
Improved Quality Could Be A Reason For Season 3 Delay
The staff working on Solo Leveling Season 3 have made their desire to deliver the best possible product known on numerous occasions. Solo Leveling's production is quite incredible. However, the team wants to take things one step beyond and deliver an even better project with the next season. Naturally, this requires time and effort. This could also explain why Solo Leveling Season 3 won't come out anytime soon.
While the wait may be difficult, the trade-off is certainly going to be worth it as an even better animated product would mean the best parts of the manhwa will be done justice. It would also boost the already incredible popularity of the anime to even higher levels.
A Solo Leveling Movie Could Replace Season 3
Given the reports that are floating around at the moment, it is a huge possibility that Solo Leveling Season 3 will be replaced officially by a movie, after the theatrical release of Demon Slayer.
It has been reported that A1 Pictures has decided to switch Solo Leveling to a movie format, and if that were to be the case, then Season 3 will not come any time soon and will instead be replaced by a movie.
If the reports are to be believed, the Solo Leveling movie will come out in late 2026 or early 2027. When the reports of the movie were first revealed, it was stated that it was only in pre-production stages. As such, the official release time frame for it could vary greatly, depending on how production moves forward.
Solo Leveling Season 3 Could Happen After The Movie
There is a huge possibility that Solo Leveling Season 3 will only happen after a Solo Leveling movie. If reports of Solo Leveling getting a theatrical movie release are accurate, then it is safe to assume that Season 3 will not happen anytime soon and is actually years away. In that case, the Solo Leveling Season 3 release will happen only after the run of the movie, which could push it all the way back to 2028.
Of course, the Solo Leveling movie would most likely cover a canon arc in this scenario, similar to how Demon Slayer did with Mugen Train and Infinity Castle. While the wait for Season 3 would then get even longer, fans would at least be able to enjoy the theatrical movie release.
No Solo Leveling Season 3 In 2026
At this point in time, it can be said with absolute certainty that Solo Leveling Season 3 is not happening in 2026. Previously, fans had hoped for a late 2026 release for this incredible anime series, but given the current state of things, this is impossible. Solo Leveling Season 3 has not even been confirmed, let alone given a release date. As such, this project has officially been pushed back to 2027 at the earliest and 2028 at the latest.
Solo Leveling Season 3 might not even happen if A-1 Pictures decides to move ahead with more movies instead of anime seasons. Both anime and movie releases have their own pros and cons, but what matters is that Solo Leveling will continue to thrive in either case. The franchise is incredibly massive at this point in time and will continue to live on in one way or another. In fact, Solo Leveling is only going to get even bigger in the future, be it with a movie or Season 3, and fans all over the world are eagerly waiting for its eventual return.
- Release Date
- 2024 - 2025-00-00
- Network
- Tokyo MX, Gunma TV, BS11, Tochigi TV
- Directors
- Tatsuya Sasaki, Toru Hamasaki
- Writers
- Shigeru Murakoshi, Shingo Irie, Fuka Ishii
Cast
-
Taito BanSung Jin-woo -
Genta NakamuraYoo Jin-ho
- Studio
- A-1 Pictures
- Creator
- Chugong
- Streaming Service(s)
- Crunchyroll
