Homeland season 3 has confirmed all its guest stars for the upcoming season, with a few surprise inclusions announced.

Homeland season 3 is beginning to put all its ingredients together to form yet another terrific season.

We learned yesterday that Showtime, Homeland‘s parent network, had confirmed all of its guest stars for the third season in a press release. We reported last week that Homeland was set to introduce 7 new characters, but we are in fact getting 8 new characters.

Homeland season 3 confirmed guest stars

Joanna Merlin as “Grandma Lois”

Merlin will be joining the cast to play Jessica Brody’s mother. We expect Lois to play a comforting figure due to the breakdown of Jessica’s and Brody’s relationship. Merlin has starred in Law & Order: Special Victims Unit in the past.

Nazanin Boniadi as “Fara”

Boniadi’s character, Fara, will be joining the CIA as a capable young analyst despite being relatively inexperienced. Boniadi had starred in the popular comedy, How I Met Your Mother as one of Barney Stinson’s girlfriends.

Amy Morton as “Erin Kimball”

Morton will be one of the closest characters to Carrie Mathison, and will be hired as her personal attorney. What sort of trouble will we be seeing Carrie in this season? Time will tell. Morton had previously been part of the Boss cast.

Gary Wilmes as “Dr. Richardson”

Wilmes joins the cast as a psychiatrist helping Dana Brody cope with the turbulence and hysteria surrounding the Brody family. We think this is a really good move from the writers as this will open up a door of character evolution regarding Dana Brody. Wilmes has previously been cast in Louie.

Sam Underwood as “Leo”

Underwood will also become an interesting character regarding the development of Dana Brody. Leo will be a new friend for Dana, but will also share a troubled past. Underwood had been cast in The Last Keepers and had a guest role in Dexter.

Tracy Letts as “Senator Andrew Lockhart”

Letts, the multi-talented actor and playwright will be a wise addition to the cast and will be playing the role of a “powerful, authoritative and commanding Committee Chairman”.

Lawrence Clayton as “Admiral Jim Pennington”

Clayton will be Homeland‘s new national security advisor. We imagine that Pennington and Lockhart will be part of the new set up within the Government and its defence services. Clayton had been cast in Dreamgirls and The Big C in the past.

Pedro Pascal as “Majority Counsel David Portillo”

Portillo will also be part of the Government’s new-look staff and his role will be part of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence. He will work closely with CIA operatives in tracking Nicholas Brody down. Pascal has been cast in Graceland.

What do you think about the guest-starring roles confirmed within Homeland? Who do you think will still be part of Homeland season 4 come the end of the upcoming season?

Homeland season 3 premieres on Showtime, September 29.