WARNING: This article contains spoilers for Homeland season 7 finale that may influence your enjoyment in discovering the plotlines. Read at your own risk.
Homeland season 8 was supposed to premiere in June on Showtime. However, the network confirmed in January 2019 that it would be launching the final season in the fall instead to ensure that principal photography has been completed before the show begins its run.
According to TV Line, the Homeland season 8 production started around the same time that the network confirmed its premiere would be pushed back. The farewell season will have 12 episodes with production set in Morocco to serve as the Afghanistan setting in the series.
With filming still in full swing, Showtime won't likely release the first teaser of Homeland season 8 until the tail-end of summer. Presumably, the show will premiere sometime in late October or early November, or perhaps during the holiday season where there is little competition from other shows.
In March, The Hollywood Reporter confirmed that Homeland star Claire Danes (as Carrie Mathison) would be joined, for the very first time on the show, by her real-life husband, Hugh Dancy. The actor will play John Zabel, a White House foreign policy adviser who will have challenging encounters with Saul Berenson (played by Mandy Pantikin).
Homeland season 8 will open with Carrie's recovery following her confinement and torture in Russia in the season 7 finale. She's suffering from memory problems and other health issues that will bring some complications for Saul, who will need Carrie for their negotiation with the Taliban.
However, despite medical advice, Saul proceeds to enlist Carrie to work with him yet again in this final chapter. Also joining Homeland season 8 is Beau Bridges, who will play the new President of the United States. President Walter's top priority is to end the war in Afghanistan finally, and this is where Saul and Carrie come in.
"We get to play a story with larger national stakes in season 7, and we'll go back to a smaller intelligence-based season in 8," Homeland season 8 executive producer Alex Gansa said, per Entertainment Weekly. "We get to pull out all the stops this year and then get to the emotional heart of things in season 8."
Homeland is based on a spy thriller from Israel titled Prisoners of War. Developed by Howard Gordon and Gansa, the show debuted in 2011 and reaped awards for its first and second season as on Outstanding Drama Series. Danes also won an Emmy for her portrayal of a CIA agent.
