Sorry, ‘Sex Lives of College Girls’ Fans, Reneé Rapp Is Leaving the Show After Season 3—Here’s Everything We Know

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Published Jul 10, 2023

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Katrina Marcinowski/HBO Max

*Warning: Spoilers ahead*

If you’ve seen the jaw-dropping season two finale of The Sex Lives of College Girls, then you’re probably dying to know if Whitney and Kimberly will ever make amends. Or maybe you’re wondering if Bela will stick around at Essex. Either way, it won’t be too long before we get some answers, because Max has already renewed The Sex Lives of College Girls for season three.

However, we just recently caught wind of one major (and sad) new development: star Reneé Rapp (AKA Leighton) will have a limited role in season three, and she'll be leaving the show after this latest installment.

So, what does this mean for season three of The Sex Lives of College Girls? Are any other cast members leaving (and will we get any new additions)? Keep reading for details on the forthcoming season.

1. When Was The Sex Lives of College Girls Season 3 Confirmed?

Thanks to a string of show cancellations on Max, fans were understandably in panic mode when season two drew to a close. But fortunately, Sex Lives was left off the chopping block. In December 2022, right before the season two finale, the streaming platform announced that the students of Essex College will return for season three.

Suzanna Makkos, EVP of original comedy and adult animation at Max, said in a press release, “Mindy Kaling and Justin Noble continue to brilliantly capture the college experience in the most entertaining and relatable way. This series is the perfect balance of comedy, sex, curiosity and chaos, and we can’t wait to see what the next season brings.”

2. What Is The Sex Lives of College Girls Season 3 About?

If you recall, season two left us with a few loose ends, from Kimberly and Canaan’s kiss to Whitney's decision to move out. Clearly, this will affect the core group’s dynamic, and showrunner Justin Noble told Variety that it will have a huge impact on their living situation in season three.

He said, “We dangle this idea of who’s going to room together in second year? For me, that was always the most fascinating part of college. It’s literally announcing a test. It’s saying, ‘Hey, you all lived together. Do you like each other enough to live together again?’ I remember being in the meeting when it happened and looking around like, ‘Oh, my God, are we going to answer in front of everyone and say we want to live with these people?’ It was such a pressured environment.”

Meanwhile, Noble teased that Bela will learn quite a bit from her decisions. He said, “She is a knee-jerk reactor. She has an impulse, and she is very confident that her impulses are going to lead her to success. That’s part of what makes her so fun, but it’s probably not setting her up for her happiest future. The show is telling us it’s time to start exploring that.”

3. Who Will Star in The Sex Lives of College Girls Season 3?

The main cast, including Pauline Chalamet (Kimberly), Amrit Kaur (Bela), Alyah Chanelle Scott (Whitney) and Rapp will return for season three.

However, Deadline reported that Rapp would only have a limited role in season three, and she'll be leaving the series after the forthcoming season. Editor Peter White wrote: “Deadline understands that Rapp will appear in a handful of episodes of season three of the show, which was renewed in December, but will not be a series regular and will depart the show after those episodes.”

Rapp also shared a statement to her Instagram Story, writing, “Thank u mindy, justin and everyone at Max for believing in me. a lot of queer work gets belittled—but playing Leighton has changed my life. i love who I am 10x more than I did before knowing her. i hope she gave y'all a little bit of that too…I'm so excited for this season and I can't wait for you to see what we have coming for her and the girls.”

Given that season two introduced a few new faces, like Mekki Leeper and Christopher Meyer, it’s likely that Max will continue to roll out new casting announcements for season three.

Katrina Marcinowski/HBO Max

4. Is There a Premiere Date for The Sex Lives of College Girls Season 3?

Season three is still in the very early stages—so early that Max has yet to confirm whether production has started. As of now, the streaming service hasn’t announced a release date, but the new episodes will likely drop sometime in 2024.

Katrina Marcinowski/HBO Max

5. Is There a Trailer for The Sex Lives of College Girls Season 3?

Since filming hasn’t started yet, fans will have to wait a little while before they get a glimpse of the new season. Still, something tells us it will be worth the wait.

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Joel Calfee

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Joel is the former Associate Editor for News & Entertainment and has been reporting on all things pop culture for over 5 years. Before working at PureWow, he served as a Features Editor at ROCKET Magazine. When he's not dissecting the latest trends in entertainment (or guiding you on what to watch), he covers all the hottest red carpet looks and fashion movements. When he steps away from the keyboard, you can likely find him at an NYC concert, thrift store or LGBTQ+ bookstore happily perusing the shelves.

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