Alice in Borderland season 3 is moving closer and closer to its release day, and there are some characters from Season 2 who should return, although it’s unclear if they will. Inspired by the classic Alice in Wonderland tale, Netflix’s Alice in Borderland, which premiered in 2020, is a live-action adaptation of the Japanese manga of the same name. Directed and co-written by Shinsuke Sato, the science-fiction thriller follows protagonist Ryōhei Arisu (Kento Yamazaki) and his friends, who unexpectedly end up in the mysterious Borderlands, an empty and dilapidated parallel version of Tokyo. Like Squid Game, another Netflix series that has been frequently compared to Alice in Borderland, Arisu quickly realizes that, despite how it sounds, he’s not there to play fun games.
Alice in Borderland Season 2 ended with a giant cliffhanger upon the season’s full release in December 2022. Arisu, his love interest Yuzuha Usagi (Tao Tsuchiya) and the other players were finally given a choice to leave the Borderlands after enough violence, death, and destruction for a lifetime. Just when things seemed like they were finally getting back to some sort of normalcy, however, the final shot of Alice in Borderland Season 2, a Joker card lying on a table, immediately told the audience that there was still a lot more to come. Did Arisu and Usagi really escape the Borderlands? What is the meaning of the Joker card? After years of anticipation, Alice in Borderland Season 3 will answer these questions, and more, on September 25, 2025. Based on press releases, the first look, and Netflix’s first released official trailer, it’s clear who will be part of the next batch of episodes. Some characters from Season 2 may or may not return, however.
Shuntaro Chishiya Portrayed by Nijirō Murakami
In the Alice in Borderland manga, Shantaro Chishiya, an executive of The Beach, is introduced in the chapter “Second Day of Sojourn.” Analytical and manipulative, yet calm and collected, Chishiya comes from a family of serious and apathetic medical professionals; Chishiya’s unconventional family unit led to his developed personality traits. In the manga, Chishiya is a Diamonds player, while in the live-action Alice in Borderland, Chishiya is primarily a Hearts player. However, in the live-action, Chishiya is introduced in Season 1, Episode 2, during the Five of Spades (Tag) game. Throughout the series, Chishiya forms the biggest connections with Arisu and Kuina; Chishiya is portrayed more as an anti-hero in the Netflix live-action, which quickly led to the character becoming a fan-favorite.
Chishiya left the Borderlands at the end of Alice in Borderland Season 2, and was briefly shown waking up in the hospital next to Kuina. Despite the character’s popularity, however, Chishiya is not featured in the Alice in Borderland season 3 first appearance. It’s unclear whether Chishiya will return to the series, and if so, in what capacity, since Chishiya is currently not listed among the returning Season 3 cast. It’s rumored that Nijirō Murakami voluntarily left Alice in Borderland after Season 2 and will take a hiatus from acting for the foreseeable future, although Netflix and/or Murakami’s management have yet to confirm or deny this.
Hikari Kuina Portrayed by Aya Asahina
Hikari Kuina, another executive of The Beach, is introduced in the chapter “The Beach, Part I” in the Alice in Borderland manga. Originally a Clubs player, Kuina eventually switched her specialty to Spades; before Kuina was sent to the Borderlands, she had a close relationship with her mother, who encouraged Kuina to express herself and use her creativity. Kuina is outspoken and confident in the manga, while in the Netflix live-action, the character is more reserved, although very resourceful. In the Alice in Borderland adaptation, Kuina is introduced in Season 1, Episode 5, where she is originally shown plotting with Chishiya to scope out Arisu and Usagi.
Kuina became another fan favorite because of her perseverance and charm; many viewers also appreciated how Kuina’s backstory was approached, as she is a transgender character assigned male at birth. As previously described, Kuina chose to return to the real world with Chishiya after the group defeated the games, and was briefly shown waking up in the hospital. Kuina is another character not shown in the first Alice in Borderland Season 3 trailer, however. Kuina’s name currently does not appear on the Season 3 cast list, either. If the character does not appear when the show returns, it could be because of Aya Ashahina’s second pregnancy. The actor announced her pregnancy in April 2025, and her child’s birth in June.
Suguru Niragi Portrayed by Dori Sakurada
As another executive of The Beach, Sugura Niragi is one of the major antagonists of Alice in Borderland. In the Netflix live-action, Niragi is introduced alongside Kuina in Season 1, episode 5, when Arisu and Usagi stumble upon The Beach. Young, lethal, and aggressive, Niragi is a character who stops at nothing to get what he wants, even at the cost of others. The character’s tough demeanor and violent nature are explained by his traumatic past, however, which has caused Niragi to gain some sympathy points from viewers throughout the series. Before he entered the Borderlands, Niragi was the victim of severe bullying; the bullying at school hardered Niragi’s outer shell to the extreme, although inside, Niragi has insecurities like everyone else.
While everyone gets roughened up throughout Alice in Borderland, Niragi is a character who gets hit with serious injury after series injury. By the end of Alice in Borderland Season 2, Niragi survives and returns to the real world despite being set on fire, thrown off a building into a pool, and shot. Niragi is shown waking up in the hospital next to Chishiya after the Borderlands, who explains that Niragi is the victim of cardiac arrest. Niragi is not shown in the Alice in Borderland Season 3 first look or trailer and his name does not appear on the cast list, either. Considering the amount of damage Niragi took in the Borderlands, his character may have been written out of the upcoming batch of episodes. As an interesting and antagonistic character, however, Niragi’s return would provide another foil.
Morizono Aguni Portrayed by Sho Aoyagi
In the manga, Morizono Aguni is introduced in the chapter, “The Beach, Part II.” As one of the more respected members of the Beach, Aguni is tall, muscular, and physically tough, serving as a militant leader for Hatter (Takeru Danma, portrayed by Nobuaki Kaneko). Aguni and Hatter share a close friendship in the Alice in Borderland manga and its Netflix live-action, and upon Hatter’s death, both versions of the character are devastated. While Aguni is more remorseful and fleshed out in the manga, the character’s grief at Hatter’s death is channeled more into rage and retribution in the live-action. By the end of Alice in Borderland Season 2, Aguni had racked up several injuries, including being shot multiple times. Like Niragi, however, Aguni ultimately survived the Borderlands and woke up in the real world.
As a supporting character, Aguni won over fans throughout Season 2 for his complicated personality and interesting character journey, which largely focused on Aguni’s fear of failure, and the consequences of grief. While he rides the line of antagonism like Niragi, Aguni is another player from the Borderlands who is highly complex, making people want to see more of him. With the injuries he accumulated before being sent to the real world, it’s unclear how Aguni could fit into the story of Alice in Borderland Season 3. Many would be happy to see the character’s return, though.
Akane Heiya Portrayed by Yuri Tsunematsu
In the manga, Akane Heiya is introduced in Fourth Side Story, “Seven of Spades, Part I.” Although Heiya’s background isn’t as extensive as some of the other main characters, Heiya’s life was headed downhill when the high school student entered the Borderlands: Heiya had little regard for her life and engaged in promiscuous tendencies. In the Alice in Borderland manga and Netflix’s adaptation, Heiya is a strong, resourceful, and resilient character who takes a lot of hits in order to save her life. In the manga, however, Heiya is more outspoken and sexually open; in the live-action, Heiya is more respectful and is confined to her growing connection with Aguni.
At the end of Alice in Borderland Season 2, Heiya survives the events and is also allowed to go home to the real world. Before the games ended, however, Heiya was severely injured by a falling rooftop, which caused one of her legs to be amputated. After the games, Heiya is briefly shown using a wheelchair to get around. Unfortunately, like the others, it’s unclear whether Heiya will be featured in Alice in Borderland Season 3, as the character isn’t featured in Netflix’s first look or official trailer. Heiya didn’t just stand out as a Borderland player, but as one character whose manga storylines were more streamlined for the show, there’s much more of the character that could be explored.
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Alice in Borderland
TV-MA
Mystery
Drama
Action & Adventure
Science Fiction
Thriller
Release Date December 10, 2020
Network Netflix
Directors Shinsuke Sato
Writers Yasuko Kuramitsu
Cast
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Creator(s) Haro Aso
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