The Apple TV+ dystopian series Silo is returning for its third season on July 3, 2026, and showrunner Graham Yost has confirmed a significant change from the original novels by Hugh Howey. A key character from the books has been renamed, and Yost is opening up about the political reasoning behind that decision. The series, starring Rebecca Ferguson, has become popular for its tense storytelling and world-building. Season 3 will explore two different timelines: one following Juliette’s life in Silo 18 and another going back in time to the “Before Times.”
Why the Character Name Was Changed
In the Hugh Howey novel Shift, the character is named Congressman Donald Keene. However, in the television adaptation, the character will be known as Congressman Daniel Keene, played by actor Ashley Zukerman. Yost explained that the name change was a deliberate decision to avoid any real-world political associations.
“I didn’t want to name a character Donald in this world, either because I believe in that Donald or not believe [in him]. It’s recognisable, it’s too much of a hot button. Also I love the Elton John song Daniel!”
The showrunner told Radio Times that the name “Donald” is simply too recognizable in today’s political climate. He wanted to keep the focus on the story and the fictional world of the silos rather than have audiences draw unintended connections. Yost also mentioned a personal reason for the new name: his appreciation for the Elton John song “Daniel.” Ashley Zukerman will play the younger, ambitious congressman whose story is central to the pre-silo history.
Other Major Changes From the Books in Season 3
Season 3 of Silo is expected to diverge more significantly from the source material compared to the first two seasons. While the first two seasons roughly followed the first book, the upcoming season deals with the second book, Shift, which presents unique adaptation challenges. In the book, the main character Juliette does not appear until the very last page. Yost and the writing team decided to change that to keep the audience engaged.
“In Shift, the second book, Juliette doesn’t appear until the final page, and I said, ‘Hugh, we’re not doing that.’ And he’s like, ‘Cool. I wanna see what you do.’”
Instead of being absent for most of the season, Rebecca Ferguson’s character, Juliette, will have a major storyline throughout the entire season. She will be dealing with memory loss following the events of the Season 2 finale. This is a big change from the books but one that author Hugh Howey supports. Howey is an executive producer on the show and has been involved in the adaptation process.
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What to Expect From Silo Season 3
The third season will show the origins of the silos and what life was like before they were built. This “Before Times” storyline will follow Congressman Daniel Keene and journalist Helen Drew (played by Jessica Henwick) as they uncover the truth about the world’s collapse. The season will also feature scenes involving a drone mission, which leads to new revelations about the history of the silos.
Silo has a score of 8.1 on IMDb, and the new season is set to explain many of the show’s biggest mysteries. The series has been renewed for a fourth and final season, which will complete the story.
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