![](https://www.gaytimes.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Elite-season-1-590x370.jpg)
Netflix has confirmed an eighth season for their Spanish smash hit Elitê, as well as the return of a veteran actor.
On Wednesday (19 July), the streamer announced that production on season eight will begin in August, with directing duties from Daniel Barone, Ginesta Guindal, Jota Linares and Elena Trapé.
Ane Rot (Killer Book Club) and Nuna Gallego (UPA Next) have joined the cast as new characters, while Mina El Hammani will reprise her role of Nadia.
El Hammani joined the series in its inaugural season as one of three characters who transferred to Las Encinas, the most exclusive private school in Madrid, alongside Samuel García Domínguez (Itzan Escamilla) and Christian Varela Expósito (Miguel Herrán).
Nadia departed Elité in season four to attend university in New York, while – spoiler alert – Samuel was killed and Christian was transferred to a Switzerland hospital after being deliberately hit with a car.
The seventh season will premiere 28 October and sees the return of Omar Ayuso as his beloved character Omar Shanaa.
“[The producers] suggested that I return and I agreed. I’ve come back from a personal place, I’m enjoying working on this series more than ever,” Ayuso previously told GAY TIMES, before joking that Netflix would “fire” him “outright” if he spilled any information on his highly-anticipated comeback.
As per, the new season will welcome an array of new actors including Mirela Balic, Gleb Abrosimov, Fernando Líndez, Iván Mendes, Alejandro Albarracín, Maribel Verdú and Brazilian pop icon Anitta.
Sadly, Manu Ríos will not be joining them.
The actor behind Patrick Blanco announced his departure in December 2022, telling fans: “Although Elité has been an incredible experience, and I am very grateful for everything it has brought, there are also times when it is necessary to move on from that stage, change the page, and do other things.”
Seasons 1-6 of Elité are streaming now on Netflix.