One-Punch Man is a Shonen Jump mega-hit, taking advantage of both the shonen and superhero genres to create a comedy unlike any from either side. The manga has run for over 20 volumes, but the anime has somehow only received about as many episodes. This is all despite how recognizable and successful the franchise has been in the last decade.
The lack of a third season for One-Punch Man or even any news about it is concerning, especially as the years since Season 2's end increase. Here's where the show and its source material have gone so far, as well as when a Season 3 might possibly be coming out.
The Plot & Origin of One-Punch Man
The world of One-Punch Man is one full of superheroes, supervillains and monstrous kaiju. One such hero is Saitama, who has yet to officially join the Hero Association despite his immense strength. Said strength allows him to defeat pretty much any opponent he faces with one punch, as he's honed power to the utmost level to the point of being bored with it.
During his lackadaisical adventures, he befriends the cyborg Genos, who seeks vengeance against the person that killed his family. They both join the Hero Association, with Saitama ironically receiving a low rank in the bureaucratic organization due to his lack of attention to detail. Saitama, Genos and several other heroes become vital, however, against an alien invasion and the machinations of the Monster Association, who intend to rule the world in some way or another.
The original webcomic was remade into a manga, which received an anime adaptation that ran for two 12 episode seasons. Both seasons also received several OVA specials, and another one titled Road to Hero. Despite the franchise's continued popularity and the manga and webcomic both still being published, there's yet to be a third season made.
Will There Be a Season 3 of One-Punch Man?
To be fair, the current lack of any word on a new season of the One-Punch Man isn't exactly that strange. After all, there was a four-year gap between the first season, which came out in 2015, and the second, which was released in 2019. Given that we're only two years removed from 2019, things could still be on track for a 2023 release date for Season 3.
That's not to say, however, that this is the schedule fans should go by. There's been no official announcement from production studio J.C. Staff on whether or not production has started on a third season. Still, it's more a matter of "when" more than "if" considering that the manga still has loads of material to adapt. With news of a live-action movie being announced last year, there's certainly more than just one punch left in the franchise, so its animated adaptation will likely be coming back sometime in the next few years.