Jane the Virgin Photos: See the Cast Back Together for Season 3

01 of 08

Brett Dier, Gina Rodriguez and Justin Baldoni

As seen in this exclusive EW photo, Jane (Gina Rodriguez) is back – along with co-stars Justin Baldoni (who plays ex-crush and baby daddy Rafael) and Brett Dier (as boy-next-door and husband Michael). But don’t let their cheery smiles fool you: Jane the Virgin’s third season seems like it might be the most topsy-turvy yet, with Michael’s future uncertain after being shot in the season 2 finale. It’s a factor that will have huge consequences on Jane’s future in season three. Says show creator Jennie Snyder Urman, “Jane makes these big moves in terms of having to forget her own life and identity.”

02 of 08

Gina Rodriguez

Jane will be a virgin no more, with a season 3 episode that will see her lose her virginity. “It’s in the first half of the season, and it’s quite a big episode for us,” says Urman. Though the matter of Jane’s lucky partner is being kept under wraps – "There’s obviously a lot of tension and question marks over that,” teases Urman – the show creator is suffering from a bit of performance anxiety given her determination to keep the scene fairly realistic. “It’s keeping me up at night,” says Urman. “We want to give real expectations, knowing that it doesn’t always come together all at once.”

03 of 08

Justin Baldoni

Growing up – and moving on – will be a major theme in the upcoming season, and Rafael will be at the center of it as he struggles to reconcile his feelings for Jane with the fact that she’s married to rival suitor Michael. “That’s gotta change him. Once he makes that change and isn’t head over heels for her any more, how does that change their relationship?” Urman remarks. “How does that affect their co-parenting? How does that change their dynamics in general? And what are they like without that yearning at the center? That’s going to be something we explore and twist in interesting ways.”

04 of 08

Brett Dier

“What happens to Michael will affect a lot of things,” Urman says, noting that his fate will provide the jumping-off point for an extended flashback scene in the season 3 premiere. “You’ll really get a deep dive into [what] Michael and Jane’s relationship was like in the beginning,” she says. “You’re going to learn a lot of surprising things.”

05 of 08

Justin Baldoni, Gina Rodriguez and Brett Dier

Fans can expect to learn more about Jane’s family in the upcoming season, thanks to a storyline that features Jane’s adventures in retracing her abuela Alba’s immigration journey. ”You’re going to be meeting people from Alba’s family in Venezuela,” Urman reveals. “I think that will [bring] interesting characters into our world.”

06 of 08

Justin Baldoni, Gina Rodriguez, and Brett Dier

“I feel very lucky,” says Rodriguez of entering Jane’s third season. The show has offered the Golden Globe winner equal opportunity to show both her dramatic and comedic chops, while sequences highlighting the series’ signature magic realism have allowed her to make the most of other talents, like salsa dancing. And season 3 promises plenty by way of fun scenes that tap into Rodriguez’s other interests and skills. “I want to do a specific boxing scene,” says Urman. “Gina’s got so many hidden talents!”

07 of 08

Brett Dier, Gina Rodriguez, and Justin Baldoni

Jane’s characters are growing up, but so is the show – though that doesn’t mean abandoning the its blend of sweet storylines, soap opera tropes and quirky humor. "I really feel the balance of our show works best when it has all of these different elements," reflects Urman. "As long as we have a lot of those elements going on, which is the trick of the show, it can hopefully speak to and affect a lot of different kinds of people." Still, fans can expect to see a slight shift in the show’s format. “We are doing some structural things differently," Urman shares. “Jane ended last season in a really fraught way, and we’re not taking that lightly as we go in – but as always, it’s making sure you can do that but make it be a comedy.”

08 of 08

Jane the Virgin in EW's Fall TV Preview

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