Earlier today we caught our first look (so to speak) at 'Homeland' season 3, via an audio teaser trailer of Nicholas Brody (Damian Lewis) in distress while out on the run, though one admittedly light on details. Now, following Showtime's TCA press tour panel, new details have emerged on the state of Carrie, Saul, Brody and his family when 'Homeland' picks up for season 3 on September 29, and the CIA will be more bleak then ever.

On the subject of Brody, last seen making his way into Canada to escape false accusations of the deadly explosion at CIA headquarters, showrunners Alex Gansa and Howard Gordon revealed that the character will be absent for at least the first two episodes of the season, his state thereafter providing something of a mystery.

[It] was just a function of storyline. Brody is on the lam. He’s the most wanted criminal in the world so he has to lay low and I think when you do see Brody I think you will see — and hopefully it will be of interest to the audience — is what state he will be in. Is he surrounded by a bevy of Russian beauties? Or is he hidden away? I hope when you do see Brody for the first time it will be interesting.

As for Carrie (Claire Danes) and Saul (Mandy Patinkin) dealing with the aftermath of the explosion, Carrie will have gone off her meds once more for " lots of reasons that she believes really strongly in," while she and Saul will face a difficult investigation into the remains of the CIA that sees the two somewhat estranged from one another. "But even though they’re estranged from each other [as a result], they’re very deeply connected.”

On the overarching theme of 'Homeland' season 3, Gordon offered up “the cost that being an intelligence officer exacts on the people in that career. As a result of the attack, the CIA itself is on trial. Saul has to make some uncharacteristic decisions he’s not used to making. He’s actually fearful that he might be the last director of the CIA.”

Among the many new cast additions to the series, we'll also spend plenty of time with the Brody family, as Nicholas' absence and implication in the attacks will reverberate with the family in ways that real-world events like the Sandy Hook Massacre or the Boston Bombing have brought to light. “We felt we had to honor these people we created and what their lives would be like after this devastating attack. All these families are always paraded in front of the cameras, and we thought that would be interesting avenue to explore."

We'll see more of 'Homeland' season 3 in the coming weeks, but in the meantime, what say you? Are you excited for the series to delve into a new plot while wrestling with the fallout of the first two years? Watch the season 3 teaser below, and give us your 'Homeland' conspiracy theories in the comments!

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