Bridgerton buffs know that the hit Netflix show still has plenty of material left to show us. Based on Julia Quinn’s novels, Bridgerton has six more siblings’ love stories to cover.
Curious to see where the show is headed next? Here’s everything we know so far about Bridgerton season 3.
Bridgerton is renewed for a third and fourth season
Following the record-breaking first season, Netflix announced that it had already renewed the sultry period drama for both a third and fourth season, just as season 2 began filming in the UK in 2021. Though only four seasons have received the green light so far, Shonda Rhimes, executive producer of Bridgerton, intends to make eight. “There are eight Bridgerton siblings, and as far as I’m concerned, there are eight Bridgerton seasons,” she told Variety. “And maybe more.”
The season will focus on Penelope and Colin’s romance
While the first two seasons followed the book series in terms of which Bridgerton sibling led the story, things will be different in season 3. Shaking up the order of the books, the show is moving up a fan favourite love story instead of An Offer From a Gentleman, a Cinderella story that focuses on Benedict Bridgerton’s romance with Sophie Beckett, an earl’s daughter forced into captivity by her cruel stepmother.
Show producers have chosen to highlight another sibling’s book earlier than expected. During a panel talk at Netflix’s FYSEE event, Nicola Coughlan (who plays Penelope Featherington) revealed that the this season would follow Colin and Penelope’s romance, which will be complicated by Penelope’s activities as Lady Whistledown and her falling out with Eloise. “Like Lady Whistledown, I have been keeping a secret for quite some time, and I can confirm to you all that season 3 is Colin and Penelope’s love story,” she revealed. “I have kept that secret since two weeks into season 2. This is the first time I am saying it here.”
Kate and Anthony will return
We will officially be getting more appearances from the newlyweds, as Jonathan Bailey (Anthony Bridgerton) and Simone Ashley (Kate Sharma) are all set to appear in the new season. Ashley shared the news at a Netflix dinner, revealing to Deadline that “Kate and Anthony are just getting started.” Other cast members who are yet to explore their romances will also return, including Daphne, Eloise, Colin, Benedict and more. Netflix also announced that Jess Brownell, a writer who has worked across the ShondaVerse, would succeed series creator Chris Van Dusen as Bridgerton show-runner for seasons 3 and 4.
New cast member
Possibly the biggest casting news for season 3 is the announcement that Francesca Bridgerton has been replaced. Deadline reported that British actress Hannah Dodd, who recently starred in David E. Kelley’s Netflix series Anatomy of a Scandal, has been cast as Francesca, the sixth-eldest Bridgerton sibling and a new series regular, for season 3. Ruby Stokes, who has played the character for the past two seasons, is leaving the Ton to join another Netflix show, Lockwood & Co.
Queen Charlotte spin-off
Netflix announced the series last May, with Shonda Rhimes confirmed to write and executive produce Queen Charlotte’s origin story. The still-unnamed spin-off will gift us a new romance as Charlotte meets and falls in love with the King of England. It will also show the significant societal shift that followed the couple’s marriage — as Lady Danbury mentioned in season 1, their betrothal opened the door for non-white nobility to enter society. We’ll also meet young Lady Danbury and Lady Bridgerton and get the origin story of another two Bridgerton elders.
