LIAM DANIEL/NETFLIX
Words by Harper’s BAZAAR Staff
“We’re planning to be in the Bridgerton business for a long time to come,” Netflix said
Before season two of Bridgerton had even premiered in March 2022, Netflix announced that the hit Shonda Rhimes–produced period drama would continue on at least through seasons three and four, showing the streamer’s confidence in the series.
In a statement at the time, Netflix exec Bela Bajaria said the creative team behind Bridgerton had “some exciting plans for the future,” per The Hollywood Reporter, and that “we think audiences will continue to swoon for this show. We’re planning to be in the Bridgerton business for a long time to come.”
Calling the two-season pickup “a strong vote of confidence in our work,” Rhimes said in a statement that she felt “incredibly grateful to have partners as collaborative and creative as Netflix.” Here’s what we know about the forthcoming third season.
See the first-look photos from season three.
Netflix has released the first images from season three of Bridgerton, presented by star Nicola Coughlan at the streamer’s Tudum event in São Paolo, Brazil. The pics focus on Penelope Featherington (Coughlan) and Colin Bridgerton (Luke Newton) as the season’s main couple, with Coughlan teasing that both characters have grown as Colin returns from his travels and Penelope begins her search for a husband.
LIAM DANIEL/NETFLIX
LIAM DANIEL/NETFLIX
LIAM DANIEL/NETFLIX
LIAM DANIEL/NETFLIX
What will happen in season three?
In May 2022, Lady Whistledown revealed that season three would be all about her love story.
Coughlan dropped the news during Netflix’s FYSEE panel at an Emmys For Your Consideration event.
“Like Lady Whistledown, I have been keeping a secret for quite some time and I can confirm to you all that season three is Colin and Penelope’s love story,” she said. “I have kept that secret since two weeks into season two.”
Throughout the first two seasons, Penelope makes her love for close friend Colin clear to viewers, but keeps it quiet from him. But toward the end of season two, Colin seems to begin seeing her with different eyes, as he realizes she’s always been there for him.
“There’s so much love for that relationship,” said Newton, who plays Colin. “Which brings its pressures because there are people that are really excited about this story to come to the forefront. But also it really warms me.”
It’s a diversion from author Julia Quinn’s original timeline, as her third Bridgerton book focuses on Benedict Bridgerton and her fourth on Penelope and Colin. Still, fans will likely not be disappointed, as they have been waiting for a development in the friendship since the start of the show.
“I feel like if you see Penelope fawning over this boy for another season, you’ll be like, ‘Get it together! Come on, move on and get over it,’” Coughlan said at the panel.
Netflix also confirmed that Penelope and Colin’s “friendship potentially blooms into something more all while balancing her double life as Lady Whistledown” in season three.
Production may have been delayed.
In July 2022, Netflix posted a quick clip on Twitter, featuring the cast confirming that filming had begun for season three.
“Welcome back to Bridgerton! Season 3 is officially in production,” read the tweet.
Welcome back to Bridgerton! Season 3 is officially in production pic.twitter.com/t24N0wX4KT
— Netflix (@netflix) July 20, 2022
The streamer also released a sneak peek at the first episode of season three during its September 2022 Tudum fan event. The clip begins with an interview and painting challenge between Newton and Claudia Jessie (who plays Eloise Bridgerton), before Coughlan drops in to read from the season premiere’s script, revealing the title—“Out of the Shadows”—and the first few lines of Lady Whistledown’s narration.
The snippet, part of a classic Whistledown season opener and written by new showrunner Jess Brownell, reads:
Dearest gentle reader,
We’ve been apart for far too long. At last, London’s smart set has made its return, and so too has this author. As the season begins, the question on everyone’s minds is, of course, which newly minted debutante will shine the brightest. The crop this year proves to be rather dazzling indeed. Unfortunately, not every young lady can attract the light.
In January 2023, however, there were rumors that production on season three had been delayed, because Rhimes wasn’t pleased with the latest storyline.
“We have been told that it needs the fun back so there are changes, which of course means delays,” a source said. “One thing is for sure though, the production team want to get it right for Bridgerton fans so they enjoy it as much as they have in the past. There are some elements that Shonda is just not happy with so wants to change them. Some of it got very dark.”
When is it dropping?
A release date for season three hasn’t been confirmed yet, but it’s believed that a post on Coughlan’s Instagram in March 2023 was from the season wrap party, signaling that filming is complete. However, because Netflix just released spin-off Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story in May, it seems likely the next season of the main series wouldn’t come out until late 2023 at the very earliest.
Who’s in the cast?
Jonathan Bailey, a.k.a. Lord Anthony Bridgerton, confirmed in May 2022 the cast was returning to film season three in June, per E! News, with Hannah Dodd replacing Ruby Stokes in the role of Francesca Bridgerton.
Deadline also reported that Hannah New, the leading lady of Starz’s Black Sails, had joined the cast to play Lady Tilley Arnold, a firebrand widow. According to the report, Tilley was “widowed at an early age [and] she enjoys the privileges and power that come with being at the helm of her former husband’s estate, living life on her own terms with financial independence and sexual freedom.”
JON KOPALOFF//GETTY IMAGES
One original cast member who won’t be returning is season one star Phoebe Dynevor, who confirmed to ScreenRant that she wasn’t a part of season three’s overall storyline.
“Sadly [I’m] not in season three,” the actress said. “Potentially in the future. But in season three, I’m just excited to watch as a viewer.”
Will Regé-Jean Page return?
Rumors have swirled that the Duke of Hastings himself might return to the world of Bridgerton for season three. The actor famously passed on appearing in season two, claiming his contract was only for the first season and saying he wanted to pursue other projects.
“Regé-Jean was always very open about his intention to quit the show after the first season and to move on to other projects. But recently there has been a dialogue between him and the show’s bosses,” a source told The Sun in June 2022. “Nothing has been formally agreed yet, but watch this space.”
Page dismissed the rumors on his Instagram a few days after that, saying, “No, I’m not going back to the show btw – the papers made that one up”), but only time will tell if he changed his mind.
This article originally appeared in harpersbazaar.com
