Now that “Queen Charlotte” – the first Bridgerton spinoff – has premiered, some fans have their eyes set on the next season of “Bridgerton,” the show’s third. The new season will focus on Nicola Coughlan‘s character, Penelope Featherington, and Luke Newton‘s Colin Bridgerton, though the final episodes of “Queen Charlotte” also tease a possible “Bridgerton” romance for the Dowager Viscountess, Violet Bridgerton (Ruth Gemmell).
Netflix shared a glimpse of the new season in a video during its September 2022 Tudum fan event. In the video, Coughlan revealed the title of the third season’s premiere episode, “Out of the Shadows,” and even read Lady Whistledown’s introduction (written by Penelope, of course) to the new season, which points to Pen and Colin taking center stage. Netflix also shared a behind-the-scenes video in July teasing that the show had begun production on the new season. The season reportedly ended filming in March, with both Newton and Coughlan sharing a photo from what seemed to be a wrap party on Instagram. It’s not clear if the writers strike will affect the season’s release date, however.
“I really feel like it’s Colin and Penelope’s time. Because we’ve been watching both of these actors on our screens since season one, we’ve already invested in them a little bit.”
Back in May 2022, Netflix confirmed that season three will tell Colin and Penelope’s story. Had the show followed the order of Julia Quinn’s books, season three would’ve followed the second-oldest Bridgerton brother, Benedict, but Netflix decided to adapt the plot of the fourth book, “Romancing Mister Bridgerton,” instead.
“I really feel like it’s Colin and Penelope’s time,” “Bridgerton” showrunner Jess Brownell explained to Variety at the time about the decision. “Because we’ve been watching both of these actors on our screens since season one, we’ve already invested in them a little bit. We know who they are as people. I feel like, especially in the last season, there are these moments of tension between them where it’s like, Colin walks up to the line of almost realizing that Penelope has feelings for him but doesn’t quite get there. Instead of treading water on that dynamic, we wanted to push it into their season. It really felt like the perfect moment to tee it up.”
Keep reading for everything we know about the highly anticipated third season of “Bridgerton” so far.
Related: New “Bridgerton” Prequel Trailer Teases the Start of Queen Charlotte and King George’s Love Story
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"Bridgerton" Season 3 Plot
We know that season three will cover Penelope and Colin’s love story, which Quinn wrote about in her novel “Romancing Mister Bridgerton.” But the soon-to-be lovers are in quite a different situation in the TV show than they were in the books. Book readers didn’t find out that Penelope was Lady Whistledown until book four, while TV watchers have known since season one. In the books, Penelope has kept everyone from finding out the truth. In the show, Eloise (Claudia Jessie) knows, and their friendship has fallen apart because of it.
In the books, Eloise doesn’t learn Penelope was Lady Whistledown until well after Penelope and Colin are wed. The TV show also added the season one plot involving Colin, Marina, and Penelope, which doesn’t exist at all in the books. All this is to say that how the show chooses to get Colin and Penelope to their happily ever after will be a surprise for both book readers and casual viewers alike.
One aspect of the story fans don’t have to worry about is the book’s controversial Penelope glow-up, which leads to Colin seeing Pen in a romantic light. In the book, this change is mostly attirbuted to Penelope losing weight. Coughlan revealed to Variety in June 2022 that the show’s version of the character’s glow-up will be about her coming into her own strength, and the only major change in her appearance will involve her over-the-top dresses being dialed back a bit. “I think the glow up is going to be more to do with the costumes,” Coughlan said. “I think it’s not going to be like this insane physical transformation.”
There’s also the chance we’ll see more of the other siblings’ love lives this season, too. With news that the show has recast the role of Francesca, it’s possible it will include the story of Francesca meeting and marrying her first husband, which is not the plot of her novel “When He Was Wicked.” Plus, “Queen Charlotte” set up that Lady Violet will be looking for some love – and lust – of her own this time around.
Related: We Need to Talk About That Major “Bridgerton” Breakup
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"Bridgerton" Season 3 Cast
Most of the main second-season cast will be returning for season three. Luke Newton and Nicola Coughlan will take the lead as Colin and Penelope, respectively. The rest of the cast includes Ruth Gemmell (Violet), Luke Thompson (Benedict), Claudia Jessie (Eloise), Golda Rosheuvel (Queen Charlotte), and Adjoa Andoh (Lady Danbury). Jonathan Bailey (Anthony) and Simone Ashley (Kate) are also returning. Famously, season one leading man Regé-Jean Page (Simon) departed the series after just one season, and Phoebe Dynevor (Daphne) has also shared she won’t be returning for season three.
Another season two cast member who’s not returning is Charithra Chandran, who plays Edwina Sharma. She told Indian Express in August 2022 that she was not on set for the third season.
Ahead of the beginning of filming for season three, Netflix announced that the role of Francesca, previously played by Ruby Stokes, will now be played by Hannah Dodd. On July 20, the streamer announced a trio of new characters: Daniel Francis will play Marcus Anderson, Sam Phillips will play Lord Debling, and James Phoon will play Harry Dankworth.
Another new face joining the season three cast is Hannah New, best known as the leading lady of Starz’s “Black Sails.” Per Deadline, the actor will portray Lady Tilley Arnold, a firebrand widow who “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.”
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"Bridgerton" Season 3 Episodes
Nothing has officially been announced as far as the episode count of season three. However, both the first and second seasons ran for eight episodes each. It seems pretty safe to say, then, that season three will also have eight episodes, each approximately an hour long. Meanwhile, the premiere episode will be entitled “Out of the Shadows.”
