Here’s What to Expect from Bridgerton Season 3

Dearest readers, it seems production is already underway for Bridgerton Season 3. Here's what to know about the period drama.

After two hit seasons, Bridgerton is officially one of the best TV shows to come out in the past five years. Viewers clearly “burn” for it: The first season was such a hit that it racked up 625 million viewing hours during its first 28 days, cementing it as one of the best TV shows on Netflix. So it’s no wonder fans are clamoring for details about Bridgerton Season 3.

Based on the romance novels by Julia Quinn, the period drama follows the story of the upper-class Bridgerton siblings and their quest to find love in the early 1800s in England. The show is produced by Grey’s Anatomy creator Shonda Rhimes, and the cast members are far more diverse than in your typical British period piece, which gives it a distinctly modern vibe. (Though the real Queen Charlotte reportedly was of African descent.)

There’s hot-and-heavy romance and plenty of scandals, all of which are told through the narration of Lady Whistledown, the secret author of the town’s local gossip papers. Will there be a Season 3 of Bridgerton? You bet. If you’re done bingeing Bridgerton Season 2 and can’t wait to find out what happens in Bridgerton Season 3, read on for the inside story.

When will Bridgerton Season 3 premiere?

It’s still unclear exactly when Bridgerton Season 3 will drop on Netflix, but we certainly know it’s in the works. Last April, the streamer announced it had renewed the show for a third and fourth season. And in July, the show’s official Instagram account announced production was underway by dropping a clip of cast members holding up three fingers as they appeared on set.

There’s no set Bridgerton Season 3 release date, but barring any unforeseen issues, fans can expect more scandal and romance in early 2023. For now, you can get your fill of pining and enemies-to-lovers romance by rewatching the first two seasons on Netflix.

What will Bridgerton Season 3 be about?

Season 1 of the show focused on Daphne Bridgerton (Phoebe Dyvenor) and her search for a perfect husband—she eventually landed the sexy Duke of Hastings, Simon Bassett, played by Regé-Jean Page. Season 2 picked up where we left off, this time focusing on oldest brother Lord Anthony Bridgerton (Jonathan Bailey), who fell for the headstrong Kate Sharma (Simone Ashley). That leads us to Season 3, and if you haven’t caught up yet, consider this your spoiler alert.

Bridgerton Season 3 will be all about Penelope Featherington (aka the secret Lady Whistledown) and Colin Bridgerton, who have long been very good friends, though Penelope has nursed a secret crush on Colin for ages. When we last left the pair, Penelope had caught Colin saying some not-so-nice things about her. His hurtful words have apparently kicked her crush to the curb, because Season 3 Bridgerton will see her looking for a proper husband.

Of course, this is romance viewing, and the pair are destined for each other. When Colin steps in as a friend to help Penelope find a husband, he soon realizes his feelings might be more than platonic. But remember: While viewers and a select few characters know Penelope’s big secret, Colin is none the wiser.

Who will be in Bridgerton Season 3?

It’s the question on every viewer’s mind: Will Simon be in Season 3? Sorry, fans, but Page will not be back to play the dashing duke in Bridgerton Season 3, just as he wasn’t in Season 2.

But all the other main players will return. And yes, that means we’ll see more of Kate and Anthony. Ashley confirmed that her and Bailey’s characters were “just getting started.”

There is a slight casting twist, though: Ruby Stokes, the actress who played the youngest Bridgerton daughter, Francesca, in the first two seasons will be replaced by actress Hannah Dodd. Stokes had a scheduling conflict, as she’s set to play the lead in another Netflix show, Lockwood & Co.

We’ll also meet three dashing new suitors who show up to charm ladies looking for love, according to Variety. Look forward to meeting the eccentric and wealthy Lord Debling (Sam Phillips), the charismatic Marcus Anderson (Daniel Francis) and the attractive (but not overly intelligent) Harry Dankworth (James Phoon).

Will Season 3 of Bridgerton be the last?

Definitely not! We know for sure that the series has already been green lit for a fourth season, and executive producer Rhimes has said she expects there will be even more seasons down the road. She even has confirmed a new Bridgerton spinoff!

“There are eight Bridgerton siblings, and as far as I’m concerned, there are eight Bridgerton seasons,” she told Variety. So no matter which of the historical fiction books in the series you’re most anxious to see on the small screen, you’re likely to come away satisfied.

Does the Bridgerton TV series follow the books?

Up until now, the show has closely followed the plot of the Bridgerton book series. Like the first book, The Duke and I, the first season of the show featured a fake romance between Daphne and Simon that soon started to feel all too real. And the second book, The Viscount Who Loved Me, is followed in Season 2 as Anthony’s plan to wed is disrupted by his intended’s prickly older sister—whom he fights with and falls for.

The third book of the series, An Offer from a Gentleman, is all about Benedict Bridgerton and his search for love with … well, we won’t spoil that for you. But we already know that the show will next be focusing on Penelope and Colin, bringing the romance from the fourth book (Romancing Mister Bridgerton) ahead in the timeline. Whether the show will jump back to Benedict’s story for the next season is anyone’s guess!

Sources:

  • Instagram: @bridgertonnetflix
  • Deadline: “‘Bridgerton’ Star Simone Ashley Confirms Season 3 Return: ‘Kate & Anthony Are Just Getting Started'”
  • TV Line: “Hannah Dodd Talks Bridgerton Recast Prep (‘She’s a Beautiful Character’), Her Hopes for Season 3’s Big Love Story”
  • Variety: “‘Bridgerton’ Season 3 Adds New Cast Members as Production Begins”
  • Variety: “Shonda Rhimes on Creating Hit TV at Netflix, ‘Inventing Anna’ and Whether Regé-Jean Page Will Ever Return to ‘Bridgerton'”

Gillian Telling
Gillian Telling is a New York–based entertainment journalist who, for the past 15 years, has covered the entire spectrum of pop culture as a writer and editor. She's interviewed hundreds of celebrities throughout her career, ranging from Alex Trebek to Jennifer Lawrence, and prides herself on being the first person to ever declare that Schitt's Creek was an amazing new show (five years before everyone else caught on!).