Bridgerton season 3: Release date, cast, spoilers and what happens next

16 May 2022, 08:38

Jonathan Bailey gets naked in dramatic Bridgerton season 2 trailer

By Katie Louise Smith

Bridgerton season 3 has already been renewed at Netflix – and it will focus on Colin and Penelope's love story. Here's everything we know so far.

Loading audio...

Great news, readers! Bridgerton season 2 may still be fresh in our minds but Netflix has already confirmed that Bridgerton season 3 is officially in the works.

Bridgerton took Netflix by storm when it first dropped in 2020, and the series quickly became the most-watched Netflix series of all time (before Squid Game took the crown). Now it's back for more with Jonathan Bailey's Anthony Bridgerton and Simone Ashley's Kate Sharma taking centre stage.

The Netflix series, which is based on Julia Quinn's popular book series, follows the same narrative within the novels, with each season telling the love story of each of the eight Bridgerton siblings.

It's now been confirmed that Bridgerton season 3 will stray from the book order, and will focus on Colin Bridgerton and Penelope Featherington.

Here's what we know about the series so far, including the possible release date, the cast and what to expect from Colin and Penelope's story.

What happens in Bridgerton season 3?

Bridgerton season 3: Here's what happens next. Picture: Netflix

When will Bridgerton season 3 be released?

Speaking to PopBuzz on the red carpet at the world premiere for Bridgerton season 2, executive producer Shonda Rhimes teased that fans may not have to wait as long to see Bridgerton return to their screens.

"We're already working on season 3," Rhimes teased, "so we can have a shorter time between seasons."

Bridgerton season 2 arrived on Netflix fifteen months after the release of season 1. Production on season 2 began in March 2021 and filming wrapped in November that same year, with the cast and crew having to contend with pandemic delays along the way. Season 2 eventually arrived on Netflix in March 2022.

Based on Shonda Rhimes' comments, it sounds like fans could hope to see Bridgerton season 3 by early 2023 at the latest. Fingers crosssed!

When does Bridgerton season 3 start filming?

Bridgerton season 3 is set to start filming at some point in the summer of 2022, as confirmed by both Nicola Couglan and Rhimes. No other details have been revealed about production just yet but expect to hear news in the coming months as the cast begin to return to work.

How many episodes will there be in Bridgerton season 3?

Much like season 1 and 2, Bridgerton season 3 will likely feature 8 episodes, all around one hour long. Plenty of time to fall in love with the next Bridgerton couple set to take our screens!

Shonda Rhimes says Bridgerton season 3 will arrive quicker than season 2

WARNING: Spoilers ahead for Bridgerton season 3 and Colin's Bridgerton book!

via GIPHY

Bridgerton season 3 plot: Who is the third Bridgerton book about?

It's now been confirmed that Bridgerton season 3 will actually follow Colin and Penelope's story, instead of Benedict and Sophie's from book 3.

As viewers and readers will know, Colin and Penelope are best friends but Penelope has been in love with him for years. In the book, the two end up kissing after growing closer together discussing the identity of Lady Whistledown. Colin sets off to apologise to Penelope following a development in the Lady Whistledown identity mystery but ends up discovering that she is, in fact, the infamous writer.

They end up getting into a huge fight which then turns into a spicy, passionate embrace. Colin realises he's in love with Penelope and, well... you know the rest.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Bridgerton (@bridgertonnetflix)

Shonda Rhimes has previously confirmed to Entertainment Tonight that they're "not necessarily going in order" with the seasons to come. Seeing as Bridgerton season 1 and season 2 have deviated slightly from the books, it's possible that season 3 will also make some changes to Colin and Penelope's storyline.

It's also possible that Bridgerton season 3 could start teasing Benedict and Sophie's relationship too, which is the focus of the third Bridgerton book. Now that the TV order has strayed from the books, here's hoping we see their story in season 4. We'll have to stay tuned to find out!

Nicola Coughlan reveals how she found out her Bridgerton character was Lady Whistledown

Who will be in the Bridgerton season 3 cast?

Bridgerton season 3 will see many of the main cast return but a few faces might be less prominent than in season 1 and season 2.

Luke Thompson (Benedict), Luke Newton (Colin), Claudia Jessie (Eloise), Will Tilston (Gregory) and Florence Hunt (Hyacinth) will all likely return as the Bridgerton siblings. Ruth Gemmell, who plays Violet Bridgerton, will also be back.

The role of Francesca Bridgerton has now been recast. Hannah Dodd will take over from Ruby Stokes who has officially left the series.

The Featheringtons will also return for more chaos, which means we'll see Nicola Coughlan (Penelope), Polly Walker (Portia), Bessie Carter (Prudence) and Harriet Cains (Philippa) back in action. And of course, Adjoa Andoh (Lady Danbury) and Golda Rosheuvel (Queen Charlotte) will also be back. Dame Julie Andrews will also likely return as the voice of Lady Whistledown.

It's currently unclear if Phoebe Dynevor will come back for a third time as Daphne Bridgerton. Regé-Jean Page will also likely not return for a cameo as Simon Basset, the Duke of Hastings. The actor left the series ahead of season 2.

Will Kate and Anthony be in Bridgerton season 3?

It has officially been confirmed that Jonathan Bailey and Simone Ashley will be returning in season 3 as Lord and Lady Bridgerton, the Viscount and Viscountess.

Speaking to Deadline, Simone said: “We’re going to be back! Kate and Anthony are just getting started."

"We have the amazing Jess Brownell who is taking the lead as showrunner in Season 3. In Season 2, there was a lot of push and pull between Kate and Anthony, there were complications with the family, and then they find each other towards the end. I think everything is just starting. I’d like to see Kate just let go a bit more and play more in Season 3 and kind of swim in that circle of love together. I think they both deserve it.”