Bridgerton Season 3 Set To Ignite More Romance And Intrigue

The world of Bridgerton is brimming with romance, and the excitement is palpable as fans gear up for the highly-anticipated third season. This season, Penelope Featherington (played by Nicola Coughlan) and Colin Bridgerton (portrayed by Luke Newton) finally explore their long-awaited romantic chemistry.

During an interview with PEOPLE at the premiere in New York City on May 13, author Julia Quinn, the mastermind behind the beloved book series, hinted at what’s to come at the New York City premiere on May 13. 

“I can’t say a word, I’ll get in so much trouble,” Julia teased, keeping fans on their toes about the next storyline. Despite her secrecy, she did confirm that she knows who will be at the center of the upcoming drama. “I do know, but I can’t say yes,” she added, sparking further curiosity.

The first two seasons of the Netflix series have closely followed Julia’s novels, with the third season making a notable shift. Instead of adapting the third book, An Offer From a Gentleman, which focuses on Benedict Bridgerton (played by Luke Thompson), the show jumps to the fourth book, Romancing Mister Bridgerton, centering on Penelope and Colin’s story. This decision has left fans wondering about the future seasons: Will the fourth season return to Benedict’s story, or will it explore Eloise’s tale from To Sir Phillip, With Love?

Julia shared that there are currently “four [seasons] contracted, but Shonda [Rhimes] is saying eight, and she’s the boss.” This suggests that there’s much more Bridgerton content on the horizon. Shonda, the show’s producer, has previously hinted at unexpected storytelling orders. “We’re not necessarily going in order but we are going to be seeing each of the siblings and their stories,” she told Entertainment Tonight after the second season premiered.

Shonda appears to have a clear vision for the series’ progression. In an interview with Variety, she revealed that she has planned out the story arcs through “season 6 or maybe 7,” ensuring each sibling’s narrative is carefully interwoven and foreshadowed. 

“I do have a very specific plan of where we go each season — which one is which. Because you really have to start seeding in the other siblings, and what’s going on with them, to push them to the next season,” she explained.

Reflecting on the show’s success, Julia reminisced about the first season’s debut in 2020. Describing the adaptation process, she said it felt “like a Cinderella story,” marveling at how her books had not only been made into a series but had done so under the prestigious Shondaland banner. She praised the show for beautifully expanding the focus to accommodate the ensemble cast while staying true to the essence of her tightly wound plots.

The excitement for the third season of Bridgerton is further fueled by the cast’s dynamic performances. “Obviously it’s the romance, and Nicola and Luke are amazing, but it’s such an ensemble cast and there’s so many little moments with everyone, which I think are just so fabulous,” Julia enthused.

Fans don’t have to wait long to dive back into the opulent world of Bridgerton. The first part of season 3 premieres on May 16, with the second part dropping on June 13. In the meantime, seasons 1 and 2, along with the spinoff Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story, are available for streaming on Netflix.