So you’ve binge-watched all of Bridgerton season two like four times now and rewound *that* scene from episode seven more times than you care to admit? Craving the sweet sweet knowledge of future seasons? Come hither, dear reader. I’m putting on my Lady Whistledown feathered headpiece and breaking it all down for you.
Without further ado, let’s unpack the frills, spills and potential horny content of Bridgerton season three.
What is Bridgerton based on?
The Bridgerton TV series is based on a book series by the same name. It’s written by Julia Quinn and each book focuses on a seperate Bridgerton sibling.
The age order of the siblings is Anthony (Jonathan Bailey), Benedict (Luke Thompson), Colin (Luke Newton), Daphne (Phoebe Dynevor), Eloise (Claudia Jessie), Francesca (Ruby Stokes), Gregory (Will Tilston) and Hyacinth (Florence Hunt). Thank God they went for the alphabetical names. But the books don’t focus on each sibling chronologically by age — Daphne was the protagonist of season one and the first book The Duke and I.
Eldest sibling Anthony was the protagonist of season two. His story takes place in the second book, The Viscount and I.
Who will season 3 of Bridgerton focus on?
Polin shippers rejoice, because Penelope Featherington (Nicola Coughlan) and Colin Bridgerton have been confirmed as the leads of Bridgerton season three. Lady Whistledown redemption arc, let’s go!
Interestingly, book three by series author Julia Quinn actually focuses on Benedict Bridgerton. Colin and Penelope’s love story doesn’t crop up until book four, Romancing Mr Bridgerton.
The showrunners had already hinted they might deviate from the book order for the TV show and now they’ve officially confirmed it.
Nicola Coughlan appeared on a panel with Simone Ashley (Kate Sharma in the show), Charithra Chandran (Edwina Sharma), showrunner for season 1 and 2 Chris Van Dusen, composer Kris Bowers and costume designer Sophie Canale.
Couglan also shared the news on her Insta with a cute AF pic of her and Newton.
“Like Lady Whistledown I’ve been keeping quite a big secret for quite a long time… but I can finally tell you that @bridgertonnetflix Season Three is Colin and Penelope’s Story,” she wrote.
Will Phoebe Dynevor and Regé-Jean Page come back to Bridgerton?
In news I probably should have seen coming, Phoebe Dynevor revealed that Daphne Bridgerton has left the ‘Ton on January 30 2023.
When asked if she would returning to the show, Dynevor told Screen Rant: “Sadly not in season 3. Potentially in the future. But Season 3, I’m just excited to watch as a viewer.”
In a seperate interview with Variety, she said she’d gotten what she wanted out of the show and her storyline was pretty much complete.
“Well, I did my two seasons,” she said.
“I’ve done what I wanted to do with that character and she had a great arc. If they ask me back in the future, who knows?”
Honestly, fair. It’s time for some new blood! And Daphne isn’t my favourite character after that non-consensual scene between her and Simon (Regé-Jean Page). Given how viewers responded to it, I can’t imagine it’s a good idea to bring Daphne back in much capacity. Out with the old and in with the new, I say!
Speaking of Simon, there were rumours Regé-Jean Page was indeed “in talks” to return to Bridgerton for season three after his dramatic exit post-season one.
“Regé-Jean was always very open about his intention to quit the show after the first season and to move on to other projects,” a source told The Sun.
“But recently there has been a dialogue between him and the show’s bosses.
“Nothing has been formally agreed yet, but watch this space.”
My pantyhose are cautiously being peeled off as we speak, but if Daphne is out of the show, I highly doubt we’ll see any of Simon/Page.
Will Colin and Penelope have sex scenes in Bridgerton season 3?
Oh yes, dear reader. In fact, Nicola Coughlan told Entertainment Tonight that fans can expect one thing in season three: “mirror”.
For those of you who don’t know the horny significance of that word, in the Bridgerton books Colin tells Penelope he wants to get naughty with her… in front of a mirror. Oh lord.
@aynsley_broom I’M😱FREAKING😱OUT😱 omg they are making our dreams come true💛💙 #polin #bridgertonseason3 #nicolacoughlan #lukenewtonuk #bridgertontiktok #bridgerton #bridgertonbooks #booktok #colinbridgerton #penelopefeatherington #katespadenycabana
It’s a great scene not just because it’s hot AF, but it’s also romantic because he is obsessed with her. Give it to us!!! We need it!!!
Are loves of my life Kate Sharma and Anthony Bridgerton coming back for season 3?
Since our boyfriend Simon, Duke of Hastings (Page) didn’t return for season two, you’d be forgiven for fearing that season two stars wouldn’t be back in season three.
Good news for Kanthony stans. In the same interview where she mentioned Pen and Colin, Simone Ashley confirmed we’d be getting more Viscount and Viscountess Bridgerton.
“Yes, there will be a post-marriage Kanthony story for sure,” she said.
Ashley also said she was “keen to just play with the Anthony and Kate story now that they’re loved up and they’ve kind of sorted themselves out”.
Phew. TBH I just want more backstage snaps of Simone Ashley and Jonathan Bailey being BFFs.
View this post on Instagram
It’s also likely that Edwina Sharma will be returning. I mean, we did get a hint she’d be set up with a Prince. Now that’s spin-off I’d like to see.
“What I would love for Edwina most of all is adventure and excitement,” Charithra Chandran told E! News.
“I’m sort of, ‘enough of Edwina and boys!’ It’s about Edwina and herself.”
Much to think about. Much indeed.
Do we have a release date for Bridgerton season 3?
Nope! But Nicola Coughlan confirmed that it’d start filming season three in winter 2022 (AKA summer in Europe, where the show’s shot). So I suspect it’ll launch sometime mid-2023.
View this post on Instagram
Plus Shonda Rhimes told PopBuzz the team was “already working on season three so we can have a shorter time between seasons”.
I truly don’t think I can handle another 15 months of waiting.
Are there any pics from Bridgerton Season 3 yet?
Luke Newton did give us Polin fans a tantalising tease from Bridgerton season three on his Instagram account.
The pic, posted on June 18 in 2022, features he and Nicola Coughlan as well as Bridgerton season three’s showrunner Jess Brownell.
Stop me if I’m wrong, but I reckon this may have hinted that they were on set already (it was summer in Europe then!), or were gearing up to be very, very soon.
https://www.instagram.com/p/Ce7M-CBjXkE/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
Newton may have said in his caption that we’re not ready for season three, but commenters say otherwise.
“I most certainly am ready. I cannot wait to see Penelope’s and Colin’s love story unfold. I’m so deliriously excited,” said one person. “I CAN’T WAIT FOR SEASON 3, POLIN SUPREMACY,” yelled another.
Even Julia Quinn, the books’ authors, said: “Aaargh! I want to be there!!!!”
There you have it: all the Bridgerton season three tea spilled from a delicate porcelain cup. We’ll keep you posted with more deets when we have them. But until then, keep looking up Regency era ballgowns on Etsy.
