Bridgerton season 3 is now just a few months away, and we finally have a proper trailer. This time around, the regency romance hit is adapting another Bridgerton member's love story and it gets stuck into Colin's (Luke Newton) season. As we see in the first trailer, he'll be dealing with his feelings for Penelope (Nicola Coughlan), as the series adapts the novel 'Romancing Mr. Bridgerton' by Julia Quinn.
The return of one of Netflix's most popular shows is bucking the trend this time too, and will be released across two parts. We've got more on that, as well as some first look images to feast your eyes upon and all the casting you need to know about. So get your quills ready as we dive into everything there is to know about Bridgerton season 3.
Bridgerton season 3 release date
The Bridgerton season 3 release date has been confirmed.
Bridgerton season 3, Part 1 will be streaming from May 16 on Netflix, with Part 2 arriving a month later on June 13.
Bridgerton season 3 trailer
The Bridgerton season 3 trailer is now out, and it gives us our best look yet at what to expect from the show's return. This time around, Penelope is looking to step into the spotlight and find a husband, and she'll have some help from her best friend Colin. However, as we see in the trailer, it seems like he may be developing some feelings of his own... Watch the full thing above.
Bridgerton season 3 images
During Netflix's Tudum celebration in Brazil earlier in 2023, they released the first looks at Bridgerton season 3, and we've got to admit, they've got us very excited. You can see all of the first images above and below and Coughlan also revealed some very intriguing details too.
Speaking at the fan convention, Coughlan said: "We open our season with the ton’s return from the countryside… Both Colin and Pen have done some growing up. And only time will tell how their friendship will develop."
She added, "Polin stans, I see you! This season, Penelope returns to London determined to become a new woman with a new independence… We cannot wait to take you along for the carriage ride."
Plus, thanks to a 2024 trailer from Netflix, some footage of the next season is out there. The relationship between Colin and Pen looks like it's sizing up to be adorably awkward, at least at first.
Bridgerton season 3 plot
Bridgerton is based on Julia Quinn's series of eight books, following each of the eight siblings as they find love. Though the sensible guess would be that the Bridgerton season 3 plot will tell the story of the third book in the series, new showrunner Jess Brownell confirmed in an interview with Variety that season 3 is skipping ahead to book 4 and focusing on Colin and Penelope's love story.
Bridgerton season 2 set up the romantic relationship between Penelope Featherington (Nicola Coughlan) and Colin Bridgerton (Luke Newton), which forms the premise of the fourth book in the romance series. Their storyline ended in a pretty difficult position in season 2 after Penelope overheard Colin mocking the idea of a romance with her to his friends.
"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 1, we’ve already invested in them a little bit. We know who they are as people," Brownell explained. "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."
She added: "I think Shonda Rhimes has said publicly before that she wants to have eight seasons. We hope to get to tell every sibling’s love story and they will always be in each season."
Episode 301 is titled Out of the Shadows, and Netflix has released the opening lines: "Dearest gentle reader, We’ve been apart for far too long. At last, London’s smart set has made its return, and so too has this author. As the season begins, the question on everyone’s mind, of course, is, which newly minted debutante will shine the brightest. The crop this year proves to be rather dazzling indeed. Unfortunately, not every young lady can attract the light."
My, my, there certainly is a lot happening here. pic.twitter.com/YIHjKjukAfAugust 30, 2022
Netflix has also released a juicy synopsis for season 3. Per Entertainment Weekly, this reads: "Bridgerton is back for its third season and finds Penelope Featherington has finally given up on her long-held crush on Colin Bridgerton after hearing his disparaging words about her last season. She has, however, decided it's time to take a husband, preferably one who will provide her with enough independence to continue her double life as Lady Whistledown, far away from her mother and sisters. But lacking in confidence, Penelope's attempts on the marriage mart fail spectacularly."
The synopsis continues: "Meanwhile, Colin has returned from his summer travels with a new look and a serious sense of swagger. But he's disheartened to realize that Penelope, the one person who always appreciated him as he was, is giving him the cold shoulder. Eager to win back her friendship, Colin offers to mentor Penelope in the ways of confidence to help her find a husband this season. But when his lessons start working a little too well, Colin must grapple with whether his feelings for Penelope are truly just friendly. Complicating matters for Penelope is her rift with Eloise, who has found a new friend in a very unlikely place, while Penelope's growing presence in the ton makes it all the more difficult to keep her Lady Whistledown alter ego a secret."
Bridgerton season 3 cast
There's been some casting shake-ups in Bridgerton season 3. Netflix has announced Francesca Bridgerton has been recast as original star Ruby Stokes had to leave the show. This came after being cast as the lead in Netflix series Lockwood & Co. She's been replaced by Anatomy of a Scandal and Eternals star Hannah Dodd.
So far, no new cast exits have been confirmed. After Regé-Jean Page left his role as the Duke in the aftermath of season one, many were wondering if this set a new precedent for characters leaving after their main series. Luckily, it seems Bridgerton season 3 will be bucking the curve, with both Anthony (Jonathan Bailey) and the bane of his existence Kate Bridgerton (Simone Ashley) set to return.
Speaking to Deadline, Ashley said: "We’re going to be back!" She continued: "Kate and Anthony are just getting started. In season two, 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."
Ashley has also hinted more about her and Anthony's journey in the next season. "We're filming a dance this week and tonally, it's so different – sweet, endearing and light, compared to the heaviness of their story last season," she told Vogue, adding of her character: "Even though she comes across as fierce, people like that are sometimes the softest on the inside. They develop that skin because they're vulnerable. You see her insecurities and fears. She's fucking nervous and I think there's strength in admitting that."
As for Bailey, he's also shared his hopes about what the new season could mean for his character. Speaking to The Wrap, he said: "I just can’t wait for them to have a baby. Baby Edmund, I think, is the first that’s to come if it’s according to the books, but maybe they’ll have octuplets. Maybe they’ll flip it on its head."
New showrunner Jess Brownell told Variety that Benedict Bridgerton (Luke Thompson) will be playing a big part in the new season. She also confirmed that we will "definitely be seeing Daphne (Phoebe Dynevor)," though she neglected to say how much.
There is one confirmed exit: showrunner Chris Van Dusen is stepping down as the show’s main boss. He’ll still be involved as a producer, with Brownell taking over. She’s been a writer and producer on Bridgerton so far, and was also involved in Shondaland Netflix show Inventing Anna.
Duke of Hastings star Page also confirmed he was definitely not reprising his role on the show in an update on Instagram. Alongside a snap of him and Bailey, he wrote: "The boys are back in town. (No, I’m not going back to the show btw – the papers made that one up.)"
It also seems that Charithra Chandran, who plays Kate's sister Edwina Sharma, won't be back for season 3. "For Edwina, I'd say she's not a Bridgerton," Chandran told press (H/T Digital Spy). And at the end of the day, the show is about the Bridgerton family. Edwina exists in the Bridger-verse, as we like to say, but I've been so happy to be, to have such a great part this season. And I'm just grateful for that."
When Bridgerton season 3 began filming, the final casting announcements were made. Stay Close actor Daniel Francis will play Marcus Anderson, who is a charismatic new member of the ton. The Crown star Sam Phillips plays Lord Debling, a lord with some unusual interests. While James Phoon will play the dim-witted Harry Dankworth.
The latest new arrival is Hannah New who will be playing a character called Lady Tilley Arnold. Per Deadline, she's a "firebrand widow" who enjoys the privileges that come with such a position in society. She'll reportedly be "living life on her own terms with financial independence and sexual freedom." New previously starred in Black Sails as Eleanor and has also appeared in Maleficent and The Strain.
While we wait for more information on Bridgerton season 3, why not check out our list of best Netflix shows to watch right now.
